CA2127714A1 - Pilot activated runway lighting system - Google Patents

Pilot activated runway lighting system

Info

Publication number
CA2127714A1
CA2127714A1 CA002127714A CA2127714A CA2127714A1 CA 2127714 A1 CA2127714 A1 CA 2127714A1 CA 002127714 A CA002127714 A CA 002127714A CA 2127714 A CA2127714 A CA 2127714A CA 2127714 A1 CA2127714 A1 CA 2127714A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
lamp
lighting system
counter
timer
coupled
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002127714A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William Neville Lane
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GUIDING STAR Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
William Neville Lane
Guiding Star Pty, Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by William Neville Lane, Guiding Star Pty, Ltd. filed Critical William Neville Lane
Publication of CA2127714A1 publication Critical patent/CA2127714A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64FGROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B64F1/00Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations
    • B64F1/18Visual or acoustic landing aids

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

Abstract

2127714 9313984 PCTABS00024 A pilot activated, self-contained runway lighting system to assist in the landing of aircraft, including a lamp (10), battery means for operating the lamp (10) charged by a solar energy battery circuit, and switch means for activating the lamp in response to coded signals generated by a radio transmitter.

Description

O 93/13984 2 12 7 71~ PCI/AU93/00006 PILOT ACIIVATED R~JNWAY LIGHT~G SYSTEM

The present inYention relate~ to a pilot activated lighting system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN
Full runway lighting for smaller airports and private landing strips are expensive to install and main~ain. Wi~ a withdrawal of Government funding for airport lighting there is a need to provide an affordable system that is easily installed and virtually maintenance free. Such a system must also be able to operate wi~out requiri:ng airport personnel.
OBJECTS OF THE ~NTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide solu'dons to the abovementioned problems.
SUM~ARY OF l~IE IN~ON ~`
With this object in view the present inYention ~ a pre~erred aspect may provide a self-contained lighting system in~uding a la~p, a battery means ~or operating said lamp, a solar e~ergy battery charging circuit and switch means for activating said lamp, said ~-switch means being re ponshe to a code or ~odes transmitted by a radio transmitter.
In a preferred embodiment said swntch mean~ is responsive to a first code for aciiva~ng said lamp and a second code ~or d~
ac~va~ang ~aid l~mp. Preferably activation of said lamp is for a ;~
predete~ed 'ame after which said lamp is de-activated. If required said lamp can flash to indicate that said predetermined ~e is near comple~on.
DESC~ION OF PREFERRED EMBODI~NT ;
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily put into practical effect, a preferred non-limitatiYe embodiment of a pilot activated lighting system ~ now be wo 93/13984 21 2 7 7 l 4 - 2 - Pcr/Au93/oo~n~
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspec~ve view of a pilot activated lighting system made in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a block circuit diagram shown the pilot activated ligh~dng system made in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 3 is a circuit d;.agram of the RF receiving ~ection of the system shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the counter section of the system shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 i9 a circuit diagram of the fla~her section of the system shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is the crystal osci~ator sec~on for the RF recei~ng section shown in Fig. 3.
In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a pilot activated ligh~dng system made in accordance with the inven'don. The system is self-contained ant is not dependent on fur~e~ modules for its opera'don.
Each system conhins a lamp lO, a battery or batteries 12, solar panels 14 and a charg control circuit 16. The system is in~o~orated in a housing ll which is placed beside the runway in an appropriate posi'don. Housing ll enclose~ battery 12 and charge con~ol circuit 16. Housing ll is preferably made from a W ~tabiL~sed, va~um formed pla~tics m~terial which is very dura~le. If desired housing ll can be designed to collapse if ~truck by an aircraft. Lamp lO is typically a 10 watt quartz hal~en ~obe whi~h has a light output equivalent to a 30 watt tungsten globe. A plurality of such systems will provide suffic:ient ligh~ng to enable a pilot to land a plane. If reguired one system can be used t~ light a windsock or any other device.
To con~ol lamp 10 circui~y is provided to activate lamp 10.
3û The circuitrsr includes an antenna 18 which is coupled to a VHF
receiver detector 20. Detector 20 receives VHF signals from the ~o 93/13984 - 3 - 2 1 ~ 7 7 1 ~ PCI~/AU93/00006 .
pilot's VHF transmitter (not shown). Each transmission sensed by detector 20 is kansformed to a pulse which is coupled to a four pulse counter 22 and a first timer 24. Timer 24 reseb counter 22 15 seconds after first being activated. A latch 26 u coupled to counter 22 and will be turned on after receiving three pulses from counter 22.
Latch 26 will turn on lamp 10 through switch/relay 28 and a second timer 30. Second timer 30 will turn off the lamp after a thirty m~nute countdown. A third timer 32 is provided which controls a flasher unit 34 to cause blinking of lamp 10. The third timer will turn on 0 after 20 minutes to indicate that only 10 minutes remains for the lighting to remain activated. The times for each timer and the numbers of pulses received by counter 22 can be varied depending on particular reguirements. A light-sensitive switch 36 can also be provided to ensure the lighting system is not turned ~n during daylight hs which could dr~lin battery 12.
Figs. 3 to 6 sh~w circuit ~iagrams which enable the blo~k diaglam of Fig. 2 to be realised. The circuit components shown in Figs. 3 to 6 have been referenced to Fig. 2 where applicable. In this preferred embodiment ~e discrete components can be su~tuted by other circuitry and, if required, could be substantially replaced by microprocessor circuitry. Antenna 18 feeds into IC7 which is a I~
narrowband receiver circuit. The audio frequency output from IC7 is ~ltered by an operational amplifier IC8 to provide a trigger pulse TRIG, using relay RELl for each pilot transrnission at the selected f~e~uency on his VHF transmitter. The pilot depresses his call button three times within 15-seconds to supply ~e code for activating lamp 10. The trigger pulse TRIG is fed to IC1, a quad ty~e D flip-flip.
The four flip-flops in ICl are used to form the four pulse counter 22. When the first trigger-pulse TRIG is received by ICl a fifteen (15) oecond tirner IQ is initialised. After fifteen seconds tirner wo 93/13984 212 7 71~1 Pcr/Aug3/o~
IC2 reset~ counter ICl to allow the sequence to start again. If three trigger pul~es TRIG are received in the fifteen second duration of timer IC2 then an output is fed from pin 10 of ICl to latch IC3. Any reset~ng of counter ICl will not affect latch IC3. Latch IC3 turn~ on S transistor Q3 to activate a relay REL2 which controls lamp 10. The output from pin 10 of ICl is also fed to timer IC4 and to timer IC5.
Tima IC4 provides a thirty minute countdown whilst IC5 provides a twenty rninute countdown.
At the completion of the twenty minute countdown ICS
sends an output to transistor Q4 to turn on timer IC6. Timer IC6 provides a pulsed output to turn on and off the relay REL2 controlling lamp 10. Lamp 10 w~ flash continuously as a warning that the thirty minute time limit is shortly to expire and to reduce the load on battay 12. -lS At the of the thirt~r minute countdown the output (pin 8) of IC4 will reset htch IC3. Transistor Q3 will turn off w}dch r~leases the relay REL2 and extinguishes lamp 10.
If the pilot depresæs his call button a fur~er three ~times wliilst the thirty minute is o~urrir~ then latch IC3 and timers IC4, IC5 will be reset providing a fresh thir~r minute countdown. If four pulses are received by counter ICl then the output from pin 15 will reset latch IC3 and ex'dngu~sh lamp 10.
Thus, three depressions of the call button in fifteen seconds will turn on the lamp for thirty minutes whilst four depressions will turn off the lamp mmediately rather than wait for ~e thirty minute timeout.
The ability to turn off lamp 10 results in a more flexible system and does not drain battery 12 to the same extent as the ~irty minute timeout. If required a switch (not shown) can be placed between contacts SW1, SW2 (Fig. 4) to provide a manual override of the ~;~
system.
The integrated circuit packages are as follows:- ;

:

~VO 93/13984 5 2 1 2 7 7 1 4 Pcr/AU93/00006 IC7 MC336~ (Motorola) -TDA7000 (Ph;lips) can also be used. ~:
IC8 LM386 :
In practice battery or batteries 12 are typically two 6V 10 amp~our batteries in parallel which draws 1.6 amps per hour. The VHF receiver deteetor 20 draws less than 15mA allowing for 12 hours of illurmination. In the preferred embodiment, the detector 20 draws ~ -as lit~le as 8mA. :
~e advantage~ of the inven~on are readily iden~dfied. As each system is self~ontained they are readily moved if a chang2 of runway is required. Ea~h system is activated independen'dy and by the same V~ signals. If any systen~ fails, or fails to operate, the rer g systems will not be affected. The system requires very little maintenance. Discharge of batteries 12 is replaced via a 450 m.a. solar voltaic array averaging 3 a/h replenishment on any given day. This enables the system to be active as a runway light for up to 2 hours, (4 x 30 m~nute cycles) on any given night. Recharging to
2~ full capacity will then be achieved during the following daylight.
Due to the insignificant amount of power drawn by the receiver 20 wo 93/13984 - 6 - pcr/Aus3/
and the inclusion of a light dependent switch 36 rendering it inac~ve turing daylight hours, battery storage is not significantly affected.
It is believed that the invention and may of it~ attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the part~ and that changes may be made in the form, constructions and arrangement of the pilot activated lighting system desaibed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention o~ sacrificing all of its mate~ial advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

Claims (10)

1. A self-contained lighting system including a lamp, a battery means for operating said lamp, a solar energy battery charging circuit and switch means for activating said lamp, said switch means being responsive to a code or codes transmitted by a radio transmitter.
2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said switch means is responsive to a first code for activating said lamp and a second code for de-activating said lamp.
3. The lighting system, of claim 2, wherein activation of said lamp is for a predetermined time after which said lamp is de-activated.
4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein said lamp flashes to indicate when said predetermined time is near completion.
5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a VHF receiver detector, each code or codes from said radio transmitter received by said VHF receiver detector being converted to a pulse.
6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein each pulse is coupled to a counter, said counter being coupled to a latch which activates said lamp after a predetermined number of pulses have been detected.
7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein said latch is coupled to a timer, said timer resetting said latch after a predetermined time has elapsed.
8. The lighting system of any one of claims 5 to 7, further including a further timer coupled to said counter, said further time resetting said counter after a predetermined time has elapsed.
9. The lighting system of any one of claims 6 to 8, further including an additional timer coupled to said counter, said additional timer activating a flasher means to cause said lamp to turn on and off sequentially.
10. The lighting system of any one of the preceding claims, further including a manual override switch to bypass said switch means to allow direct connection of said lamp to said battery means.
CA002127714A 1992-01-10 1993-01-08 Pilot activated runway lighting system Abandoned CA2127714A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPL0336 1992-01-10
AUPL033692 1992-01-10
PCT/AU1993/000006 WO1993013984A1 (en) 1992-01-10 1993-01-08 Pilot activated runway lighting system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2127714A1 true CA2127714A1 (en) 1993-07-22

Family

ID=3775925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002127714A Abandoned CA2127714A1 (en) 1992-01-10 1993-01-08 Pilot activated runway lighting system

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2127714A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1993013984A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2101617B1 (en) * 1993-12-31 1998-02-01 Gonzalez Jose Jorba SIGNALING CONE.
IL142860A0 (en) * 1999-09-02 2002-03-10 Innovacio Viaria S L Signalling beacon
ITBO20040026U1 (en) * 2004-03-23 2004-06-23 Ocem Spa SEMI-LEVEL LIGHT SIGNALER
ITBO20040025U1 (en) * 2004-03-23 2004-06-23 Ocem Spa SEMI-LEVEL LIGHT SIGNALER
EP1771043A1 (en) * 2005-09-29 2007-04-04 Nortel Networks Limited Method for supplying power to a device
IT1392311B1 (en) * 2008-12-15 2012-02-24 St Microelectronics Srl NETWORK OF RADIO-CONTROLLED LUMINOUS SIGNALING UNITS.
GB2504712A (en) * 2012-08-07 2014-02-12 Gerard David Moroney Remotely operated portable runway lighting system
CN104071344B (en) * 2013-03-28 2016-05-18 深圳市海洋王照明工程有限公司 Helicopter field landing indicator lamp

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3117299A (en) * 1958-10-28 1964-01-07 Charles A Bauer Method and apparatus for aircraft control of airport landking lights
US3121857A (en) * 1959-03-12 1964-02-18 John E Mccroy Method and apparatus for aircraft control of airport landing lights
US3247486A (en) * 1962-04-12 1966-04-19 Sentron Inc Coded signal control system
FR2315096A1 (en) * 1975-06-19 1977-01-14 Tontic Noel Portable beacon and radio telephone for aircraft guidance - has control circuit permitting automatic response to aircraft signal
US4201973A (en) * 1978-07-21 1980-05-06 Theodore Jackson Airport landing indicator apparatus
AT389369B (en) * 1987-06-15 1989-11-27 Schnuer Karl Heinz USE OF A TURN SIGNAL UNIT
FR2631921B1 (en) * 1988-05-31 1993-08-20 Briatte Louis Michel AERONAUTICAL OPTICAL GUIDANCE ASSEMBLY
IT1242138B (en) * 1990-09-19 1994-02-16 Italsolar PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM FOR AIRPORT LIGHTING

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1993013984A1 (en) 1993-07-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2127714A1 (en) Pilot activated runway lighting system
CA2015140A1 (en) Battery monitoring and charging circuit for sump pumps
DE69414693D1 (en) A SEQUENTIAL SELECTIVE OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT BRAKES
EP0368840A3 (en) Forage harvester
NZ232521A (en) Airstrip landing lights solar powered
US7070299B2 (en) Lighting apparatus
US4253628A (en) Automatic parachute release system
US4201973A (en) Airport landing indicator apparatus
US3771120A (en) Airport runway approach and reference lighting system
KR940003161B1 (en) Remote supervisory and controlling system performing dimming control of light loads
AU668905B2 (en) Pilot activated runway lighting system
US4612492A (en) Constant voltage power circuit for a remotely controlled device
JPS56109327A (en) Flash device with dimmer
CN216709642U (en) Unmanned aerial vehicle puts in device
DE3576770D1 (en) DEVICE FOR TESTING THE REMAINING CAPACITY OF A SAFETY LIGHTING UNIT.
CN217640003U (en) Solder paste is awaken material and is regularly reminded device
WILLSON et al. Very Large Array observations of solar active regions. 4: Structure and evolution of radio bursts from 20 cm loops[Interim Report]
KR19980057125U (en) Aviation obstacle light control device
CN207380762U (en) A kind of hoisting machinery based on IC card uses duration timekeeping system
SERAFIMOV et al. A system for optimization of measurement program and power control in view of onboard energy supply
JPS6490371A (en) Storage device for locker for rent
TW338876B (en) Adjustment method and equipment of brightness of emergency lighting
RAPPAPORT Lighting control systems handbook(Final Report, Oct. 1979- Mar. 1985)
LAYTON Systems safety including DOD standards(Book)
CHEN Development of laser conducting landing system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued