GB421876A - Improved wind-direction indicator for aerodromes and analogous situations - Google Patents

Abstract

421,876. Aircraft landing-grounds. HART, E. P., Girls' High School, Pretoria, South Africa. March 27, 1934, No. 9582. [Class 4] [See also Group XXXVIII] For indicating the direction of the wind, more particularly on landing-grounds for aircraft, a wind-direction indicator comprises a number of illuminated channels 1 radiating from a common central lamp 2 and having at their extremities arrow-shaped illuminated channels 3, the channels being sunk into the ground. Each channel comprises a trough 4, Fig. 2, provided with concave-convex glass cover 5 projecting slightly above the ground level. The cover is made in short lengths which are reinforced and held in place by bridge pieces. Electric lamps 8 are disposed at intervals along the channel and two reflectors 7 are provided. In a modification, a single gas discharge tube or a lamp of the longitudinal filament type may be provided instead of the separate lamps 8. The lamps are arranged to be partly above the ground level so that the light may also be used for illuminating the landing ground. The lamps are controlled by a commutator operated by a wind-vane, the arrangement being such that diametrically opposite radiating channels together with one of the arrow heads are illuminated in accordance with the prevailing direction of the wind. When the direction of the wind lies between two neighbouring channels 1, both pairs of diametrically opposite channels are lighted. The current supply to the indicator may be controlled by a light sensitive device.