US1240282A - Headlight. - Google Patents

Description

0. WINSTON-- HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED oEc.2. 191s.

1,246,282. Mama sept. 18,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

O. WINSTON. f

HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED nmz. 1915.

1,249,282, Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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f ler/on Mbs an OVERTON WINSTON, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 18, 1917.

Application led December 2, 1915. Seria1No. 64,662.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OvnR'roN WiNs'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepln and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlights; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to electric headlights for automobiles and other vehlcles, and is in the nature of the modification of, or improvement on, the headlight disclosed and claimed in the companion application executed by me of even date herewith,

and entitled,Headlights, S. N. 64,661, filed of date, December 2nd, 1915.

Generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Particularly, the invention is directed to. improved means for shifting the light bulb in respect to the axis of the reflector, but involves other minor but important features of construction.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a view chiefly in vertical section with some parts in full, showing a headlight embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view chiefly in elevation but with some parts in full, showing one yof the latch devices and certain coperating elements;

Fig. 3 is a section on the 'line as m of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line ant-wf* of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line -w .of Fig. 4.

The numeral 1 indicates the casing of an ordinary headlight, such as used on automobiles, and the numerals 2 and 3, respectively, indicate the reflector and the lens .of the glass plate of the headlight. n The rellector 2,.instead of being rigid, in respect to the' casing,A is connected thereto at the front edge of its marginal rim, by diametrlcally opposite horizontal pivots 2a. The electric light bulb 4 illustrated in the drawings is held in a socket of novel construction, the details of which are not herein fully illustrated, but, are fully disclosed and claimed in my said companion application. For the purposes of this case, it is desirable, only, to particularly note the sleeve 5 of the bulb which is telescoped into the collar 7, which, in turn, is mounted in the end of the inner memberv 9 of a pair of telescoped tubular channels, the outer member 8 of which is provided in itsrear end with a swiveled lamp adjusting nut 13, byrotation of which latter the lamp may be adjusted longitudinally of the axis of the reflector. The numeral 21 indicates a s ring-pressed screw driver mounted in an extended through the back of the casing 1 and adapted to be pressed inward into engagement with radial grooves formed in the rear end of the nutv 13. The said parts 4to 21, inclusive, just above noted, bear the same numerals in my said companion application and the details of construction and operation thereof may be had by reference to the said application. The front end of the outer shell 8 of the lamp socket in this instance is, however, extended into an axial opening of the reflector and is pivotally connected to the reector, by horizontally alined pivot screws 22 seated in a ring 23. This ring 23 is tapered and fits within a flaring annular flange 24 on the back of the reflector. A split clamping ring 25-held together by short nut-equipped bolts 26 secures the ring 23 to the said flange 24. The intermediate portion of the outer shell Sis seated in an annular fulcrum 27a that has threaded engagement with a surrounding tubular bearing 27 rigidly attached to the back of ,the casing 1 and axially alined therewith. The annular fulcrum 27 has a cylindrical body`28 that is telescoped over a cylindrical head 29, the reduced tubular stem of which is journaled in the hub of the bearing 27 and aiiords a seat for the screw driver 21. To the outer end vof the reduced stem ofthel said head 29 is secured a knurled flange 30,' bymeans of which the said member 29-may he easily rotated.

The cylindrical body 28 of the annular fulcrum 27a is provided with lugs 31 'thatv engage longitudinal slots 32 formed in the saidv head 29, so that the said members 28 and 29 are caused to partake of a common rotation. The member 29,v however, is held against axial movement while the fulcrum member 27a is capable of axial traveling movement produced when rotated by its screw-threaded engagement with the tubular bearing 27. The numeral 33 indicates a cap shown as applied to the outer end hub of the bearing 27, and which, when removed, affords access both to the head of the screw driver and to the finger piece 30 of the rotary head 29.

Obviously,by the rotation of the head 29 the annular fulcrum 27a may be moved forwardly or rearwardly on the outer shell 3 of the lamp socket. Also, it will be understood that bj' forcing the screw driver inward and thr n rotating the same, the lamp may be adjusted longitudinally of the axis of the reflector.

The reflector has a rigidly attached arm 34 which projects rearward within the casing 1 andcis connected' by a slot and pin coupling 35, to the intermediate portion of an endwise movable plunger or magnetic core 36, preferably made of soft iron. This plunger 36 works axially through a pair of solenoids 37 controlled by suitable electric connections, not shown, attached to shelflike projections 38 of the tubular bearing 27.

To the ends of the plunger 36 are rigidly attached by brazing, or otherwise, brassl extensions that have screw-threaded engagement with the interiors of the tubular latch heads 39 that are seated for endwise movements in brass bearing rings 41, shown as secured to the respective solenoids 37. These latch heads 39 are provided With stems 42y that yextend freely through passages in the casing 1 and are provided4 outside thereof with operating knobs or heads 43 formedv with longitudinal peripheral grooves or corrugations engaged by spring fingers 44 attached to hubs 45 secured on the said casing 1. The numeral 45a indicates caps detachablyapplied to the hubs 45 and normally including-said parts 43 and 44.

Latch heads 39are formed with annular lock grooves 46, the walls of which are at approximately a right angle to the axis of said latch heads. These grooves are arranged to 'be engaged by lock bolts 47 ymounted for radial movements in the bearing rings' 41 and, as shown, yieldingly pressed inward by curved springs 48 attached to the said lock bolts at one end, and at their other ends, attached to the said rings, as best shown in Fig. 3. When one of these lock bolts is engaged with the lock groove of the coperating latch head, it will positively lock thevsame. and the plunger 36, and, consequently, the reflector and light bulb in predetermined positions.

For releasing the latches, I provide a magnetic trip which, as shown, is arranged as follows:

A soft iron armature in the form of a lever4 49 is pivoted to an arm 50 projected from one of the bearing rings41. The free end of this armature lever 49 is perforated, or otherwise, formed, so that it will clear the adjacentportion of the coperating latch head 40, bu'twill be subject, nevertheless, to the magnetic force of the adjacent solenoid. The lever 49 is provided with a Wedge shaped lug 51, the point of which is normally in a position to engage between the free end of the spring 48 and the adjacent bearing ring 41. A light coiled spring 52 yieldingly holds the lever 49 toward the cooperating solenoid, but not with sufficient force to overcome the coperating spring 48 and attached lock bolt 47.

Let it be assumed that normally the upper latch head 39 is so adjusted that the reflector 2 stands with its axis coincident with that of the casing 1 and the lamp bulb will stand with the hot portion of its filament at the axis of the`said reflector. As will be understood, the filament of the bulb may be set. at thel focal center' of' the reflector by axial adjustments of the lamp socket. These adjustments shown in Fig. 1 are, therefore, those, which give the greatest light projection or longest light beams on the road ahead of the machine, as required in traveling country roads. In such posi tion, the reflector and lamp are positively held by the engagement of the upper lock bolt 47 with the groove 46 of the upper latch head 39.

For city traveling, and especially Where city lqrdinances require dimmed or nonblinding lights, the reflector is oscillated vertically so that its axis is inclined downward ahead of the machine, and the' light bulb is raised in respect to the axis of the reflector, so that the light beam will be projected onto the ground more closely in front of the machine. This adjustment of the said reflector and lamp will be produced whenever the upper solenoid 37 is energized. The first effect of this energizing of the said upper solenoid is to draw the upper tripping leer 49 downward, thereby causing its Wedgelug 51 to retract the lock bolt 47 and release the plunger or magnetic core 36; and the second effect of the energizing said upper solenoid is to draw the plunger or magnetic core'36 upward and thereby, through the lever 34, rocking the rear portion of the reflector upward on its pivots 2a and rocking the light bulb and front portion of the lamp socket upward on the fulcrum ring 26. In this way, the axis ofA the reflector is inclined downward and the light bulb is raised to a greater extent than is the rear portion of the reflector, so that the filament of the bulb is then raised above the inclined axis of the reflector, so as to further increase the downward deflection ofthe light rays.

The extent to which the reflector will be. rocked, may be varied by adjustments of the lower latch head39, and the extent to which the light bulb will be raised in respect to the axis of the reflector, maybe varied by adjustments of the annular fulcrum 26 longitudinally of the lamp socket. The closer the fulcrum 26 is set to the pivotal connection between the lamp socket and reflector, the greater will be the elevation given to the light bulb, and the converse of this statement is, of course, also true.

When the reflector and light bulb are raised, as just above stated, they will be positively locked in such position by the engagement of thelower lock bolt 47 with the groove 46 of the lower latch head 39. To bring the said parts back to their normal positions shown in Fig. 1, the lower solenoid 37 is energized and the first effect thereof is, of course, to cause the wedge lock of the lower armature lever 49 torelease the lower lock bolt 47 from `the roove 46 of the lower latch head 39, an the second effect is to cause the plunger or core 36 to move downward, thereby restoring the said parts to the position shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector, of a lamp therein pivotally supported for oscillations toward and from the axis of said reflector, and a lamp fulcrum adjustable toward and from the lamp pivot.

2. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector, of a lamp support pivotally associated with said reflector and adapted to support a lamp within the reflector, and a fulcrum for ythe rear portion of said lamp support, mounted for adjustments ytoward and from the pivot of said lamp support.

3. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector, of a lamp support pivotally connected thereto and adapted to support a lamp within said reflector, an annular fulcrum supporting and surrounding the rear portion of said lamp support, and means for adjusting said fulcrum axially toward and from the'pivot of said lamp support.

4. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector mounted for oscillatory movements, of a lamp support pivoted 4to said reflector and adapted to support a lamp within said reflector. l

5. In a-headlight, the combination with a reflector mounted for oscillatory movements, of a lamp support pivoted to said reflector and adapted to support a lamp within said reflector, and a fulcrum for the rear portion of said lamp holder, upon which the said lamp support oscillates .when moved with said reflector.

6. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector mounted for oscillatory movements, of a lamp support pivoted to said reflector and adapted to support a lamp within said reflector, andl an annular ulcrum for the rear portion of said lamp support, mounted for axial adjustments toward and from the pivot of said `lamp support.

7 In a headlight, the combination with a reflector, of-a lamp sup ort having a pivotal connection to said re ector and having `a relatively fixed fulcrum and adapted to support alamp within said reflector, means for moving said lamp toward and from the axis of said reflector, b the oscillatory movement of the said re ector.

8. In a headlight, the combination with a casing, of a reflector pivoted thereto for vertical oscillatory movements, and a lamp support having a fulcrum within said casing at the rear of said reflector, pivotally connect-v ed to said reflector for vertical oscillatory movements therewith, and adapted to support a lamp within said reflector.

9. In' a headlight, the combination with a casing, of a reflector pivoted thereto for oscillatory movements, a lamp support pivoted to said reflector and adapted to support a lamp within the reflector, 'a fulcrum for the rear portion of said lamp su port, located within said casing back of saidD reflector, and means operative through the back of said reflector for adjusting said fulcrum longitudinally of the axis of said reflector.

10. In a headlight, the combination with a casing, of a reflector pivoted thereto for oscillatory movements, a lamp support pivoted to said reflector and adapted to support a lamp'within the reflector, a fulcrum for the rear portion of said lamp support,` located within said casing back of said reflector, and meansoperative through the back of said reflecto'r for adjusting said fulcrum longitudinally of the axis of said reflector. the said adjusting means comprising a rotary member having a sliding engagement with the said fulcrum.

11. In a headlight, the combination with a casing and a reflector supported thereby. of' a lamp support within said casing, mounted for oscillatory movements and provided with an axially adjustable lamp holder adapted to support a'lamp within said reflector, a fulcrum for the rear portion of said lamp holder, and two adjusting devices extending through the back of said reflector, the one operative to adjust lsaid fulcrum longitudinally of' the axis of said reflector, and the other operative to adjust said lamp holder axially of said lamp support.

'12. In a headlight, the combination with a reflector and a lamp support, one of which members is capable of oscillatory movement in respect to the other. of a. plunger movable to oscillate said oscillatory member, positive locks for limiting the movements of said plunger and holding the same in extreme positions, and automatic releasing devices for the said locks.

In a headlight, the combination with sitions, and magnetically operated releasing a reflector and :L lamp support, one of which devices for said locks. l0 members is capable of oscillatory movement In testimony whereof I affix my signature in respect to the other, of a plunger for m0vin presence of two Witnesses.

5 ing the oscillatory member, electro-magnetic OVERTON W'INSTON.

devices for reciprocating said plunger, posi- Witnesses: tive locks for'limiting the movements of said HARRY D. KILGORE,

plunger und holding the same in extreme po- F. D. MERCHANT.

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