EP0201581B1 - A marker beacon - Google Patents
A marker beacon Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0201581B1 EP0201581B1 EP85905906A EP85905906A EP0201581B1 EP 0201581 B1 EP0201581 B1 EP 0201581B1 EP 85905906 A EP85905906 A EP 85905906A EP 85905906 A EP85905906 A EP 85905906A EP 0201581 B1 EP0201581 B1 EP 0201581B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- light
- beacon
- marker
- ultraviolet light
- paint
- 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.)
- Expired
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
- G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B51/00—Marking of navigation route
- B63B51/02—Marking of navigation route with anchored lightships; by use of lighthouses
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
- E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
- E01F9/604—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings
- E01F9/615—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings illuminated
- E01F9/617—Illuminated or wired-up posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures for traffic guidance, warning or control
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a marker beacon, and more particularly to an illuminated marker beacon.
- a marker beacon is a type of beacon which in recent years has been standadized in Sweden to the form of pyramidal box having a height of about 1.5 meters. Certain beacons, such as pyramidal marker beacons, are illuminated at night, so as to be more readily seen by those at sea.
- the marker beacon In order to make the marker beacon visible at night, it is illuminated with the aid of a lighting arrangement or lamp unit, such as a halogen lamp, which shines with a relatively white light.
- a lighting arrangement or lamp unit such as a halogen lamp
- a beacon which is illuminated in this way can only be seen from a distance of about 1.5 nautical miles.
- the naked eye sees progressively more and more white in the light emanating from the beacon, and consequently progressively less red light.
- the beacon is seen as a white lamp, resembling approximately a stationary street lamp or some other source of white light.
- DE-A-17 66 816 a screen is shown which is intended to be illuminated by ultraviolet light.
- the screen contains fluorescent particles.
- DE 17 66 816 there is no suggestion in DE 17 66 816 of how to improve the visibility at long distances.
- the present invention relates to a marker beacon for sea navigation purposes, which incorporates one or more planar surfaces making an angle to the horizontal plane and which planar surfaces are intended to be seen by those at sea, characterized by the combination in which said surfaces are coated with a fluorescent paint, in a manner known per se, which paint transmits light of visible wavelength when irradiated with ultraviolet light, in which a lighting arrangement is provided for irradiating said surfaces with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light, in which the light source of the lighting arrangement, optionally in combination with a cover glass, is arranged so as to transmit substantially no light within the visible light spectrum.
- Figure 1 shows a marker beacon 1 as seen from one side, i.e. as seen by those on the seaward side of the beacon.
- Figure 2 shows the beacon 1 from above.
- a marker beacon 1 of substantially pyramidal configuration and having a square cross-sectional shape in the horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 2.
- the beacon suitably comprises three sheet-metal side panels 2, 3, 4. Each of the panels has the shape of an equilateral triangle, with a side length of 1.8 meters. This construction is used in those cases when the side 5 to which no panel is fitted faces inland.
- the beacon may be fitted with two or four side panels.
- the outer surfaces of respective panels 2, 3, 4 are coated with a paint which fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light and reflects light having a wavelength which lies within the visible spectrum, i.e. a so-called daylight luminous paint.
- the paint used is preferably one which when irradiated with ultraviolet light, transmits light within the red region of the spectrum.
- the illustrated beacon incorporates a lighting arrangement 6, 7, 8 for the transmission of ultraviolet light.
- the lighting includes, for example, two lamp units 7, 8, each of which comprises a light source in the form of a mercury lamp.
- the lighting arrangement is preferably constructed to transmit light in the wavelength band of 360-370 nanometers.
- the lighting arrangement is so constructed that the light source, optionally in combination with the cover glass of the lamp units, transmits no light within the visible spectrum. This means that no part of the surroundings will be illuminated in a manner discernible to the eye.
- the lamp units are suitably carried by a frame 6 and are so mounted that the light passing through respective light apertures illuminates all the side panels 2, 3, 4 of the beacon.
- an advantage is gained when the lamp units are constructed so that substantially all light transmitted falls within the sectors indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, since ultraviolet light which falls outside the beacon serves no useful purpose.
- a marker beacon constructed in accordance with the invention is a remarkable improvement on beacons illuminated with white light, especially during the dark hours.
- the beacon Since the surroundings are not illuminated in a manner to be visible to the eye, the beacon is seen only as an intensive red light. In addition to being visible over distances which are four times greater than those possible when using visible light, the beacon can be readily distinguished from other fixed land lighting.
- a marker beacon according to the invention thus constitutes a remarkable improvement for those at sea.
- the marker beacon has been described by way of an example as having a pyramidal form, although it will be understood that beacons of other configurations and other types also fall within the scope of the invention.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
- Instructional Devices (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a marker beacon, and more particularly to an illuminated marker beacon.
- There are many kinds of beacons.
- A marker beacon is a type of beacon which in recent years has been standadized in Sweden to the form of pyramidal box having a height of about 1.5 meters. Certain beacons, such as pyramidal marker beacons, are illuminated at night, so as to be more readily seen by those at sea.
- In Sweden newly erected marker beacons are painted with a so-called daylight luminous paint, i.e. a paint which transmits light of visible wavelength when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Thus, the ultraviolet light present in the sunlight falling on the beacon will cause the beacon to fluoresce, so that it can be readily seen in daylight. Red is the most commonly used daylight luminous paint employed in this respect.
- In order to make the marker beacon visible at night, it is illuminated with the aid of a lighting arrangement or lamp unit, such as a halogen lamp, which shines with a relatively white light.
- A beacon which is illuminated in this way, however, can only be seen from a distance of about 1.5 nautical miles. When drawing away from such a beacon at night, the naked eye sees progressively more and more white in the light emanating from the beacon, and consequently progressively less red light. At a distance of about 1.5 nautical miles, the beacon is seen as a white lamp, resembling approximately a stationary street lamp or some other source of white light.
- One of the reasons forthisisth at the light cast by the lamp unit onto the surroundings in the vicinity of the beacon illuminates an area which is far greater than the surface area of the beacon itself, while the solid angle included by the beacon, measured from the eye is extremely small at a distance of 1.5 nautical miles. Consequently, at distances such as these, the light which illuminates the surroundings dominates over the light reflected by the beacon.
- This means that in practice it is not possible with the naked eye to distinguish an illuminated marker beacon from a street lamp, an outdoor lamp attached to a house or like building, or a corresponding light source. Consequently, in order to be able to identify a marker beacon with the naked eye at greater distances it is necessary to know the bearing of the beacon concerned.
- This is a most unsatisfactory condition, since the concept of a beacon is conversely that it should be possible to identify first the beacon and then to establish one's own position, inter alia by taking a bearing on the beacon.
- It is practically impossible to discern an illuminated marker beacon at distances greater than 1.5 nautical miles in fairways which include many buildings and where other stationary lighting is to be found.
- These problems are solved by means of the present invention.
- In DE-A-17 66 816 a screen is shown which is intended to be illuminated by ultraviolet light. The screen contains fluorescent particles. However, there is no suggestion in DE 17 66 816 of how to improve the visibility at long distances.
- Accordingly, the present invention relates to a marker beacon for sea navigation purposes, which incorporates one or more planar surfaces making an angle to the horizontal plane and which planar surfaces are intended to be seen by those at sea, characterized by the combination in which said surfaces are coated with a fluorescent paint, in a manner known per se, which paint transmits light of visible wavelength when irradiated with ultraviolet light, in which a lighting arrangement is provided for irradiating said surfaces with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light, in which the light source of the lighting arrangement, optionally in combination with a cover glass, is arranged so as to transmit substantially no light within the visible light spectrum.
- An exemplifying embodiment of a marker beacon according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
- Figure 1 shows a marker beacon 1 as seen from one side, i.e. as seen by those on the seaward side of the beacon. Figure 2 shows the beacon 1 from above.
- According to one preferred embodimentthere is used a marker beacon 1 of substantially pyramidal configuration and having a square cross-sectional shape in the horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 2. The beacon suitably comprises three sheet-
metal side panels side 5 to which no panel is fitted faces inland. Naturally, the beacon may be fitted with two or four side panels. - The outer surfaces of
respective panels - The illustrated beacon incorporates a
lighting arrangement lamp units 7, 8, each of which comprises a light source in the form of a mercury lamp. The lighting arrangement is preferably constructed to transmit light in the wavelength band of 360-370 nanometers. - According to one preferred embodiment, the lighting arrangement is so constructed that the light source, optionally in combination with the cover glass of the lamp units, transmits no light within the visible spectrum. This means that no part of the surroundings will be illuminated in a manner discernible to the eye.
- The lamp units are suitably carried by a
frame 6 and are so mounted that the light passing through respective light apertures illuminates all theside panels - A marker beacon constructed in accordance with the invention is a remarkable improvement on beacons illuminated with white light, especially during the dark hours.
- Practical tests have shown that when a marker beacon constructed in accordance with the invention and having the aforesaid dimensions is illuminated by two lamp units each of 125 W and transmitting ultraviolet light, there is seen solely an intensive red light, even at distances of up to about 5 nautical miles.
- Since the surroundings are not illuminated in a manner to be visible to the eye, the beacon is seen only as an intensive red light. In addition to being visible over distances which are four times greater than those possible when using visible light, the beacon can be readily distinguished from other fixed land lighting.
- A marker beacon according to the invention thus constitutes a remarkable improvement for those at sea.
- In the aforegoing the marker beacon has been described by way of an example as having a pyramidal form, although it will be understood that beacons of other configurations and other types also fall within the scope of the invention.
- The present invention is therefore not restricted to the aforedescribed embodiments, and modifications thereto can be carried out within the scope of the following Claims.
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE8405562 | 1984-11-06 | ||
SE8405562A SE455407B (en) | 1984-11-06 | 1984-11-06 | NAVIGERINGSMERKE |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0201581A1 EP0201581A1 (en) | 1986-11-20 |
EP0201581B1 true EP0201581B1 (en) | 1989-10-04 |
Family
ID=20357642
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85905906A Expired EP0201581B1 (en) | 1984-11-06 | 1985-11-05 | A marker beacon |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0201581B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH0774029B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3573414D1 (en) |
FI (1) | FI88010C (en) |
SE (1) | SE455407B (en) |
WO (1) | WO1986002899A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE462877B (en) * | 1988-12-19 | 1990-09-10 | Moagon Ag | DEVICE FOR COLLECTION AND EMISSION OF LIGHT THROUGH DETERMINED SURFACE TO CREATE A LIGHT IMAGE |
SE9200250L (en) * | 1992-01-29 | 1993-07-30 | Ultralux Ab | PROCEDURAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE TO LIGHT FLAGS |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE144646C1 (en) * | ||||
DE848295C (en) * | 1951-02-17 | 1952-09-01 | Auergesellschaft Ag | Low-pressure discharge tube with Hg filling for the purposes of advertising or effect lighting |
FI46785C (en) * | 1969-09-19 | 1973-06-11 | Tuotantomyynti Oy | Billboard. |
JPS5926097B2 (en) * | 1974-09-26 | 1984-06-23 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Quick switching device for tap changer under load |
JPS55147584A (en) * | 1979-05-04 | 1980-11-17 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Fluorescent substance |
JPS564176A (en) * | 1979-06-25 | 1981-01-17 | Mochida Shiyoukou Kk | Stop indicator |
-
1984
- 1984-11-06 SE SE8405562A patent/SE455407B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1985
- 1985-11-05 DE DE8585905906T patent/DE3573414D1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-11-05 EP EP85905906A patent/EP0201581B1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-11-05 WO PCT/SE1985/000435 patent/WO1986002899A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1985-11-05 JP JP60505138A patent/JPH0774029B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1986
- 1986-07-04 FI FI862841A patent/FI88010C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FI862841A (en) | 1986-07-04 |
FI88010C (en) | 1993-03-25 |
SE8405562L (en) | 1986-05-07 |
DE3573414D1 (en) | 1989-11-09 |
WO1986002899A1 (en) | 1986-05-22 |
JPS62500713A (en) | 1987-03-26 |
FI862841A0 (en) | 1986-07-04 |
JPH0774029B2 (en) | 1995-08-09 |
SE455407B (en) | 1988-07-11 |
EP0201581A1 (en) | 1986-11-20 |
SE8405562D0 (en) | 1984-11-06 |
FI88010B (en) | 1992-12-15 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
AU644609B2 (en) | Light fixture for externally illuminated sign | |
EP0199814B1 (en) | A lighting assemblage | |
FR2761799B1 (en) | ORDERED ARRANGEMENT OF DISPLAY ELEMENTS, LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZATION INDICATOR DEVICE AND VEHICLE DESTINATION INDICATOR DEVICE | |
EP0179036A3 (en) | Arrangement of a sighting mark and a light-producing source of energy therefor | |
CA2009584A1 (en) | Lighting system for illuminating billboards and the like | |
EP0201581B1 (en) | A marker beacon | |
US4425608A (en) | Luminous display installation with an increased contrast effect | |
US5597226A (en) | Method and an arrangement for illuminating flags | |
Burns et al. | Visibility of durable fluorescent materials for signing applications | |
US4166699A (en) | Device for optic, preferably visual determination of a certain plane | |
Lozano | The visibility, colour and measuring requirements of road signs | |
SE9601582D0 (en) | Wind Marker | |
CN1324738A (en) | Brightness testing machine for vehicle lights | |
KR100196814B1 (en) | A post for marking road verges | |
CN216892111U (en) | Traffic signboard with adjustable indication content | |
CN112185282B (en) | Outdoor identification system | |
EP0168083A1 (en) | An illuminated canopy ridge | |
Burns et al. | Brightness and color of fluorescent yellow and fluorescent yellow green retroreflective signs: Comparison of laboratory and field measurements | |
Finkle | Luminance-to-intensity measurement method | |
US2241066A (en) | Combined illuminating and signal lamp | |
DE59812080D1 (en) | Reflector for a light source, especially for room lighting | |
JPS586085Y2 (en) | Mixed light lighting device | |
English | Some Aspects of the Street Lighting Problem | |
Mahan | Abridgment of lighting of airways and airports | |
KR820001801Y1 (en) | Indicate lamp of cars |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19861119 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19870828 |
|
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed |
Owner name: BARZANO' E ZANARDO ROMA S.P.A. |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 3573414 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19891109 |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
ITTA | It: last paid annual fee | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 19971017 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 19971112 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 19971114 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Payment date: 19971121 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 19971130 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19981105 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19981130 |
|
BERE | Be: lapsed |
Owner name: BERGKVIST LARS ANDERS Effective date: 19981130 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990601 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19981105 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990730 |
|
NLV4 | Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 19990601 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990901 |