US1772767A - Head lamp - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12. 1930,v 'E F, ARBucKLE 1,772,767

` HEADLAMP l Filed sept. 1e. i924' sheets-smet J.-

Aug. 12, 1930.

HEADLAMP Fi1ed sept. 1e 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/Emol@ v .Samue/ 'E Arbuck/e f f ATTRNEY Patented ug. 1.2, 1930 UNI-'reo smrss SAMUEL F. ARBUGKLE, or DETROIT, niermann, iissreNoa To ivionoenAivrLENs coR- PoRArIoN, or NEW Yoan, N. Y.,

PATE-Nr oFFlCE A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE HEAD LAMP Such difficultiesl are particularly evident in automobiles Where not only is the vibration continuous, but Where also the necessity of proper adjustment of the lighting unit is most essential in order to safeguard both life and property.

yPhe present invention contemplates,` therefore, in its broadest aspects, provision of means which will iixedly and accurately maintain the various adjustable elements of the head lamp or other lighting unit in proper position for the most effective and efficient illumination.

It is accordingly an important `object of the present invention to provide means for fixing the lamp in its focus after adjustment thereto, so that the lamp Will ordinarily remain set in said predetermined position. It is an object also to provide adjusting means for the lamp which may be operated from the exterior ofthe lamp casing and which will not necessitate the removal of the covering or casing and structure in order to insure a fixed setting ofthe adjusted parts. An object also is to provide means for taking up any slack Which may exist in the lamp socket. Still another object is contemplated in the provision of the mechanism for the giving of final vertical adjustment to the lamp Without removing or modifying the prior'arrangement orelements of the lamp construction, and Without removing the reflector of the lamp. An object is considered also in the utilization of novel means for preventing maladjustment of the lens, resulting in inefficient lighting from the lamp. l

Various other objects, such as relate to the specific details of construction andare involved in the rmethods of manufacture, will appear from consideration of the specific embodiment ofy the invention which may be preferred, described hereinafter Vand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which l Fig. 1 is a front View ofthe headlamp with a portion of the rim broken away to showy the lens securing means; Fig. 2 is a section through the lamp showing the'novel socket retaining means and type of lens employed; F 3 is a detailed view of the socket adjusting and retaining mechanism;

Fig. 4L is adetail of the vertical socket mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a front view of the lamp with the door lremoved to show thev means of attachment of the lens.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, I have shown a head lamp casing 10 consisting of a cylindrical shell having a flat base 11 and cylindrical Wall12.- Pivotally attached to the casing by elements 13 and 14 is the door frame 15, this being in the' form of a cylindrical rim memberl, adapted to fit over and engage the casing adjacent the open side thereof. Integral with the shell 16 is an in-H wardly and radially extending annular plate 17havingan inturned depending flange 18 circumferential in design, the same being adapted to tit over and engage the lens 19 as hereinafter described. The door 15 is held in place on the-casing by means of detachable fastening element 2O comprising a pin 21 screw threaded and fastened to the rim 16 of the door at the edge thereof oppositely positioned to the mieinber 13 and 14;, the same carrying a thumb nut 22 which is adapted to engage the resilient fork terminals 23 of a member 24 fastened by appropriate means to the casing 12 adjacent the inner edge of the shell 16.

The pin 21 on the closing of the door, slides intermediate the forks of the cooperating member 24, and the thumb screw is tightened until the same yieldingly engages the out- Wardly turned tips of the fork, thus retaining the door securely in place.

The reflector 30 is mounted inside the casing 12. This reflector is preferably a paraboloid with its axis coinciding with that of the casing 12, the reflector opening outwardly from the casing in the direction of the open side thereof. While approaching the axis of the casing, the reflector nevertheless, is not coincident therewith, there being a divergence of a few degrees downwardly of the reflector axis in relation to the casing axis for a purpose as will be brought out more fully in the subsequent description. Inasmuch as the casing isl normally positioned with its axis horizontal and since it is desirable that the plane including the front edge of the reflector be vertical, the length of surface from the intersection of the axis of the reflector with` its base to the top of the reflector is somewhat less than the corresponding distance to the base. Thus the'reflector while apparently vertical in position, by reason of the slight depression of the axis of the same, having the eect of a tilt, which is pronounced at distances in front of the refiector, the light rays being deflected downwardly in correspondence with the degree of tilt, given the reflector.

The reflector is supported in the casing by means of a flange 31 extending transversely relative to the reflector axis, this flange including an annular groove 32 and a radial edge 33 adapted to engagey an inwardly turned flange 34 formed on the edge of the casing. rIhe flange 34 and edge 33 aresecured together by an appropriate weld or other securing means.

The lens 19 is positioned in front of the reflector with its base edge resting on a circumferential cord 36 in the annular groove 32. The lens is constructed with a plurality of upstanding refracting ridges 37 as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, these ridges being divided into Zones 38, as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,460,834. In accordance with the disclosure above referred to, it is advantageous, in order to secure the maximum efficiently of illumination, that the lens be positioned in the lamp in a predetermined set relationship to the reflector and source of illumination, and in the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed, I have provided means preventing the insertion of the lens in other than the desired and proper position. I provide for lateral stability in part through contact of the rearwardly turned flange 18 of the door rim 15 on a ledge 39, circumferential on the front edge of the lens, the flange engaging the inner periphery of the same.

I also secure the lens in fixed position by means of lugs 25, 26 and 27 fastened to the door rim. Attention is directed to the initial set of lug 27 which enters a notch molded in the edge of the lens as shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, this lug not only preventing rotation of the lens, but also tending to prevent improper insertion of the lens with reference to the front and rear of the same. It is noted that the notch 28 is cut at a point on the lens circumference at an acute angle with referenceto the direction of the flutes or ribs 37, and hence the only position in which the lens can be inserted with the ridges 37 vertical, is in the correct position, the ridges, when the lens is reversed, being below horizontal for the position of notch shown in Fig. 1, the exact position of the reversed ridges being dependent of course upon the position of the notch with reference to the ridges. In addition, the reversal of the lens with its greater interior thickness could be avoided by bringing about a Contact of the protruding lens portion againstan abutment from the edge of the reflector. Thus it is seen that the lens is retained from reversal displacement as well as from lateral and rotational displacement.

I have provided highly novel and useful improvements in the means of holding, retaining and adjusting the socket of the lamp within the reflector. As disclosed more clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the base of the reflector 3()L is apertured and distended to form the guide tube 40, this tube having its lower half 41 extended further to the rear than its upper half 42, thus forming a notch 43 at the end of the tube. The base of the tube is slotted as at 44.

Vithin the tube 40 is positioned the lamp socket 45. This socket is in the form of a tubular shell, the forward end 46 of which extends into the cavity of the reflector forming the socket proper of the lamp bulb 47, the base 48 of which enters the shell in accordance with ordinary construction. 'Ihe tube extends rearwardly of the reflector enclosing the connection intermediate the lamp base and the lamp cord terminals 49, this connection for a single filament lamp being in the form of a pin 50, the front end of which contacts with the base Contact 51 of the lamp bulb, and the rear end of which is electrically connected to the lamp cord 49. The pin has slidable movement in the insulating blocks 55 and 52 and is resiliently held against the lamp bulb contact 51 by means of the coil spring 53 engaging at one end the insulating block 55 and at the other end the fiange 54 fixed to the pin.

In the present instance I have shown a lamp bulb 47 with plural filaments 61 and 62, each of which is connected through a separate circuit to plural lamp base contacts 51 and in correspondence with this construction two pins, as shown in Fig. 4, are employed, forming a yielding connection to the source of electric current, these pins being similar in their construction and operation. The lamp bulb is maintained in position by means of the yordinary `bayonet slot connection, this including the opposite pins 63 movable in right angled slots 64 and placed on opposite sides of the socket shell 46, connection being INH mode and necessities of illumination, it isv very important that accurate and easily operated means be provided foradjustment of the lamp bulb within the reflector. Moreover, in the use of certain types of lamps, such, for example, as that shown `in Fig. 3 of the drawing, where plural filaments are used, the relation of the filament to the reflector axis as regards displacement and the adjustment of this relationship is very important inA securing the most efficient illumination. In the present invention, as will nowy be described, I have provided effectivev means for closely adjusting the position of the lamp bulb and for securely maintaining said bulb in the adjusted position unmoved by vibration or other disturbances of the supporting means'of the reflector and lamp. v

Y.To the base of. the shell 45 I secure a pin which is movable 'in the slot 44 hereinabove referred to, formed inthe reflector tube 40. The lower end of this pin is iixed to one arm 7l of an L shaped bracket, the other arm 720i which extends transversely from the reiiector axis andv is formed with an aperture 7 3 screw threaded to engage a screw 74, theirear end of which passes through the rear wall 1l of the casing. The screw carries a head 7 5`and a loosely mounted nut 7 6, the head being on the rear of the casingand the nut 76 on the front so that from the exteriorof the casing, the screw 74 may be ro tated and thus the pin 70, with its attached lamp tube 45, axially adjusted.

Ordinarily adjusting means as above mentioned have been utilized by others, but such means used alone have been found defective as the screw gradually slips because oi the vibration of the support, and the lamp moves out of adjustment. To removethis deficiency I have found that by the use of an additional Jfriction holding means combined with the screw adjusting means, the set position of adjustment may be continuously maintained. In the present instance, for thispurpose I utilize a spring plate 77 fixed to the pin 70 on its center,the ends of the plate being resilient and inwardly bowed from the reflector tube 40 and engaging thesame on opposite sides of the slot 44. This plateisV made of sufficient width so that the frictional hold is enough, combined with the screw holding adjusting means, tol prevent any axial movement of the lamp bulb. i 'i In addition to the means of adjustment of the lamp relative to the reflector axis, and governing its position on said axis,-Il have provided also, means for preventing a horizontal'pivoting conne'ctionoi the lamp bulb in its socket.y To this end I utilize. 'a `spring clip 78 in the form oi'a tongue cut out of eitherside of the shell 45 adjacent'the lamp bulb base and adapted to contact with the same.,v This Y provides kadequate retaining means forA the lamp bulb. preventinglateral movement of the base of the same in the reilector@y e f In still another way Ihave provided for the maintenance ofthe'lampl bulb withy its filament in proper predetermined adjustment and for also adjusting to a limited ex.

tent, the positionof the lamp bulb. Ithas been found that even with the meanspre- Viously mentioned for holding and adjusting the lamp. bulb, that there is a limited but important degree of movement in the vertical plane thereof which very effectively distorts the illuminationoithe lamp; Especially is this noticeable where it is desirable to have the filament at a predetermined set position with reference to the axis of the reflector, as in the case of the two lament lamp` bulb construction hereinabove referred to. In the use of lamp bulbs of this type, as fully brought out in my copending application,

Serial No., 7 09,981', filed April 30, 1924, it is i requisite that each lamp ilament be offset a predetermined distance from the axis of the reiiector, the oiiset amounting in some instances to about one-sixteenth of an inch. In lamp bulbs of this type bought in the open market, there is more or less variation in distance between the two filaments and variation also in the position of thetwo filaments as regards the axis of the lamp bulb. To overcome diiliculties of adjustment arising from a divergence in position and ydimensions of laments in lamp bulbs oi this type, and also to overcome any abnormal vertical movement of the bulb as a whole, tending to move the same out of proper adjustment inside of the reiiector is an adjusting unit 80, the same comprising a plate 81 having a shape approximately triangular, the upper apex of the same terminating in a screw threaded eye 82 adapted to engage an adjusting screw 83, the head 84 of which is situated and is operated from within the reflector. A nut 85 is fixed by any appropriate means Such as by soldering on the screw adjacenty the rear face of the reflector to prevent acoidentalremoval of the screw and to permit operation of the same in both directions as will be evident from the succeeding'description. 4

The'base Corners of the plate 8l. areextended into hook vshaped terminals 86 and 87, the ends of the same being lrounded and enteringthe slot 44 at the base of the reflector tube 40 and contacting with the base of the socket shell 45. The plate 81 is pivotally mounted Von the reflector tube 40 as shown clearly yin Fig. 4, so that when the screw84 is rotated, the same will pivot according to. the direction of rotation of the screw, the

terminal of either hook 86 or hook 87 contacting with the socket shell forcing it upwardly. Thus it is evident that vertical adjustment of the lamp bulb may be obtained by manipulation of the screw head 84, the filament of the bulb in this mannerbeing brought into proper focal relation with reference to the reflector.

vWhile I have shown meansV for controlling the vertical adjustment by the screw 84 operated from the inside of the reflector, it is, of course, apparent that other means may be employed. For example, the nut 85 may be formed integral with the shell 43 and the head of the screw terminate to the rear of the reflector, there being an aperture formed in the casing wall to which the operator may insert a tool 'to modify the position of the screw. I may also attach this screw so as to be operated from the rear of the casing as in the axially adjusting screw or any other appropriate operating means may be employed. l v

In connection with the lamp bulb shown, I have illustrated Athe use of a lamp shield 90 in the form of a sector having its lower edge lying approximately in a horizontal plane, includingthe axis of the refiector and its upper edge extended sufhciently so as to cut off all forwardly projecting light rays emanating directly from the light source. The purpose of this shield, as fully brought out in my copending application, Serial No. 688,947 filed January 28, 1924, is to prevent an undesirable diffusion of direct rays from the head lamp. The shield is secured either to the lamp bulb or its 4base by any appropriate means.

In the lamp casing I have shown means for making external connection to a source of electrical current. This means includes a socket member 91 fixedly mounted in a tube 92 integral with the casing, the socket containing terminals 93 to which are attached the flexible current carryingcords 49. The plug 94, by means of the pin and socket con; nection 95, is connected to the socket.

In using the lamp, as above described, the same is supported vertically upon the automobile or other base, this position, because of the normal tip of the reflector axis, causing a downward declination ofthe light rays made by the refiect-or from the light source. With the lamp lens in position with its ridges vertical and the lamp bulb in the socket with its filaments in a predetermined position for most effective illumination, the screw 74 is adjusted to bring the filament of the bulb to the proper focal point as regards adjustment, parallel to the reflector axis. Then the screw 83 is rotated until, as regards adjustment in a vertical plane, the filament is in proper position for the most effective and ample illumination, and is maintained in this position irrespective of distortional forces arising from vibration, shock or any other source applied to the lamp or its base.

Emphasis should be laid on the fact that the various adjusting and adjustment retaining characteristics of the lamp as described are not limited specifically to any given type of lamp bulb or lens or any particular mode of illumination or use, but on the contrary the advantageous developments and improvements herein shown are readily applicable to many and varied uses including a variety of lamp bulbs and lamps having diverse specific constructional details incorporated in the lens, reflector casing or other element thereof. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the present application, I have shown the advantages of these improvements as applied to a two filament bulb equipped with a hood or lamp shield 90 and having a specific type of lens adapted, through vertical ridged Zones, to deflect the light laterally from the reflector. In this lamp, the primary features of which have been described fully in my copending application above referred to, there is a well defined cooperation between the adjusting mechanism and the light directing elements, the operator, through the improvements herein shown, being enabled to closely control the light beam emitted by the lamp and to direct it to well defined areas which meet all the varied prac-tical demands of effective road illumination as well as fulfilling the requirements of the variousState laws bearing on automobile road illumination. Especially noteworthy in the application of the invention as shown, is the facility of adjustment of the bulb with the attached hood 90 so that the proper amount of direct rays from the filament of the lamp are intercepted.

Various modifications of the invention other than as described herein will be evident and apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and itis therefore my desire not to be limited to the specific disclosure, but to cover all variations therefrom such as come within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I desire to claim as my invention:

l. In a head lamp-construction, the combinati-on of a casing; a refiector mounted in the casing having an aperture formed therein; a tubular support secured to the reflector adjacent said aperture; a lamp bulb; a socket slidably mounted within said. support, and supporting said lamp bulb, a member pivotally mounted on said support and having spaced upturned fingers integral therewith adapted to contact with .said socket through apertures formed in the base 'of the support; and means for rotating said member to tilt said socket with respect to said reflector Cil whereby said bulb is adjusted in a vertical plane.

2. In a head lamp construction, the combination of a casing; a reflector mounted within said casing having an aperture formed therein; a tubular support attached to the reector and enclosing said aperture, said support having an axial slot formed in t-he base thereof; a socket tube slidably mounted within said Support; a pin dependent from said socket tube and movable in said slot; and means detachably attached to said pin and extendingtoapoint exterior to said casing whereby the position of the socket may be varied; and additional means for obtaining vertical adjustment of the socket tube.

3. In a head lamp construction, the combination of a casing; a reflector mounted within said casing having an aperture formed therein; a tubular support attached to the reflector and enclosing said aperture, said support having an axial slot formed in the base thereof; a socket tube slidably mounted within said support; a pin dependent from said socket tube and movable in said slot; and means attached to said pin and extending exterior to said casing whereby the position of the socket may be varied and additional means for vertically adjusting the socket tube, said last means including a pivotal lever y arm and mechanism for moving said arm.

4. In adjusting mechanism, the combination of a tubular support; a socket loosely mounted within said support; and means for positioning the socket within the support, said means including a member pivotally mounted on the support, said member having displaced hooked extensions, the ends of which are adapted to contact against a portion of the socket through apertures formed in said support; and means for transmitting pivotal motion to said member.

5. In a headlamp construction, the combination of a casing; a reflector mounted in the casing having an aperture formed therein; a. tubular support secured to the reector adjacent said aperture; a socket slidably mounted within said support and adapted to receive a lamp bulb; a member pivotally mounted on the support and having spaced upwardly turned fingers integral therewith adapted to contact with said socket at spaced intervals through apertures formed in the base of the support; and means including a screw mounted on the reiector for imparting rotation to said member whereby the lamp bulb is vertically adjusted.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE.

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