US1647149A - Headlight - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1,1927.

w. DA. RYAN HEADLIGHT Filed July 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventon ld/a erfiag @6111 ag m v Hi s -Attor'ngg.

Nov. 1, 1927.

W. DA. RYAN HEADLIGHT Filed July 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pi qAs.

Hi s Attorney.

Patented Nov. 1,192 7 UNITED] STATES v 1,647,149 )PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER DABGY RYAN, OI SGHENEGTADY, NEW YORK.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed July 29,

My invention relates to improvements in headlights, and in particular to headlights for automotive vehicles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a non-glare headlight embodying means for adequately illuminating the roadway ahead of the vehicle and the front and sides of the vehicle and the area adjacent thereto, so as to enable the occupants to clearly observe objects in the path of travel thereof as well as at the sides of the road.

A further object is to provide a lens for use inconn'ection with a headlight embodying means for directing lightrays projected therethrough toward the axis of the lens in advance of the latter, whereby to overcome the possibility of a dark area along the lamp axis usually caused when the light source is positioned out of the focus.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as this description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front end of an automobile equipped with my improved headlight;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a headlight embodying my invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the lens or closure forming a part of my improved headlight; and

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of the lens shown in Figure 4.

Throughout the several views, similar ref erence characters will be'used for referring to similar parts.

The embodiment of my invention disclosed herein comprises a shallow metal housing 15, having the rearwardly bulging portion 15'. The front end of this housing is closed by means of a .door, comprising the outer ring 16, the spacer ring 17 and the inner clamping ring 18. The outer ring is hinged to the housing, as shown at 19, so as to permit the door to open downwardly. A suitable latch 20, pivoted to the ring 16 at 21, and engaging the spring catch 22, may be used for holding the door in its closed position. The lens ortransparent closure, forming a part of the door, comprises the outwardly bulging conical portion 23', having the central-portion 24 that is spherical in contour, and the cylindrical portion 25 thatmerges into the conical portions 23 through the curved portion 26 of comparatively 1924. Serial No. 728,970.

short radius. The cylindrical portion 25 terminates in the annular flange 27 that is clamped between the two rings 16 and 18, as shown'in Figure 2, there preferably being a rubber gasket 28 between the outer ring il6 and the flange'2'Z, so as to cushion the ens.

It will be noted thatthe inner and outer surfaces ofthe lens are substantially parallel, except for the convex annular lenticular protuberance 29, formed on the inner surface or face of the conical portion of the lens. The edges of this annular, lenticular protuberance gradually merge into the adjacent portions of the inner lens surface. I

The inner surface of the central portion of the lens, lying inside the line 1, Figure 5, and inside the circle B, Figure 4. is curved upon the radius D, and the outer surface of the corresponding. portion is parallel to the inner surface. The immediate central portion of the lens, lying within the circle C, Figure 4, may be etched or sand blasted to produce a diffusing screen for the direct rays from the light source. That portion of the outer surface of the lens, lying between the central spherical portion and the curved %ortion 26, is generated by a straight line rotating about the axis of the lens. The

convex, annular protuberance 29 is curved upon the radius H, but its edges merge with the adjacent surfaces of the lens along curves having the radii and L respectively. The reflector 30 is preferably a paraboloidal reflector of long focus. While betduce a slight diffusion of the light rays forming the beam projected by the reflector,

and, at the same time reduce the glare. From this description, it will be apparent that not only the focus -of the reflector, but also the source of light is located outwardly beyond the planes defining the edge of the reflector and the edge of the housing. This permits direct rays of light to pass through the cylindrical portion 25 of the lens and thus provides adequate illumination of the roadsides immediately adjacent the front end of the automobile, and also directs light I downwardly for illuminating the front por- 'tion of the machine. To a certain extent, direct rays issue upwardly, so as to illuminate any foliage through which the car may be passing.

The reflector 30, is, preferably, supported by a suitable ring 33 having trunnions T, supported by brackets B, carried by the housing, and may be adjusted about the axis of the trunnion by means of the adjusting screw 34. I prefer to adjust the reflector so that the upper edge thereof projects or extends slightly ahead of the lower edge thereof, as shown in Figure 2. The lamp 32 is mounted in a suitable socket 35, extending through the central portion of the reflector. This socket need not involve any means for adjusting the position of the filament of the light source, inasmuch as the construction of my headlight compensates for any variations in the' size and location of the filament that may occur in commercial lamps.

A common objection to headlights wherein the light'source is out of the focus of the reflector is that the light rays are reflected in the shape of a hollow cone leaving a comparatively dark area in the axis ofthe beam. A lens constructed in accordance with the present invention overcomes this objection, for the reason that the rays projected there- -through near the edges of the lens are deflected by the outer portion of the annular protuberance or lenticular projection 29 and directed inwardly toward the lens axis in advance of the latter.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have constructed a headlight wherein the rays projected from the light source and the reflector are directed forwardly from the lamp, inwardly toward the axis of the beam,

ing portion, the central my invention, it is to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to these details, but is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A headlight comprising a reflector of long focal len th, a source of light located adjacent the ocus of said reflector, and a transparent enclosure, comprising an annular marglnal portion extending substantially parallel with the axis of said reflector and merging into a conical outwardly bulgortion of which is spherical in contour, t e inner face of the conical portion of said enclosure having an annular lenticular projection, both edges of which gradually merge into the inner surface of said enclosure.

2. A lens for a headlight comprising a conical portion, the central portion of which is spherical in contour, and a cylindrical portion merging into the conical portion through a comparatively short radius, the inner face of said conical portion having an annular lenticular protuberance, the edges of which gradually merge into the adjacent inner surface of said conical portion. I

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of July, 1924.

WALTER DARGY RYAN.

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