Aug. w , T1926.
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`H. SCHJOTZ ET AL
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`Lswm
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`AUTOMOBILE HEADLI GHT CONTROL
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`Filed April 19, 1924
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`2 Sheets-Sheet l
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`TELL-9.1.,
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`A TI'OHNEVS.
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`Page 1 of 5
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`Aug“ W , 1926.
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`H. s'cHJoTz ET AL
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`AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT CONTROL
`Filed April 19, 1924
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`11959537
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`2 Sheets-Sheet 2
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`50*
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`344/
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`9 m
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`A TTORNEVS;
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`Page 2 of 5
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`1,595,879
`Patented Aug. 10, 1926.
`' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. _
`HAROLD SCHJ'OTZ, CHRISTIAN STAUGAABD, AND FFEDBIGK SGHLUIETEB, OF
`DETROIT,
`aurouomnn HEADLIGHT con'rnon.
`Application filed April 19, 1924. steam. 707,738.
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`1 represents an automobile provided with
`the ordinary steering wheel 2 and post 3.
`This post 3, as is customary, permits motion
`through gears 4 to a rocker '
`suaft 5 and'the >
`latter is connected‘by a rod 6 with the steer~
`'60
`mg mechanism of the automobile so as to
`control-the movement ofthe car by the turn-.
`ing of the steering wheel. _
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`On this ‘rocker shaft 5 we provide a nor
`mally vertical arm 7 ‘to automatically turn
`our improved headlights 8, as will more,
`fully hereinafter appear. Both of the head
`lights are constructed and mounted alike
`and hence the description of one will apply
`
`This invention relates to automobile head
`light controls, an object of the invention be-
`ing to "so 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. ;
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`.
`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
`in the direction of turning‘ and also to cause‘.
`the lights while the car is turning to throw
`the beams more directly on the ground.
`I
`A further object of the invention is to
`provide horizontally or laterally movable or
`pivoted headlights having re?ectors 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.
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`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 thelr control
`ling means; ‘
`Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view in ver
`tical section through one of the headlights
`and illustrating the tilting mechanism of
`' the re?ector;
`Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section
`through a headlight and its mounting;
`Figure '5 is a fragmentary'view 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;
`Figure 7 is a view in transverse section
`60
`on the line 7-—7 of Figure 4;
`Figure 8 is av diagrammatic view illus
`trating the arcs of movement of the head
`light proper and the re?ector within the
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`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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`80
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`45
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`same.
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`1.0
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`alike to both.‘
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`_A rod 9, which may be tubular if at.
`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
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`headlights 8.
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`v86
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`90
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`95
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`By reference particularly to Figure'4, it -
`will be seen that the post' 10 is clamped to
`80
`the rod 9 preferably by providing a sep
`arable bearing bracket 11 at the bottom of’ I'
`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 portionyof 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 theparts
`in normal position.
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`1
`The headlight 8, or more speci?cally 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 ?xed thereto
`and having an eye 21 at its rear end which
`105
`is connected by a pivot bolt 22 with a link
`23 connecting the'two headlights. ()ne end _
`of this link 23 is connected by a wire, cable
`or other ?exible connecting device 24 with
`a clamping collar'2_5 on the arm 7v above re
`' no
`ferred to.
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`1,595,879 '
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`stated,‘ however, the particular means for
`A coil spring 26 connects a ?xed post 27
`operating this plunger and tilting the re
`with the other side of the collar 25 to bal
`?ector can be varied to suit the trade.
`mice the movement of the arm. This_ ?ex
`It will be noted'that when this plunger 38'
`ible device 24 is passed around suitably lo
`is moved rearwardly it will be locked in 70
`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
`be de
`can be stopped. by moving the plunger into
`10p
`scribed so that it does not functlon as a
`spring except when the headlights are lockedv
`locked position. Furthermore, the move
`against turning movement, then this spring
`ment of the plunger can be utilized to ‘tilt
`the re?ector manually whenever desired.
`allows the collar 25 to move without doing
`Particular attention is called to the con
`any damage to its connections. It is through '
`struction and mounting of the link 37. This
`the medium of the parts above described
`link is pivotally connected at its inner end
`that lateral or horizontal ivotal movement
`is imparted to the headlig its to cause them
`to the plunger 38, as shown at 52, so as to
`allow it to swing freely in a horizontal
`to turn with the front wheels, indicated by
`plane, while the outer end of the link con
`the reference numeral 31, which are turned
`by the action of the steering wheel 2.
`stitutes a hook 53 engaging a pin 54 on the
`In each headlight a re?ector 32 is located
`re?ector 32.
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`and supported by trunnions 33 in brackets
`A cap plate 55 is-secured to the upper end
`of the post 10, preferably by means of
`34 in the headlight casings.
`It- w1ll be
`screws 56 and dowel pins 57, and supports
`noted that these trunnions 33 are horizontal
`and at'opposite sides of the re?ector to allow
`the lconvolute end of a spring 58. This
`support for the spring mayronstitute a
`the re?ector pivotal movement, as Wlll be
`explained. An‘ electric lamp 34’ is mounted
`screw 59 which is ?xed in a stud or post 60
`in the re?ector and wires 35' leading there
`so as to prevent pivotal vmovement of the
`to have sufficient slack within the headlight
`spring. The spring 58 at its free end car
`casing to allow of independent ‘movement of
`ries a roller 61 engaging an angle arm 62
`the re?ector, as will be understood.
`on the headlightcasing 8. As both of the
`The upper end of the re?ector 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 re?ector 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
`light to normal position and tend to swing
`~ mitted.- The lower end‘ of the re?ector 32
`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 re?ector 32 but, as
`39 which may be moved into a keyway 40 m
`the link 37 swings on the pivot 52 and moves
`a block 41 ?xed to the headlight casing so
`in a di?erent are from the arc of movement
`as to prevent turning movement of the head
`of the headlight casing, it will cause the re
`light relative to the post.
`_
`?ector 32 to tilt so as to, throw the light
`downwardly.
`This plunger 38 is caused to move by a
`lever 42 located in the hollow post pivotally
`Figure 8 illustratesdiagrammatically the
`supported between its ends as shown at 43.
`di?'erent 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 n: 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
`120
`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 re?ector, 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
`direct glare of the light to drivers approach
`knob 47 connected to a sleeve 48 held against
`ing from the opposite direction.
`longitudinal movement on the rod and pro
`vided with 'a pin 49 moving in a cam slot
`The operation is as follows:
`The parts illustrated in Figure 2 may be
`50 in a ?xed sleeve 51 so that by turning
`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
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`180
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`75
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`35
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`90
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`100
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`1,595,879
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`.dium of the ?exible connecting device 24
`movement of the‘ headlights-on the posts,
`and rod 23 causes both headlight ‘casings to
`re?ectors in the headlights havin horizon
`swing on the posts 10. In doing this the
`tal trunnions at their op site si es mount
`edin the headlights, springs" connecting the
`to the left, as
`s ring arms 58 are swun
`_
`s own in dotted lines in igure 5, and the
`upper portions of the re?ectors with the cas-_
`ings, plungers mounted to move through the
`re?ectors 32 are caused‘ to tilt within the
`headlight casings. When the wheels are
`posts and adapted to lock the headlights
`straightened or swung to the left an oppo- _
`a ainst ivotal movement, horizontally mov
`site movement takes place due to the action
`a le lin s pivotally connecting the plungers
`with the lower end of the re?ectors, and ‘
`of the spring arms 58.
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`Y
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`means for manually moving the plungers.
`Whenever it is desired to lock the head
`lights against pivotal movement, the plung
`2. The combination with an automobile, a '
`er 38 is manually operated to move the
`rod ?xed to the automobile, hollow posts
`60
`?xed to the rod, headlight casings having
`same in locked engagement with the block
`41 to prevent injury to the parts. When
`rotary mounting on the posts, devices con
`the headlights are thus locked, the compen
`neeting the headlight casings and‘ causing '
`sating spring 30 permits the arm 7 to move
`them to move together, means operated by
`as
`without imparting motion to the headlight
`the steering mechanism to cause pivotal
`0 rating means and without breaking any
`movement of the headlights on the posts, re
`?ectors in the headlights having horizontal
`0 the connecting mechanism.
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`‘
`.Various ‘slight changes and alterations
`trunnions at their opposite sides mounted in
`might be made in the general form of the
`the headlights, springs connecting the up
`parts described without departing from our
`per portions of the re?ectors with the ‘eas
`ings, plungers mounted to move through the
`invention, and hence we do not limit our-'
`posts and adapted to‘ lock the headlights
`selves to the precise details set forth but
`against pivotal movement, horizontally
`consider ourselves at liberty to make such
`slight changes and alterations as fairly fall
`movable. links 'pivotally connecting ‘ the
`within the spirit and scope of the appended
`plungers with the lower ends of the re?ec
`tors, levers mounted in the posts and en
`gagmg the plungers, and manually con
`trolled means connected to the levers where
`by the plungers can be vmanually moved to
`lock the headlight casings to the posts and
`to tilt the re?ectors in the headlights.
`HAROLD SCHJOTZ; ,
`.'
`CHRISTIAN STAUGAARD.
`FREDRICK SCI-ILUETER.
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`claims.
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`‘ .We claim:
`1. The combination with an automobile, a
`rod ?xed to the automobile, hollow posts
`"?xed. to the rod, headlight casings having
`rotary mounting on the posts, devices con
`neeting the headlight casings and causing
`them to move together,_means operated by
`the steering mechanism to cause pivotal
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`10
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`16
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