mg. no , T1926.
`
`A
`H.$CHJOTZETAL
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`3,595,879
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`AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT CONTROL:
`
`Filed April 19, 1924
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`2 Shee1;s—Sheet 1
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`Aug. W , T1926.
`
`(
`H. SCI-IJOTZ ET M.
`AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT CONTROL
`
`11,595,879
`
`Filed April 19, 1924
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`2 sheets_sheet
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`Patented, Aug. 10, 1926.
`“UNITED STATES
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`1,595,379
`
`
`PATENT OFFICE.
`
`A HAROLD scniorz, CHRISTIAN STAUGAABD, vAND rnannicx scH‘I.u:eriin, or
`Dnzrnoir, MICHIGAN.
`‘
`
`AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT CONTROL.
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`{Q
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`46
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`This inventioii relates to automobile head-
`light controls, an object of the invention be--
`ing toso construct and mount the headlights
`of an automobile that the headlights will
`turn in the direction of movement of the
`car so as to throw the light in the direction
`of the turn.
`;
`9
`.
`A further object is to provide improved
`operating means for the headlights directly
`controlled by the movement of the steering
`wheel and which functions to throw the light
`and also to cause ..
`in the direction of turning
`the lights while the car is turning to throw
`the beams more directly on the ground.
`A
`A further object of the invention is to
`provide horizontally or laterally movable or
`pivoted headlights having reflectors therein
`which are pivoted and which can be tilted-
`so as to throw the light downwardly,
`straight ahead, or forwardly, or upwardly
`in accordance with the desire of the driver.
`A further object is to provide a headlight
`control which may be entirely automatic or
`partially manual in accordance with the de-
`sire of the user.
`-
`,
`With these and other objects in view, the
`invention consists in certain novel features
`of construction and combinations and ar-
`rangements of parts which will be more
`fully hereinafter described and pointed out
`in the claims.
`.
`In the accompanying drawings——,
`Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating our
`improved headlights in operative position
`on an automobile;
`Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view
`showing the headlights and their control-
`ling means; A
`Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view in ver-
`tical section through one of the headlights
`and illustrating the tilting mechanism of
`I the reflector;
`Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section
`through a headlight and its mounting;
`Figure '5 is a fragmentaryyiew in hori-
`zontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;
`Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section
`taken at a point just below the line 5——5,
`«
`. with the cap plate of the pilot removed;
`50
`Figure 7 is a view in transverse section
`on the line 7--7 of Figure 4;
`Figure 8 is as diagrammaticview illus-
`trating the arcs of movement of_ the head-
`light proper and the reflector within the
`same.
`‘
`
`Application filed April 19, 1924.
`Se1_'1a1,1l'o. 707,736.
`1 representsan automobile provided with
`the ordinary steering wheel 2 and post 3.
`This post 3, as is customary, ermits motion
`through gears 4 to a rocker siiaft 5 andthe »
`'60
`latter is connectedby a rod 6 with the steer-
`ing mechanism of the automobile so as to
`controlthe movement of—the car by the turn-
`ing of the steering wheel.
`_
`.
`“
`On this rocker shaft 5 we provide a nor-
`mally vertical arm 7 ‘to automatically turn
`our improved headlights 8, as will more
`Both of the head- ‘
`fully hereinafter appear.
`lights are constructed and mounted alike
`and hence the description of one will apply
`alike to both.‘
`'
`-
`V
`.
`_A ma 9, which may be tubular if de-
`sired, is positioned transversely of the car
`frame at its forward end and secured in.
`suitable brackets 10’ in the fenders of ‘the
`car, or to_ any other portion of the frame
`where a rigid support may be had. On a
`rod 9 We secure posts 10 for the respective
`headlights 8.
`'
`'
`v
`-
`By reference particularly to Figureii4, it «
`80
`will be seen that the post" 10 is clamped to
`the rod 9 preferably by providing a sep-
`arable bearing bracket 11 at the bottom of H"
`the post and securing the same to the post
`by screws 12. The post is of general tubu-
`lar form having a reduced journal 13 at
`its upper end around which a bearing 14 is
`mounted to turn. This bearing 14 consti-
`tutes an integral portion ;of_ a sleeve 15', and
`antifriction bearings 16 are mounted above
`and below the bearing so as to reduce fric-
`tion to a minimum. The upper ball race
`of the upper antifriction bearing 16 consti-
`tutes a collar or nut 17 which is ‘screwed
`onto the threaded upper end of the journal
`13, and nuts 18 with interposed washers 19
`‘between them are screwed onto the threaded
`upper end of the journal to hold thejparts
`in normal position.
`-
`V
`The headlight 8, or more specifically the
`casing thereof, is fixed to the upper end of
`the sleeve 15 so that the headlight can turn
`freely on the pivot. Each headlight has a
`rearwardly‘ projecting arm 20 fixed thereto
`and having an eye 21 at its rear end which
`is connected by a pivot bolt 22 with a link
`23 connecting thevtwo headlights. One end
`of this link 23 is connected by a wire, cable ‘
`or other flexible connecting device" 24 with
`a clamping collar‘25 on the arm 7’ above re-
`ferred to.
`'
`
`7.0
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`73
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`85
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`90
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`95
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`100
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`105
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`not
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`3
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`

`
`1,595,879 '
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`1o
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`15
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`65
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`75
`
`stated, however, the particular» means for
`A coil spring 26 connects a fixed post 27
`operating this plunger and tilting the. re-
`with the other side of the collar 25
`bal-
`flector can be varied to suit the trade.
`ance the movement of the arm. This flex-
`It will be notedithat when this plunger 38- ’
`ible device 24 is passed around suitably lo-
`70
`is moved rearwardly it will be locked in
`cated pulleys 28 and 29 and is provided _be-
`engagement with the block 41 and will pre- '
`tween its ends with .a compensating s ring
`vent turning movement of the headlight on
`30. This spring 30 is of a, strengt
`ar in
`the post, so that whenever it is desired to
`excess of the strength of’ any of the elastic
`prevent this. automatic turning movement it
`parts described and hereinafter to be de-
`scribed so that it does not function as a
`can be stopped. by moving the plunger into
`locked position. Furthermore,
`the move-
`spring except when the headlights are locked.
`ment of the plunger can be utilized to ‘tilt
`against turning movement, then this spring
`allows the collar 25 to move without doing the reflector maniially Whenever desired.
`Particular attention is called to the con-
`any damage to its connections. It is through »
`the medium of the parts above described
`struction and mounting of the link 37. This
`that lateral or horizontal
`ivotal movement
`link is pivotally connected at its inner end
`is imparted to the headlig its to cause them
`to the plunger 38, as shown at 52, so as to
`-to turn with the front wheels, indicated by
`allow it’ to swing freely in a horizontal
`plane, while the outer end of the link con-
`the reference numeral 31, which are turned
`stitutes a hook 53 engaging a pin 54 on the
`by the action of the steering wheel 2.
`reflector 32.
`-
`In each headlight a reflector 32 is located
`A cap plate 55 is"-secured to the upper end
`and supported by trunnions 33 in brackets
`34 in the headlight casings.
`It. will he
`of the post 10, preferably by means of
`noted that these trunnions 33 are horizontal
`screws 56 and dowel pins 57, and supports
`and atiopposite sides of the reflector to allow
`the Iconvolute end of a spring 58. This
`the reflector pivotal movement, as will be
`support for the spring may~constitute a
`explained. An‘ electric lamp 34’ is_ mounted
`screw 59 which is fixed in a stud or post 60
`in the reflector and wires 35’ leading there-
`so as to prevent pivotal movement of the
`58 at its free end car-
`to have suflicient slack "within the headlight
`. spring. The spring
`casing to allow of independent ‘movement of
`ries a roller 61 engaging an angle arm 62
`the reflector, as will be understood.
`_ on the headlight. casing
`_.
`'
`8. As both of the
`The upper end of the reflector 32 is con-
`headlights are constructed alike the arms 62
`nected by a coil spring 35 to an eye 36 at
`will engage the spring arms 58 and move
`the back of the headlight casing, and this
`said spring arms to an abnormal position
`spring tends to tilt the reflector so as to
`whenever the headlights are laterally turned,
`throw light at an upward incline when per-
`and these spring arms will return the head-
`- mitted.- The lower end‘ of the reflector 32
`light to normal position and tend to swing
`is connected by a link 37 with a plunger 38
`them in an opposite direction when per-
`mounted to move transversely through suit-
`mitted.
`able openings in the upper end of the post.
`The headlight casing when turned or piv-
`This plunger 38 carries a spring-pressed key
`oted carries with it the reflector 32 but, as
`39 which may be moved into a keyway 40 in
`the link 37 swings on the pivot 52 and moves
`in a diflerent are from the arc of movement
`a block 41 fixed to the headlight casing so
`as to prevent turning movement of the head-
`of the headlight casing, it will cause the re-
`light relative to the post.
`_
`flector 32 to tilt so as to throw the light
`This plunger 38 is caused to move by a
`downwardly.
`lever 42 located in the hollow post pivotally
`Figure 8 illustrates‘diagrammatically the
`supported between its ends as shown at 43.
`difierent arcs of movement. The point -52
`The upper end of this lever 42 has a -slot
`represents the pivotal mounting of the link
`and pin connection, as shown at 44, with the
`37, and the point as represents the center of
`plunger 38, and the lower end of the lever
`the post which constitutes the pivot of the
`has a rod 45 connected thereto and extend- ‘
`headlight casing. Hence it will be seen that
`ing through an opening 46 in the post. This
`whenever the headlights are moved so as to
`rod may, of course, be operated in various
`swing with the steering wheels, a downward-
`ways to manually control the movement of
`tilt to each bolt of light is given. This is
`the plunger 38 and the tiltingmovement of
`desirable as in taking a turn it is advisable
`the reflector, and we have illustrated a sim-
`that the driver may have a clear vision of
`ple form of operating means embodying a
`the ground at the turn, and it prevents a
`knob 47 connected to a sleeve 48 held against
`direct glare of the light to drivers approach-
`longitudinal movement on the rod and pro-
`ing from the opposite direction.
`vided with "a pin 49 moving in a cam slot
`The operation is as follows:
`50 in a fixed sleeve 51 so that by turning
`The parts illustrated in Figure 2 may be
`this knob a longitudinal movement will be
`straight as a normal position, and when the
`imparted to the rod 45 to swing the lever
`steering wheel 2 is turned to steer the ve-
`42 and move the plunger 38. As above
`hicle to the right the arm 7 through the me-
`
`85
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`90
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`95
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`100
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`M0
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`115 I
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`120
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`125
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`180
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`4
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`

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`1,595,379
`
`10
`
`15
`
`dium of the flexible connecting device 24
`and rod 23 causes both headlight casings to
`swing on the posts 10.
`In doing this the
`s ring arms 58 are swun
`_
`to the left, as-
`3 s own» in dotted lines in
`_
`igure 5, and the
`reflectors 32 are caused‘ to tilt within "the
`headlight casings. When the wheels are
`straightened or swung to the left an oppo-
`site movement takes place due to the action
`of the spring arms 58.
`.
`T
`'
`-
`Whenever it is desired to lock the head-
`lights against pivotal movement, the plung-
`er 38 is manually operated to move the
`same in locked engagement with the block
`41 to prevent injury to the parts. VVhen
`the headlights are thus locked, the compen-
`sating spring 30 permits the arm 7 to move
`without imparting motion to the headlight
`0 rating means" and without breaking any
`0
`the connecting mechanism.
`\
`.Various_ slight changes and alterations
`might be made in the general form of the
`parts described without departing from our
`invention, and hence we do not limit our-'
`selves to the precise details set forth but
`consider ourselves at liberty to make such
`shght changes and alterations as fairly fall
`within the spirit and scope of the appended
`claims.
`'
`-
`'
`_
`39 ‘ .We claim:
`1. The combination with an automobile, a
`rod fixed to the automobile, hollow posts
`"fixed to the rod, headlight casings having
`rotary mounting on the posts, devices con-
`35 necting the headlight casings and causing
`them to move together,.means operated by
`the steering mechanism to cause pivotal
`
`45
`
`movement‘ of the" headlights-on the posts,
`reflectors in the headlights havin horizon-
`tal triinnions at their opposite si es mount-
`edin the headlights, springs“ connecting the
`upper portions of the reflectors with the eas-
`ings, plungers mounted to move through the
`P
`osts and adapted to lock the headlights
`_ a
`ainst
`ivotal movement, horizontally mov-
`a
`le lin s pivotally connecting the plungers
`with the lower end of the reflectors, and ’
`means for manually moving the plungers.
`2. The combination with an automobile, a '
`50
`rod fixed to the automobile, hollow posts
`fixed to the rod, headlight casings having
`rotary mounting on the posts, devices con-
`necting the headlight casings and causing '
`them to move together, means operated by
`the steering mechanism to cause pivotal
`movement of the headlights on the posts, re-
`.flectors in the headlights having horizontal
`trunnions at their opposite sides mounted in
`the headlights, springs connecting the up-
`per portions of the reflectors with the ‘cas-
`ings, plungers mounted to move through the
`posts and adapted to’ lock the headlights
`against pivotal movement, horizontally
`movable.
`links pivotally connecting ‘ the
`plungers with the lower ends of the reflec-
`tors, levers mounted in the posts and en-
`gaging the plungers, and manually con-
`trolled means connected to the levers where-
`by the plungers can be ‘manually moved to
`lock the headlight casings to the_ posts and
`to tilt the reflectors in the headlights.
`:
`HAROLD SCHJOTZ;
`.
`CHRISTIAN STAUGAARD.
`FREDRICK SCHLUETER.
`
`55
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`60
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`70‘
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`5