US1676769A - Automotive head lamp - Google Patents

Description

W. B. CHURCHER AUTOMOTIVE HEAD LAMP Jglly l0, 1928. 1,676,769

Filed June 30,l 1926 ngz.

`BY/ I )64s ATTORNEY,

- Patented July l0, i929,

Unirse str j COMPANY, 0E CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COBPOE'ATIONOF OHIO.

AUTOMOTIVE VI-IEAD LAMP.

Appnauoii median@ so, 192e. serial No.` 119,764.

`My inventionrelates toimprovements inl head lamps, and it'r'elat'es particularly to head lamps employing illuminating bulbs having a lower voltage rat-ing than the voltage ot the battery or other source `of current therefor. In many automotive 4vehicle elec'- 4trical installations, comprising rsource of current andv one'or yniore head vlamps for the vehicle, it so happens that it-is dii'licult tov coininercially manufacture durablelam'p' 'lil ments Vetl'ective forrallof'the purposes intended, giving the lamp filaments the voltage -rating of the source 'of current. For instance, in the so-called tilt-ray vhead lamp system, whereinaplurality oflilaments having different ocal characteristics relative to the lampreflector,v itI has been Yfound more expedient to in anufactureV the filaments for suc-h a lamp'bulb'havinga voltagerating of substantially G8 volts, than to-make them i with a rating of 12%16 volts, whichis the voltage range of the source ot" current commonly prov-ided in many automotive vehicles. Itl is necessary, inv sucha case, to pr0- vvide various expcdients to "insure that the voltage effective atthe filament terminals is within the rated Voltage vof the bulb filament,

it being proposedheretofore'fto place apair of likelilaments of a pair of Vhead lamps in series, so as to divide the impressed voltage of the batteryor other sourceot" current between the lamp filaments. i j" Such an arrangement is undesirable for the reason thatfilaments varyv in voltage ratings and time of responsiveness to the effect of heating current, with the result' A that occasionally. onelilament of a pairserially connected, being more quickly responsive to the .heating effect of the current, will be overheated before the other'iilament is sufficiently heated. Also, at the same time,iit is undesirable that both lilaments should fail, due to a burning out ot theone fila'- ment ot two serially connected lila-ments. ,lt has also been'l proposed to provide a resistance unit in series-with the pairs of multiplied ilaments, but this arrangement has the disadvantageof Vimpressing an undesirable high voltage upon theterminalsot the surviving lilament should the other lilament of the pair be burned out or its `cir- `cuit inadvertentlyY opened. Thereforei it has been found that an individualV resistance unit must be provided for `each filamenta making four resistance unitsV for appairvofV vof certain parts comprising a modified rey means therefor; -v

units at. the switch Jfor controlling h tlie circuit ot thelamps, audit is likewiseu'n'dehr sirablethat 1t be positioned vatother points- Llamp bulbs, each having two lilainentsilt .i Vis very undesirablegto place theseresistanceon the automotive Vehicleheretoforepro-f posed, so far asl am aware."z

y,fMy present. invention, therefore, has for an object the provisionofa resist-ance' unit in a head lampcasin-gso related tothe other 'headlamp part-s that imdesirablefeli'ects of the unit are avoided.

' Another objectof my invention is to provide an improved mounting for a head lairip casing contained resistanceunitf f .Another object ol my invention is to pro'-y vide in a unitary structure a head lamp unit comprisinga pair of resistances, one for each of the lamp filaments and so `positioned'thatI electrical connections .may 4readily be made betweenthe'supply electrical conductors and the AheadY lamp bulb lilam'ents contained within the lamp casing', f 1 -1 i mother object of invention iste Vprooperable from a source .of current of higher voltage.

Oth'erobject-s o-my invention and theinn ventifon itself will be readily apparent by reference to the following descriptionofan 7 embodiment oiimy invention, in u /hichde-l .scriptionlike parts will be indicatedirby like. ,v

l Fig. l2 shows. a section takenlon theline 2 2 ofFig. 1;

Fig is aV 'fragmentary elevational View sistance element; and additional supporting 1 ig. 4 shows a fragmentary elevational View of a modified support loran emb`odi' 'i mentqof my invention 1 Fig. 5 shows y'a perspective View. of a mountingV spring employed in the ysaid embodiments; L --l FigLG shows a diagrammaticfview cfa circuit arrangement in whichthe resistance Of Figs. 1,' Qandfll/'may be included.

ile

vide an improved tilt-ray head lamp. hav- L80 y l -ing lrelatively low voltagev lamp filaments fiar ' modification. Y Referring now to the different liguresl off Fig. 47 is a partial diagrammatic view of a drawingyinY all of which 'like parts are designated by lilrer'elerence.,characters, at 1', I f

show alamp casing having, in the embodiment illustrated,'tubular side walls 3, a rear end wall 2, and a front glass 1, Athe showing offwhich is omitted in Figi'l, 'secured at the front 'ofA- the casing' togetherwiththe flanged p rim ci a reflector 6' by ailangedclamping ring Zin any ysuitableway, but so that the' front glass and reflectorjare clamped at their rimportions to the mouth of the casing and supported there-by'.v "The reflector rini is centrally perforated at 8 to admit the cylin!V I Y drical lamp socket element 9which supports Y no an electric bulb 10 `whose base11`is project-A ed within .the socket, il yy; The socket vand baise have the usual focusing and electrical circuit extending provisi0ns,so that these will vnot be e explained here, being well known, except that it may 'l be stated Vthat witlia ktilt-ray bulb, such as Athe bulb V10, having Ya plurality of iilainents l0 vand 41, the common terminal for the lilaments is connected to'the tubular metallic -band l'encircling Vthe tube baise andthe Vdo Votherterminals each individually to oneoll: :u

the iilanients are Vextended rearwardly to electricalV connecting 'terminals 14 and 15 fthe terminal 1a being extendedV to the lilanient 40 andthe terminal 15 being electrically eXtended'to the ilament 41. Itk will also'b'e understood ythat one of thelilanients,

'siichas thev filament 40, will be sopositioned relative to the focal point of the reflector 6 that the rays of light from the ila'ment l0v 'willbe project-ed from the reflector in a direction substantially *below the horizontal,

.andis used for the so-called dim'ligh ythe filament 11fis'so disposed thatthe rays of light will be V.horizontal and-slightly'be- `low horizontal producing i the so-called ,bright or ,drivingWlighn In" the appended claims it will be understood that wherever VIvihave used the term tilt-ray, I use it as delinitive ot that type of electriclamp having aplurality of *fila- Vmentswhichv may be-Vselectively'heated by directingrcuri'ent through yone or the other l of Vsaid lilaments selectively and comprising A co Ato be lreflected from thereflector at differ e. Ient, angles; that'is the rays VVfrom one of the an `individual terminal for each filament,

lwhereby dilierent electric circuits toithe dii'erent lilaments may be had, Vand which lamp-bulb is capable oit' being placed in such aifo'cal position relative toa concave reflector receiving the bulb, that the different filaments thereof '-will,when selectively iirdividiia-lly energized, cause theI rays of light filaments willbe tilted relative to from anotherpof the filaments.

I use theterm Vntilt-ray, therefore,

the rays in the claims as being my choice of a term for an element ot thel claim having the above de- Y scribed properties and structure.

At 16, I show asupp'ort iior theliead lamp having preferably convex crown 17, the

head lamp being secured tosuch support.

crown by means ot' 'a'bolt 18,iiihose head is. disposed within the casing and supported byv a lanipbodystillener 19, the stein ofthe bolt beingprojected through an opening in the oylindricalwall' ot' the casing," through the convexlcrown 17 yofthe support', a? initv 21 being screw threaded on t-lieend of the bolt, a bearingwasher 22 "being interposed between a lock rwasherf23 under Athe lnut and the '.crow'n 17Y of the supportohaving an 'enlarged opening 24 ytor,permitting siiiivelling ^,movements of tliefbolt' 18, is Vclampedfbe- `i. Y

tween tliebearing washer QQ-a'lnd the outer bearingvportion of the body'stiifener 19.

feo' s f theconcave surface of the crown 17. rlhus f The engaging surfaces-ot` thev `bearing washers and the'crown are formed to eff-eet a bearingV contact.`

The body stiliener element 19 a tace engaging the outersuriace of tlic;. ';ylindri cal wall 3 and conforms to the forint-hereof, and. is riveted ateither end by'fa' plurality of rivets 25 to the wall oi the casing. The,4 'Y

'bolt' receiving openings ot tlie'stilener. ele-V ment and casingrwall are preferably only sufficientlyvlarge to receive the bolt', whereas the opening 24 for the crown17is sullicient-YV ly'enlarged to .permit swiveling ot lamp :upon the crown.

At26,1 show one of a pair of springesupports havingbaselanges 27 anda Vcoil supporting apertu'red projection 28 extending ffrom'vftlie opposite end of the support; from the baseilange and fromtlie loppositewside thc Ahead thereof. Thefibase flanges vare apertuied at 52, so that thelilrefsupport 25 inaybeoppoy sitely disposed and carried ont-hebody'ot the lampwwalls 3 andriveted thereto `to- Vgetherwith the outer stilener element 19 by" 'means of therivets The resistance'l unit Y is preferably of tubular `form 4and is divided f into two longitudinally spaced resistance portions,j50,and 51;,each having a resistance coil therein, the onev resistance `coil being shown at 111 and the other resistance coil being shown at 112. The resistance `coils may be wound on a tubefas illustrated; The

apertured projecting Vportions "28 'of the CII of the springs to retain the unit in place. yAt 29, I shovva tubular socket element projected through a wall of the lamp casing vand supported thereby, and having an insulating block 30 disposed in its inner end with a pair of electrical circuit conducting rods 31 and 32 projected therethrough, electrical circuit conductors 43'and 44 leading from theterminal rods 31A and 32 to terminal-s of Ythe resistance windings'lll and 112, respectively. The other terminals of the two windings are electrically connected, respectively, by circuit,conductors'14 and'l toV filaments and 41 of the lamp-bulb. 'l

The tubular .socket element 29 is adapted ,to receive a' plug 34 insertable withinV the socket to extend electrical connections from a pairy of ycircuit conducting terminal contacts 33 to the terminal rods 31 and 32. Springs 35 embedded within the block 30 each resiliently press therods 32 and 31,

respectively, against the terminal contact 33.

The plug contact 33v is extended by an electrical circuit conductor to the source ot' cui'rent supply for the lamp. rIhe block and socket 34-29 respectively, are ot any'usual lwell known construction and are shown merely to illustrate themanner of extending the connection from such a socket through 'the resi-stance coils and the .lamp filaments.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically av circuit arrangement in which my inventionvmay be embodied wherein at 'I show a 12-volt battery and at 69 I show ay switch blade moved n from a normal position 70 to either of positionsv 71 and-72 whereby resistance'111 or Y 112 may be included in circuit with lila-ments 40 or 41 respectively. 'Ijhe value ot resistance of the resistance coils will preferably be vmade thesame as the i'esistance'o'f the filaments, when hot, in all cases where it is desired to operate G-v'olt filaments, 40 and 41 Vfrom a 12-volt battery 65. ,l According to Ohms law, it will be possible to vary the resistance according/to the voltage of the battery and the resistance et vthe Vfilaments when hot.

Itwill be noted that the tubular resistance coil unit, comprising resistance coils 111 and 112, has a sulicient area as to Vproperly dissipate heat resulting from the'tlow of Vcurrent through the resistances, andis mounted in such va way thatthe eiieet ot such a heat will not be eilective to iniurefthe reliecting surface oi''the reflector 6. The unit is placed relatively low in'the casing and in the middle portion t-hereot'` vso that the flow of heated air ,upwardly therefrom' will be circulatory to dissipate the heat rising from the coil against upper outer walls ot the casing, and being chilled will follow the lateral walls of .the casingv to the space below the coil. V Y

Fig? shows a modicaticn ,of my invention wherein the lamp 10 is insulated by an velectrical connections "therethrough,

insulating 4tube 81'. from thezsoclret' `9, and

aternii`nal 62 inserted within the-tube 81 contacts with Ithe metallic capfll of the lamp to which is connected the common terminal63 ofthek laiiiplilameiits 40 and 41. In thi-s way, the ccmmon return wire leading from the terminal 62 to ground at 64' lead through a singleresistance coil 60 wliiehis effective to reduce the current iowing through either Ione-ot tlie'lilaments'4() or 41 which may at any time be included in circuit with the battery 65 'in any way such vas by a'switch 6G having alternate contactsi? and 68. c i v ,v Y

Having thus describedmy 'invention ina specilic embodiment, I arm aware that numerous-and extensive departures maybe made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described but without departing from the spirit ot' my invention.

Iclaim; j t l. In a headlamp, the combination with filaments, a resistance unit comprising a pair of resistances, a body stiil'ener elementl con-v tacting with aportion of the walls of the a casing, a lampbulb having a plurality of p lOl) nationwith a head lamp bulb comprising an electricl iilament, ay lamp casing comprising a back and'side walls, a reflector having a forwardly disposed concave reflecting `surface and a'glass dislrdisposed.inffront of theV reflector, said disk and said reflector se-V cured at their edges to the sideV walls( of the casing, said bulb being carried on-'the con-1UV cave retlector',y a connection element'carried on a wall et the casingto the rear of the reflector and adapted to extend electrical connections trom the exterior to the `interior n ot the casing, a resistance unit disposedin the space. between the reiiecto-r and the rear 'casing wall, a support for'the headlamp,y

means .to reentorce the casing wall atits poi'- tions whereinV connection .is made between said wall and the support, anda supporting arm forv the unit, carried by said reenfoicing means, adapted to support the unit out of y Contact with the walls ot the casing and the ,ieiiector, and anelectrical circuit connection interconnect-ii`1` the bulb, resistance unit-,Tand electric connection' element;

' V3. Inan electric head lamp, the combina-Y vtion with ahead lam]`3'biilb,a lamp casing comprisinga back and side walls,a reflector rhaving'aforwardly disposed concave reflects ing surface and Va glass .disk disposed in front, of the reflector, said disk and said re- -fleetor securedat heir edges to the side VWalls ofthe casing, said bulb being carried onthe concave reflector, a connection'ele vment carried on awvall ofthe casing to the,

rearr ofthe reflector kand. adapted to extend electrical'connecLions-froni the exterior -to the interior Aof the casing, aresistance `unit Ydisposed-in the space between the reflector Vand the rear casing wall, a, support for the head-la1np,fineans to reenforce the casing ywall Vat itsv portions wherein connection is made between said wall andthe support, a supporting aim for the unit carried by said reenforcing means adapted to support the unit out of contact'with the walls of the casing and the reflector, and an electrical Vcircuit connection':interconnecting the bulb, re-

sistance unit, and elec-tric connection clement, said bulb haviiiga pair of lighting fil aments, said unit having a pair of resistance elements, each one of said elements being connected inserial circuit with aidifferent one of lsaid filamentsby sadrelectric circuit conductors.

4,. In an electric head lamp, the combinatienwith a headlamp bulb comprising an electric,v filament, a lainpcasing comprising a baclrand side walls, a reflector having a forwardlydisposed concave reflecting surface and a glass disk disposed in front 'of the reflectonsaiddisk and said reflector secured at' their edgesto the side walls-ofthe casing,

saidbulb being carried on the concave. re-

flector, a connection element carried on a wall of the casing tothe rearof the reflector and adapted to extend electrical connections frointhe exterior to the interior of thecasing-,faresistance unitdisposed in the space between the reflector andthe rearfcasing wall, a support for the head lamp, means Vto reenforceV theV i casing Wall at its portions wherein connection is made between said walland thesupiport, la pair of supporting ar ns forthe unit carried by said'reenforcing means adapted to support 'the Vunit out of Y contact with the walls of `the casing and the reflector, and'anfelectrical circuit connection interconnect-ing the bulb, resistance unit, and

electric connection element, each ofsaid arms b.einfg `V rigidly secured to. the casing and to saidreenforcing element at oneof Vits ends, said resistance `unit being of tubular form,

, they other end of each supporting arm making'supporting engagement with an endy of said unit. Y

5. Inan electric head lamp, thecombinak,ti'onfwithal head lamp bulb'coinprising an k electric filament, a lamp casing comprising a back and side walls, a reflector .having a forwardly disposed concave reflecting surface and a glass `disk disposed in front of Athe reflector, said diskandsaid reflector secured at their edges tothe side walls of the casing, said bulb being carried on the-- concave reflector, a connection element carried on awall of the-casing tothe rearof the reflector and adapted to extendelec'trical connections from the-exterior to* .the yinteriorof the casingy la resistance unit disposed in ythe space between Vthe. reflector and the rearcasing wall, a lsupport for-'theliead lamp, means to reenforce thel casing wall at its portions wherein connection'is made be-V veen said wall, thesupport and a pairof supporting arms for the unit carried by said reenforcing means adapted to support thecunitV out of contact with the wallsvpf the casing and the reflector, and an electrical circuit connection;interconnectingV the bulb,

resistance unit,v and electric connection elec ment, each of said arms beingyrigidly se- .iredfto the casing and said reenforcing elen'ient at one of its ends, said resistance unit being of tubular fornnthe other end-0f each supporting arm makingspring pressed engagement withanend of said unit, said tubular unit beingk recessed at its ends to receiveprojections of the said ariiis.V

6. In a head lamp, a "tilt-ray-7 bulb therefor, a concave reflector supporting at its center the said bulb, ahead lamp casing having rear and side walls, said'irefiector secured at its `edges to forwardly disposed portionof the casing side walls,.an electric resistance unit supported `by the casingv intermedia-te the reflector and Vaside and rear `casing wall,

means adapted to extend electrical circuit connections through a wall-of the casing, an

electrical circuit connection interconnecting said means and the dual filaments Aof said tilt-ray bulb, and ayoke elementsupport:r

ed by the casingfat an, intermediate portion and removably arms. ,Y n l 7. In a head lamp, a tilt-ray bulb therefor, `a concave reflector supporting atgits center thesaid bulb, a head lamp casing having rea-r and side walls, said reflector secured at its edges toy forwardly disposed portionof thecasing side walls, an electric ysupporting the unit by its lli) In testimony whereof lI hereunto Vaffix my Y signature this 9th day of June, 1926.

y WiLLiAMc/B. enunciare.

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