Patent GB-315683-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or connected with lamps for vehicles
IPC: B60Q1/14
Filed: 1928-04-16
Abstract: 315,683. Kilroy, W. D. April 16, 1928. Adjusting reflectors from a distance; mounting reflectors on lamp casings.-In a vehicle lamp the front portion of a reflector 1 carrying an electric lamp bulb 5 is pivoted at 4 on a gimbal ring 2 which is pivoted at 3 so that the reflector can be moved in anv desired direction by a comparatively small force applied to the back of the reflector. The back of the reflector may be swung horizontally by means of the steering gear to facilitate driving, and may be swung in any desired' upward direction and returned downwards for anti-dazzle purposes as by means of a single electromagnet or by mechanical means. In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the gimbal ring 2 carries or is formed in one with a front extension 16 of the reflector 1, and the pivots 3 are carried bv a frame 8<a> secured to the lamp casing 8. To the back of the reflector is fixed a flange 19 to which is clamped a plate 23 carrying a horizontal and preferably springy pin 21 adapted to be spring-pressed downwards into the bottom of an upper V-shaped portion of a nut 22. The plate 23 is adjustable by screws 24, 25 to bring a, lower pin 26 into the central position shown for central dipping of the reflector or into positions 27, 28 for dipping to the left or right respectively when the pin 26 is spring- pressed upwards into the bottom of a lower V- shaped portion of the nut 22. The pins 21, 26 may be bent so as to vary the dipping movement of the reflector. The nut 22 works on a threaded tubular bar 30 which is rotated by a flexible shaft 34 connected to the steering gear, rotation of the nut 22 being prevented by a rod 33. A U-shaped spring 17 is fixed to the gimbal ring 2 and engages in radial slots in two discs 44 which are joined by pins 43, 45 and pivoted at 47 in a framework 46. When the electromagnet 18 is energized a central rod 41 pushes forward a flat pivoted hand 42, and the pin 43 is brought into the centre line V-T. The hand 42 is then urged upward by a spring 48 and the reflector is dipped, an insulated roller 55 carried by the gimbal ring 2 separating a spring contact 56 from a fixed contact 57 to de-energize the electromagnet 18, and allowing a spring contact 58 to engage the contact 57. When the electromagnet is again energized the raised hand 42 drives the discs in a counterclockwise direction and the reflector is returned to its normal position. The single electromagnet may be replaced by a pair of electromagnets, one being adapted to push the top and the other either to pull the top or push the bottom of the gimbal ring. Suitable electric connections for both arrangements are described and illustrated in the Specification. In the drive shown in Fig. 9, the worm shaft 65 connected to the steering is formed or fitted with a gear 67 which gears with a gear wheel 71 which drives a gear wheel 72. The latter may be hollow and of square section to receive the ends of flexible shafts 76, 77 which are led through sheaths 79 to the flexible shaft 34 shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the hollow shaft 72 may be extended on both sides, split, tapered, threaded, and provided with nuts for clamping to the ends of a pair of flexible shafts or to a common flexible shaft passing straight through the gear wheel. As shown in Fig. 11, the nut 22 may be replaced by a slider 80 mounted on a squared bar 81 and clamped to a rod or flexible shaft 83 which is operated by the steering mechanism. Slack may be taken up by means of a spring 89 joined to the lamp casing and to a pulley 88 around which passes a chain 86 connected to the slider 80. In the form shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the back of the reflector 1 carries a pin 91 which is threaded through an eye at the top of a pin 92 which is free to rotate in a part 93. The latter is clamped to a slider 94 and can be pivoted about a screw 95 to bring a locking screw 96 into a central position, or into a dip-to-left or dip-to-right position. The slider 94 is slidably mounted on a rod 98 and is prevented from rotating by a rod 97 engaging in grooved portions projecting rearwardly from the slider. A tube 99 free to rotate in the slider carries arms 100 to one end of which an operating rod or cable 102 is clamped by screws 101 and to the other end of which is secured a roller 103. Rotary motion of the rod 102 brings the roller 103 under the pin 91 and lifts the pin 92 to tilt the back of the rejector about an axis determined by the position of the screw 96. Figs. 15 and 16 show means for operating a pair of head-lamp reflectors by means of a single flexible cable 104. The latter is clamped to a carrier 106 the central portion of which is surrounded by a part 109 carried by pivots 110, 111 on an actuating arm 112. This arm is pinned to one end of a shaft 113 to the other end of which is pinned an arm 115 provided with a ball joint 116 to which is connected a rod 117 connected with the steering gear so as to impart the necessary motion to the arm 112. The carrier 106 is provided with an arm 108 carrying a limiting stop 125 connected to a back-lash spring 126, and with an arm 107 to which is pivotally connected a flexible cable or rod 120 which passes through guides 121, 122 and thence through stiff or flexible piping to a knob, plunger, or lever under the control of the driver. Alternatively, the rod 120 for dipping the reflector may be replaced by an electromagnet mounted on the arm 112 and controlled by a switch on the steering wheel.