US1610608A - Locomotive headlight - Google Patents

Description

H. L. JOHNSTON LOCOMOTIVE HEADLIGHT Dec. 14 1926.

Filed Jan. 16, 1924 INVENTOR Howard Lc/ofimstm.

Ii ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

"EJNITFE'ID er "'HoWARnL. JOHNSTON, or FOREST HILLS BOROUGH, 'rnnnsynvanm, AssIGnoR To MANUFACTURING cciurnny, A. CORPORATION 01' "WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &

PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCOMOTIVE :I-IEADLIGHT.

Application filed January 16,1924. Serial No. 686542.

service. As focusing is an operation which the ordinary workman is not able to perform and which cannotbe properly done except under special conditions, it is necessary that the adjustment be maintained at least as long as the life of the lamp element. When a new lamp is installed in the headlight, a .new adjustmentof the focus is usually necessary.

Another requirement of a focusing device.

is that it shall be capable of adjusting the lampinto a plurality of positions in the reflector aperture. This is accomplished in part, by a straight line adjustment which permits the light to be placed at any desired depth in the reflector aperture. and in part, bya ba'll-and-socket joint which permits a circular movement of the lamp.

It is, therefore, one object of my invention to provide a focusing device which shall be capable of universal movement.

iA-nother object'of my invention is to provide-a focusing device whereby one unitof the device shall be held in temporary adjustment while the other adjustment is being made.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a focusing device in which the parts shall be securely clamped when the lamp is in exact focus in such manner that the adjusted parts shall not be displaced by reason of shocks and jars.

Heretofore, focusing means have been provided with devices which permit universal movement of the parts. were used under conditions where the fixture was not subjected to shocks and jars, and consequently no special means for maintaining the lamp in focus was necessary. Focusing was so seldom required that no special devices were needed to facilitate the operation.

3, and

Many such devices are finally locked in position. Specifically,

I provide a lamp-supporting spindle which passes centrally through a ball and-so'cket joint that is capable of universal movement.

The ball-and-socket joint is provided witha clamp and spring mechanism which holds it in movable frictional engagement while the spindle is being adjusted. The clamp and spindle are also provided with a plurality of lock-nuts by means of which the adjusted parts are locked in a permanent manner.

Throughout the drawing, constituting a part hereof, in which like characters designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and'partly in cross section. of a headlight with a focusing device therein;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view oft-he clamp taken along the line EDI-11 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clamp shown in Fig. 2. v

' The headlight casing 1, show-n in Fig. 1, is provided with a reflector Q and a lamp 3 therein that is'mounted in a socket 4 in a well known manner. Upon one end of a spindle 5 which is supported centrally in a ball-and-socket member which has a ball portion 6' at one end and a flattened apertured portion or yoke 7 at the other end thereof. The end of the spindle 5 remote from the lamp isthreaded and projects through the apertured portion? ofthe ball member. 7

A knurled nut 8 is mounted on the spindle in the apertured portion of the ball member for moving the lamp along the axis of the spindle in one direction. External to the 'apertured portion, a thumb nut 9, mounted on the spindle is adapted to move the lamp in the opposite direction, andalso serves as a lock-nut for the spindle. A second thumb nut 10 is mounted on the spindle and serves as a lock-nut for the first thumb nut. A screw 11 in the ball member projects into a groove in the spindle to prevent the spindle from turning. partly in a clamp 12 and partly inthe rear wall 13 of the casing and, together with the A two-part socket is formed ball 6 fitted therein, comprises the ball-andsockct joint. The joint is held together by the clamp 12 which is hinged to a bracket 14: or clamp on the casing.

The clamp 1 1- is apertured and is provided with a centrally located socket portion 15 which fits over the ball 6. Bit diametrically opposite points 16 of the aperture, the clamp is cut away in order to allow it to be slipped over the flattened apertured portion 7 of the ball member When the parts are assembled. In one end of the clamp, a countersunk opening 17 fits loosely over a bolt 18 in the easing. A. thumb nut 19 screws on the bolt 18 against the clamp and prevents the ball from moving. It coil spring 20 around the bolt 18 bears against the clamp 14: and holds the ball-and-soeket joint in temp rary engagement When the thumb nut 19 is not screwed down. A second thumb nut 21 is mounted on the bolt and serves as a lock-nut tor the thumb nut 19.

The lamp is focused in the following inanner. Starting with all the parts released, the thumb nut 19 is screwed down until the spring 20 bears against the clamp 12 sui iciently to hold the ball from moving. The spring is of such strength that it allows the ball to be moved and to be retained in any adjusted position. The longitudinal adjustment of the lamp is made by varying the position of the knurled nut 8 and the thumb nut 9 on the spindle 5. The spindle may be moved to very nearly the correct position and held therein temporarily. The final adjustments are then made by varying the position of the ball in its socket in a. well known manner. lVhen the lamp is exactly in focus, the thumb nut 19 is screwed tightly to lock the clamp in its final position, and the lock nuts 10 and 21 are screwed down.

Although I have described a specific em bodiment of my invention, 1 do not limit it thereto, since various modifications thereof Wlll suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is defined in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a light projecting device. a focusing device comprising a universal joint member,

a lamp-supporting spindle axially disposed in said member and movable along its axis, a spherical portion at one end and a flattened aperture-d portion at the other end of said member, means in said apertured portion 'lor adjusting said saindle, means e2;- ternal to said apertured portion for adjusting said spindle, means for clamping said member, a nut for locking said clamping means and a spring bearing said nutand clamping means for restraining the movement of said universal joint member.

2. In a light projecting device, a focusing device comprising a socket, a ball member. a e amp, a ball on one end and a flattened apertured portion on the other end of said ball member, a lamp-supporting spindle a1:- ially poiitioned in said ball member and slidable therein, nut in said apertured portion r adjusting said spindle, a spindle adjust ing and locking ut external to said apertured portion, a nut to lock said clamp and ly -ll member and a spring external to sa' 1 up bearing on said nut and clamp for maintaining said ball and clamp in frictional engagement when the nut is loosened.

23. [r focusing device adapted to be mounted on a lamp casing havin an apertured socket in. one portion thereof comprising a threaded lamp spindle provided with adjusting and locking nuts mounted thereon, a support for said spindle having a ball member on one end thereof adapted to be mounted in said socket and to form a closure for said opening and a flattened portion having an opening therein on the other end thereof, said flattened portion being adapted to permit the operation oi? one of said adjusting nuts Within said opening and to pe nit the operation of other adjusting nuts exterior thereto, said support having an axial opening therein coextensive with the opening in said casing whereby said spindle is inserted into said casing through said support, and an apertured clamp attached to said casing and adapted to lock said support and easing together. i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of December, 1923.

HOlVARD L. JOHNSTON.

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