FR1238373A - Improvements to signaling and tracking devices - Google Patents

Description

Improvements to signaling and tracking devices.
The present invention relates to a light signaling or tracking device capable of being used on land or on water.
The device according to the invention essentially comprises in combination at least one main indicator light by reflection (reflective indicator, or self-luminescent, and at least one self-luminescent line linked to the aforementioned indicator, so that the indicator makes it possible to locate the light. approximate location of the line, while this in turn makes it possible to define a straight line or a determined curve, such as for example the boundary of a surface or an area, a signal, etc.
The indicator can take any suitable shape, including that of a sphere or other geometric body. It can be designed to rest on the ground or on any support, or on the contrary to float by itself on the water. We can even conceive of possibly submerging it to a predetermined depth. In the case where one relies on the reflection (or reflectorization) to make it luminous, one can make it include reflectors (or reflectors) of the type called reflector, these reflectors being suitably distributed on the surface of the sight glass so that it can be discerned in all directions, or at least in all those for which it may be desirable. In the case where one wishes the seer to be self-luminescent, one can him; have all appropriate devices included for this purpose; in particular, provision can be made to combine a luminescent substance with it, the luminescence of which is excited by an appropriate radioactive product, the assembly being able to be applied to the sight glass internally or externally, depending on the case. For example, the sight glass can be made of a transparent material, the inner wall of which is lined with the mixture of luminescent substance and radioactive product.
As regards the self-luminescent line, this may be constituted by a tube of transparent material, the wall of which is lined with a luminescent substance mixed with a radioactive product so as to excite the luminescence permanently independently of any natural or artificial sunshine outside.
The invention also relates to the applications of the combinations of lights and self-luminescent lines as defined above, and in particular the combinations of the type in question suitable for defining a line or a path, for delimiting an area, for making it possible to identify areas or gear invi-. sible or barely visible by themselves.
The appended drawing, given by way of example, will make it possible to better understand the invention, the characteristics that it has and the advantages that it is likely to provide: FIG. 1 very schematically indicates a device according to the invention comprising a spherical indicator and a self-luminescent line. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the indicator light. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the autoluminescent line. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing very schematically a combination of devices according to the invention suitable for determining a rectangular area on land or on water.
The device shown in FIG. 1 has a sight glass 1, spherical in shape, and a line 2 attached in any suitable manner to sight glass 1.
In the example shown, indicator light 1 is luminescent by reflection (so-called reflecting light). It is formed for this purpose by a hollow sphere 3, for example of plastic material, on which has been attached a series of reflective (or reflectorizing) cabochons 4, preferably produced in the form of catadipotres. Circular reflectors in glass or in plastic sold commercially for application to vehicles and more especially can be used for this purpose in particular.

Claims (2)

to cycles. Fixing these reflectors in place on the sphere can be done by. all appropriate means, in particular by gluing. The sphere can also be coated with a paint hanging glass balls or other reflective or reflective elements. If it is metallic, balls or other elements may be retained in the metal. The self-luminescent line 2 consists of a tube 5 of transparent plastic material (FIG. 3), the inner wall of which is coated with a layer 6 of an auto-luminescent mixture by itself and independently of any insolation. Such a mixture may in particular consist of a luminescent product proper and of a radioactive body whose radiation excites the luminescence of the luminescent product. Tube 5 can be closed at both ends so as to prevent entry of dust or other undesirable agents. It is understood that the device shown in FIG. 1 can be easily located at night due to the intense reflection (or reflectance) provided by the cabochons 4, especially if these are made in the form of reflectors. Once indicator light 1 has been located, the observer has no further difficulty in following the self-luminescent line 2 despite its relatively lower brightness. The indicator light 1 and line 2 can be provided floating to allow spotting on the water. On the contrary, provision can be made to place them on supports or on the ground itself, in which case their buoyancy is obviously of no interest. The device can include several indicator lights joined to each other in any way desired by luminescent lines. 2. It is thus possible to establish figures such as the rectangle schematically represented in FIG. 4. It is understood that such a rectangle makes it possible to delimit a rigorously determined area, and this for all useful purposes, for example as a landing surface, as marking of an area to be avoided, etc. This same rectangle, suitably anchored, can be used at the surface on the water, or even be submerged with appropriate ballasting, for example to determine an underwater action zone. As indicated above, the shape of the sight glass can be any, the spherical shape of FIG. 1 and 2 are given only as an indication. More especially for a sight glass intended to rest on the ground, it is possible to prefer a cylindrical or conical shape to the spherical shape. In the case where the device must be kept at rest in as compact a form as possible, the sphere and the tube can be provided inflatable. They are made for this purpose in a flexible material thin enough to be able to flatten out and fold back on itself in a reduced volume; it is then sufficient to inflate the assembly so that it returns to the expected volume. Thus, a device according to the invention can more particularly be associated with an inflatable raft kept folded before it is launched. We can then arrange for the elements (lights and self-luminescent lines) to be inflated at the same time as the raft itself, so that once it has been launched, the device is under the shape of a very long die, made up of a succession of lights attached to each other by self-luminescent lines. One or more longlines of this kind are suitable for considerably facilitating the search for the raft in the open sea, even in heavy weather. It should also be understood that the above description has been given only by way of example and that it in no way limits the field of the invention, from which one would not depart by replacing the details of execution described by all other equivalents. We understand that we can imagine many conformations of lights and / or luminescent lines. Instead of luminescent sources, or in association with them, one could use a radioactive material whose emission would be detectable by the usual detectors outside or in addition to the light detection. On the other hand, it will be understood that the indications given above of the possible applications of the invention are in no way limiting. SUMMARY Signaling and locating device comprising essentially in combination at least one main indicator light by reflection (reflective indicator), or self-luminescent :, and at least one self-luminescent line linked to the aforementioned indicator so that the indicator makes it possible to locate the approximate location of the line, while this in turn allows a specific straight line or curve to be defined, such as for example the limit of a surface or a zone, a signal, etc.