Patent GB-262915-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in dirigible headlights for vehicles
IPC: B60Q1/124
Filed: 1925-11-26
Abstract: 262,915. Holliday, T. C. Nov. 26, 1925. Vehicle lamps, directing.-In means for directing headlamps from the steering-gear, each lamp stem 26 is mounted slidably in a sleeve 17 and is provided with a projection 29 having a pointed underside held normally by a spring 32 in a notch 30 formed between inclined portions 31 in a reduced portion 28 of the sleeve 17, and a bar 46, adapted to be swung sideways by a chain 65 or other flexible element, passes through apertures in members 43 attached by screws 40 to lugs 38 on the headlamps, stops 49 being screwed into the ends of the bar so as to engage the members 43 one at a time to turn only the headlamp on the side of the vehicle corresponding to the direction of steering. The rear side of the stem 26 may be provided with a similar projection 29 engaging a similar notch 30 or the rear of the sleeve mav be formed with flat horizontal portion, with which the forward projection 29 may be engaged when the headlamp is used as an inspection lamp. Both headlamps may be operated simultaneously by engaging reduced extensions 48 of the screws 40 in openings 47 in the bar 46. The chain 65 is secured to and wound around cam members 57, 58 of different throw in such a manner that one section is unwound more quickly than the other section is being wound and is passed through guide-sheaves 70 and connected to an eye 71 on the bar 46, the cam members 57, 58 being clamped to the steering column 56 or to a countershaft connected by bevelled friction gears with the steering column, the gears being detachably secured so that the operating mechanism can be disconnected from the steering-gear. The chain 65 comprises tensioning devices 72 consisting of a frame connected with the links of the chain by a screwed rod and by a spring-pressed slidable rod so that the headlamps are unaffected by irregular steering movements. The sleeves 17 are secured in clamps 10, connected by bolts 19 to a rod 20 and having screwed shanks 15 secured adjustably by nuts 16 in arms 8 of brackets fixed on the finders, the clamps being engaged by a hexagonal shoulder 21 and a screw cap 24 on the stem 26. Lubricant is forced by the upward movement of a washer 33 and nut 34, forming an abutment for the spring 32, from the cap 24 through one or more grooves 80 in the stem 26 or in the sleeve 17 into a trap 81 surrounded by a sleeve 82 on the stem. To provide for tilting the lamps, the stem 26 may be formed with an enlarged head 90, Fig. 13, having a lug 91 to which are pivoted lugs 92 on a plate 93 riveted to the lamp casing, the lugs 92 being formed with flat portions 98 which engage flat portions 97 on the head 90 in the normal position. The head 90 carries screw-studs 100, 101 to which are pivoted respectively a rod 105, fitting slidably in openings in the plate 93 and the lamp casing and surrounded by a coil spring 111, and a link 115 carrying a piston 118 fitted in a cylinder 119 secured to the plate 93. The cylinders 119 are connected by flexible tubes 121 with a pump 123 by means of which oil or other fluid is forced into the cylinder 119 to tilt the lamps against the action of the springs 111. The pump 123 may be clamped to the steering column, the plunger rod 126 being connected to a pivoted hand lever 127 having a spring latch 131 for engaging a quadrant 132, or it may be mounted on the wall of the front compartment of the vehicle, the plunger-rod being connected by a spring-controlled pivoted lever to a spring- pressed operating rod, passing through, and having teeth for engaging a spring catch on the dashboard.