RU2225808C2 - Multi-purpose double-acting device for landing flying vehicle at night - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: equipment for night landing of flying vehicles. SUBSTANCE: proposed device includes on-board landing lamp and light-warning system with markers for visual display of runway, helicopter platform or section of water area for pilot. Besides that, aircraft is additionally provided with infra-red lamp. Passive markers are provided with light-reflecting coat of directive action working in light and infra-red ranges. Markers are oriented by one of planes perpendicularly to direction of landing approach of flying vehicle. Pilot is provided with night-vision goggles for display of panorama of runway, helicopter platform or section of water area of seadrome at lighting markers with infra-red lamp. EFFECT: extended functional capabilities; possibility of performing concealed landing. 8 dwg

Description

The invention is intended for use in the field of aviation, for landing an aircraft (LA) at night on the runway (runway), helipad, water area of the airfield.

Functionally, it belongs to the family of light-signal systems in which the marker operates in the active mode (the marker consists of an electric lamp) or in the passive mode, where the marker is equipped with a highly effective reflective coating.

Known devices for landing aircraft, patent (copyright certificate) No. 292777, priority of 1987, “Method for ensuring landing of the aircraft and device for its implementation”, taken as a prototype, and patent No. 2043267, priority of 1994. “Light signaling system for landing aircraft at night ”, taken as an analogue.

In the prototype, to display the panorama of the runway, the pilot is invited to mark with passive type markers illuminated by an onboard landing light, but there are no proposals for a design suitable for operation.

In analogue, the proposed design is unsuccessful for serial operation, modification for various applications is not visible, does not work in the infrared wavelength range, therefore, does not provide a “hidden” landing of the aircraft.

The aim of the invention is to provide an aircraft landing at night in two versions - visual, using a visual display of the runway panorama when markers are illuminated by the aircraft's onboard landing light; or “hidden” when illuminating markers with an on-board infrared headlamp.

This goal is achieved by the fact that on board the aircraft, along with the standard landing headlight, an infrared light is installed; the pilot is equipped with night vision goggles; the design of markers is universal for equipping a runway, helipad or part of the water area of a hydroaerodrome; markers are equipped with a highly effective reflective coating operating in the light and infrared ranges. Thus, the device is universal, dual-purpose - for visual or “hidden” landing aircraft.

A light signal system for visual landing of an aircraft is known in the prototype and analogue.

For a “hidden” landing, in which the pilot receives information about the runway panorama through night vision goggles, the markers are illuminated with an on-board headlight operating in the infrared range, and the markers are equipped with a highly efficient reflective coating operating in both light and infrared ranges. Moreover, the detection range of the runway by the pilot is sufficient to complete the landing of the aircraft in both visible and "hidden" versions.

A sufficient runway detection range is confirmed by calculation:

in the light range according to the formula

,

,

where r is the brightness coefficient of the retroreflective layer of the marker;

S is the area of the reflective surface of the marker, m ² ;

E _P - threshold sensitivity of the eye, cd;

D is the distance from the observer to the marker, equal to the distance from the searchlight to the marker, m;

α is the attenuation coefficient of the light flux per unit of distance;

I is the light flux of the searchlight, cd;

for infrared range:

,

,

where - E _P - threshold sensitivity of night vision goggles, cd;

I ₀ - radiation power of the spotlight in the infrared operating range of night vision goggles, cd;

σ _eff - effective reflective surface in the infrared operating range of night vision goggles, m ² ;

- коэффициент пропускания атмосферой в инфракрасном рабочем диапазоне очков ночного видения;

- transmittance of the atmosphere in the infrared operating range of night vision goggles;

D - operator detection range of the marker using night vision goggles (it is assumed that the distance from the searchlight to the marker and from the operator to the marker is approximately equal), m.

Full-scale flight tests of the prototype in the light range as a whole showed good efficiency. When performing an approach at night, the markers are illuminated with an onboard headlight with a light flux of 400 ccd, the markers were detected from a distance of 2.2 ÷ 2.5 km.

For a comparative assessment of the possibility and range of runway detection in the visible and infrared ranges, markers were illuminated with a light source of the same power in the visible and infrared ranges of 0.8 ÷ 1.1 μm at night in the absence of illumination by the moon and other sources in the visible range. In figure 1, figure 2. images of markers are presented when observed in the visible and infrared ranges, respectively, from a distance of 2.2 km from which it follows:

sufficient range (1 ÷ 1.5 km) for runway detection for the final stage of aircraft landing is provided;

when observed in the infrared range, markers are visible much better than in the visible range.

The design of the device is universal, consists of a set of the same type of markers suitable for the runway, helipad and hydroaerodrome, characterized by supports (Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5), of which the light-signal system is assembled according to the generally accepted scheme chosen by the customer.

Depending on the purpose, the marker is attached to the appropriate stand - on the runway, the stand can be, for example, a standard stand with a broken clutch (such as “Needle”), the marker is fastened to the helipad with a pin to the ground, and a foam float with an anchor is used on the hydro runway. The marker consists of four parts (Fig.6) - the base 2, to which are attached three “petals" 1. Position 3 indicates the float. “Petals” are made of sheet steel. The outer side of the “petal” is covered with a highly effective reflective material (film) of directional action, operating in the light and infrared ranges.

The retroreflective coating (Fig. 7) is multilayer, consists of a transparent film 1, which transmits light and infrared rays. The next layer is aluminum foil 2, which, with the help of a supporting partition 3, is bonded with a transparent film, forms an air space 4. The air space is filled with tipped balls 5. A flexible protective gasket 6 is glued to the aluminum foil with a special waterproof adhesive 7.

A flexible gasket serves to increase the strength of the retroreflective coating in a free state and to prevent premature drying of the adhesive. The retroreflective coating is glued onto the flat surfaces of the marker after degreasing the surface and separating the protective pad.

The trihedral shape was chosen to be successful from the point of view of installing one of the planes perpendicular to the direction of the approaching aircraft, and on the water surface, where special requirements are imposed on the approaching aircraft (landing is performed in the direction of the wind or wave), the marker will self-orient with the face towards the approaching landing hydro-flying apparatus (Fig. 8).

In addition to the landing headlight, an infrared headlight is installed on board the aircraft; the pilot is provided with night vision goggles.

Thus, the proposed passive-type lighting system, universal, dual-use, provides at night a visual or “hidden” landing of the aircraft, depending on the circumstances.

Claims (1)

A device for securing the aircraft’s landing at night, containing an onboard landing light and a light-signaling system with markers for visual display to the pilot of the runway, helipad or section of the water aerodrome, characterized in that an infrared illumination headlight is additionally installed on board the aircraft, the markers are made passive with a reflective coating of directional action, operating in the light and infrared ranges, and oriented to one of the planes perpendicular to the direction of the aircraft’s approach, and night vision goggles are also provided to display the pilot a panorama of the runway, helipad or section of the water aerodrome when the markers are illuminated with an infrared headlamp.

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