RU2305646C2 - Method of visual navigational orientation during motion of ships in sea and river channels - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transmitting of directed light signals for safe navigation of ships.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes receiving the light beams from ship oriented in vertical plane of symmetry of waterway object, channel for example, by means of directional light optical devices mounted on bearing tower. Light signals are supplied from one mark by means of multi-beam directional optical device forming beams of different brightness and visible range at different angles of flare correlated with width of channel or waterway at respective sections of its length in such way that length of each section served by one light optical beam is assumed to be equal to 35-55 sizes of width of object measured over its bottom. Device includes bearing tower equipped with directional light optical system. Light optical device has two and more light optical outlet ports of compact arrangement relative to one another; each port is provided with paraboloid mirror reflector and plano-convex lens of double curvature; when connected to light source, they form two concentric beams of different brightness and visible range at different angles of flare. Optical axes of all beams are parallel.

EFFECT: reduction of capital outlays.

3 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of visual methods and technical means for marking fairways and dangerous places on waterways, is intended for the installation and supply of strictly directed light signals that ensure the safety of ships, and can be used in the construction and operation of navigation systems.

A known visual method for navigational orientation when moving vessels along sea channels and river fairways, including capturing from the vessel two or more light rays oriented in the longitudinal-vertical plane of symmetry of a track object (channel, fairway) with single-beam directional optical devices [1], mounted on several stationary support-bearing towers (signs) [2], placed at the calculated (base) distances from each other, which in navigation systems is called the target [1].

This visual method of navigational orientation is widely used in practice, but requires large capital and operating costs for its implementation, since for this it is necessary to have two or even three signs with the corresponding support-bearing towers, electrical and light-optical equipment. In addition, it is not always possible to apply this system because of the complexity of the coastal relief, where two or three directional signs should be placed.

The invention eliminates these disadvantages. This is achieved by the fact that for the implementation of the method requires only one sign, equipped with a directional optical device with several light-output windows, creating the required number of signal beams of different brightness and visibility range at different expansion angles, related to the width of the channel (fairway) in the corresponding sections of its length moreover, the length of each section of the fenced object, served by one beam, is taken equal to 35-55 sizes of the width of the object, measured along its bottom.

The light-optical apparatus has several (two or more) light-optical output windows compactly arranged with respect to each other, each of which is equipped with a reflector paraboloid-shaped reflector and a flat-convex lens of double curvature, which, when the light source is connected, gives two concentric beams of different brightness and at different angles their expansion, and the optical axis of all the rays of the working apparatus are directed parallel to each other.

Figure 1 shows the layout in terms of four light rays formed by a two-window light-optical apparatus of directional action with respect to the width of the enclosed sections of the rectilinear channel when the vessel moves along it; figure 2 shows a multi-beam three-window light-optical apparatus of directional action, a view from the side of the light-optical output windows; figure 3 shows a vertical section along the axis of one of the optical output windows.

The method of visual navigation orientation is as follows (figure 1).

Vessel 1, going from the sea to the port at natural depths, approaches the cross section 1-1 of channel 2 (entrance to the approach channel), where the transverse circle of the narrowest and brightest beam 3, supplied from sign 4 by the light-optical apparatus, conditionally touches the vertical areas, restored from the boundaries of the working edges of the channel, and the skipper begins to navigate and lead the vessel along this beam. Then, when the vessel passes the first section of the rectilinear channel and approaches section II-II, beam width 3 will be significantly reduced compared to the channel width and it will be difficult for the boatmaster to navigate with one narrow beam. At this time, the beam 5 additionally becomes visible across the entire width of the channel, which fully provides the navigator with reliable orientation and the possibility of safe pilotage up to the end of the second section (section III-III). Here, the width of beam 5 is already significantly reduced compared to the width of the channel, and then beam 6 comes into effect, etc. Thus, a reliable visual navigation orientation for the skipper will be provided using only one navigation mark equipped with a multi-window directional optical device, which is the main operating unit of the invention.

As can be seen from the drawing (figure 2), which depicts a multi-beam three-window light-optical device of directional action with three light-optical output windows 9 compactly arranged relative to each other on the housing 8 and a single ventilation hood 10, this design makes it possible to easily organize when the device is operating parallel orientation of all optical axes of its light rays, which at a certain distance will practically merge into one beam.

Due to the complex optically correctly specified location of the light source 11 (Fig. 3), the mirror paraboloid shape of the reflector 12 and the plano-convex lens 13 of double curvature (Fig. 3), when the apparatus is in operation, two concentric beams of different preset brightness and visibility range come out of each light-optical window at different angles of their expansion, linked to the width of the channel (fairway). In the drawing (Fig. 3), a brighter long-range beam with a small expansion angle is shown in solid lines in the middle part of the lens, and a less bright short-range beam with a large expansion angle is shown in dotted lines on the annular peripheral part of the lens.

For a better visual difference between the rays from each other, the output windows of the device can be equipped with various light filters or flashers, and when using these devices, laser emitters can be used on straight sections of a long waterway.

Information sources

1. Vlasov V.M., Irkhin N.A., Zenkovsky G.V. and others. Sea channels and means of navigation equipment of sea routes. - M .: "Transport", 2001, p.325-327 and 352.

2. RF patent No. 2241635 C2, class. B63B 51/00, 2001.

Claims (2)

1. The method of visual navigational orientation when moving vessels along sea channels and river fairways, including the capture of light from a vessel, oriented in the vertical plane of symmetry of a track object, such as a channel or fairway, with directional optical devices mounted on a support-bearing tower, characterized in that light signals are transmitted from one sign with the help of a multi-beam light-optical apparatus of directional action, organizing rays of different brightness and range visibility at various angles of their expansion, linked to the width of the channel or fairway in the corresponding sections of its length so that the length of each section of the enclosed object served by one light-optical beam is taken to be 35-55 times the width of the object, measured along its bottom. 2. A device for implementing a method of visual navigation orientation, including a support-bearing tower equipped with a directional optical device, characterized in that the optical device has two or more light-optical exit windows compactly arranged relative to each other, each of which is equipped with a paraboloid-shaped mirror a reflector and a plano-convex lens of double curvature, which, when a light source is connected, give two concentric beams of different brightness and range of visibility and various angles of their extension, wherein the optical axes of all the rays operating unit are directed parallel to each other.

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