US1539090A - Headlight - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1925.

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May 26; 1925;

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E. 5. KING HEADLI GHT Filed Oct. 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y HQ 3 M R N 0 m6 T m M A N m m M W Y 5 May 26, 1925. 1,539,090

E. 5. KING HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Zvvzzv TOR: ERNEST 6. Knvq BY 7% Ml ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES ERNEST S. KING, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed October 6, 1923. Serial No. 666,924.

My invention relates to headlights, and

more particularly to headlights for use on motor vehicles. Objects of the invention are to prevent the shaft of light which is projected from the headlight from being flashed into the eyes of pedestrians or occupants of approaching vehicles, and to intensity the light and concentrate the raysupon the roadway so that they will be directed in a lower plane, and will not diffuse upwardly, thereby aiding the driver of the motor vehicle.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description, and the novel features of my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several different forms in which my invention may be embodied, Fig. 1 is a view of one form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a view n section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. F g. 3 s a plan view of the lens employed n this form of invention. Fig. 4 is a view of an other form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a view of another form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. is a view of another form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 7 is a VIBW. of another form of the invention in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 8 1s a view in perspective showing the torms illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. ig. 9 is a. view in perspective of the lens used in the form shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the lens used in the forms shown in Figs. 6 7 and 8. Fig. 11 is a view in cross section on the line 1111 of F1 6 Fig. 12 is a view in cross section on t e line 12-12 of Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view" is a parabolic reflector 18' at the focus of which is placed a lamp 20. Secured adjacent the front of the reflector 18 is a lower mask 22, and an upper mask 24. These masks are opaque and preferably black in order not to reflect light. The lower mask 22 is in the form of a segment which covers nearly one-half of the opening of the reflector, while the upper mask 24 is in the form of a segment which is much smaller and covers only a small portion of the reflector opening. The inside of the lamp casing is of a dead black color in order not to reflect light. Rays of light emanating from the lamp 20 are reflected in parallel lines by the parabolic reflector 18, the rays reflected from substantially the lower half of the reflector being intercepted by the mask 22 while the rays reflected from the extreme upper edge of the reflector are intercepted by the small mask 24. The rays which pass through the opening between the mask strike the lens 16 and all of those above the axial line will be refracted downwardly so as to strike the roadway in front of the headlight. As shown the lower mask does not cover quite one-half of the reflector opening which fact permits the device to be pointed slightly downwardly and still cause the upper edge of the shaft of light to be horizontal, it being understood that the rays of light cross a short distance in front of the lens. The provision of the straight edges 26 and 28 for the masks causes the shaft of light to be cut straight at top andbottom. In the form of invention shown in Fig. 4, the masks adjacent the front of the reflector such as just described are not employed, but the masking is obtained by providing part of the reflector with a non-reflecting surface preferably by the use of, a black coating. As shown, substantially the lower half of the reflector is provided with a black coating 30 which has a straight upper edge 32, and the extreme upper portion of the reflector is provided with ablack coating 34 which has a straight lower edge 36. By comparing Fig. 4 with Fig. 1 it will be seen that the eflect on the rays oi light is practically the same for both forms. In the form shown in Fig. 5, masks 22 and 24 similar to those shown in Fig. 1 are employed, but the opening between the masks 1s covered with a piece of corrugated glass 38 such as shown in 13 which acts to diffuse the light. The ront of the lamp casing 14 is provided with a lens 40 such as shown in Fig. 9. This lens thins down from the middle toward both the top and bottom and can be produced by cutting a round piece from the double cylindrical lens shown in Fig. 10. In the forms thus far described, the casing 14 is cylindrical and may be used as an attachment to the cup-shaped member of the customary automobile headlight. In the forms now to be described, arectangular casing 14 such as shown in Fig. 8 is provided which requires a new rear portion for the headlight. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and-11, the front of the casing is provided with a double cylindrical lens 42 such as shown inFig. 10. Masks 22' and 24 similar to those shown in Fig. l are employed, the masks, howevcn being shaped to fit the rectangular casing. The opening between the masks is covered with a piece of corrogatedglass 38 similar to the piece 38 shown in Fig. 5, as being .in engagement with the rear surfaces of the masks. In F ig. 6, the glass 38' is shown in engagement with the front surfaces of the masks. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 12, the parabolic reflector is dispensed with and the rear curved wall 44 is employed as the reflector. A lower horizontal partition 46 is placed directly below the lam 20, and an upper horizontal partition 48 is placed some distance above the lamp, and somewhat below'the upper wall of the casing. These two partitions extend forwardly for a portion only of the casing and are supported and held at their front ends respectively by strips 50 and 52 which in turn are supported by the casing. Attached to the front ends of the partitions 46 and 48 and covering the space between the same, is a piece of white semitransparent material 54 which may be composed of milky glass. It will be apparent that in all of the forms of invention described, the light reflected from the lamp passes through the upper portion only of the lens and is refracted downwardly at the same time so as to be thrown upon the roadway and'below the level of the eyes of pedestrians or occupants of other automobiles. It will also be apparent that the shaft of light which is projected from the lamp is cut straight across at top and bottom, thus producing well-defined illumination of the roadway. A spherical lens such as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, is considered the best form for use in connection with reflectors of the common type having continuous or uninterrupted surfaces, while a cylindrical lens such as shown in Figs. 5 to 10,

is considered best for use in connection with reflectors having interrupted surfaces such as are produced by providing the reflector with ridges.

I claim:

A headlight comprising a casing, a double convex lens in the front of said casing, a parabolic reflector for the rear portion of said casing, a single source of-light in said casing located at the focus of said reflector. a small opaque non-reflecting mask whose upper edge is substantially in contact with the upper portion of the margin of said refiector whereby rays of light are prevented from passing thru the extreme upper por- ERNEST S. KING

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