WO1986002899A1 - A marker beacon - Google Patents

A marker beacon Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1986002899A1
WO1986002899A1 PCT/SE1985/000435 SE8500435W WO8602899A1 WO 1986002899 A1 WO1986002899 A1 WO 1986002899A1 SE 8500435 W SE8500435 W SE 8500435W WO 8602899 A1 WO8602899 A1 WO 8602899A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
light
beacon
marker
marker beacon
ultraviolet light
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE1985/000435
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lars Anders Bergkvist
Original Assignee
Bergkvist Lars A
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bergkvist Lars A filed Critical Bergkvist Lars A
Priority to JP60505138A priority Critical patent/JPH0774029B2/en
Priority to DE8585905906T priority patent/DE3573414D1/en
Publication of WO1986002899A1 publication Critical patent/WO1986002899A1/en
Priority to FI862841A priority patent/FI88010C/en

Links

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.
  • beacons There are many kinds of beacons .
  • a marker beacon is a type of beacon which in recent years has been standardized in Sweden to the form of pyramidal box having a height of about 1 . 5 meter s. 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 i this way can only be seen from a distance of about 1 . 5 nautical miles .
  • the naked eye sees pro ⁇ gres sively 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.
  • 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.
  • the present invention relates to a marker beacon which includes one or more planar surfaces and is intended to be seen by those at sea, characterized by the combination in which said sur ⁇ faces are provided with a fluourescent paint which when irradiated by ultraviolet light transmits light of visible wavelength; and in which a lighting arrangement is provided to irradiate said surfaces with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a marker beacon according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the marker beacon of Figure 1 from above.
  • Figure 1 shows a marker beacon 1 as seen from one side, i. e. as seen by thos e on the seaward side of the beacon.
  • Figure 2 shows the beacon 1 f rom 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 fluouresces 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, trans ⁇ mits light within the red region of the spectrum.
  • the illustrated beacon incorporates a lighting arrangement 6, 7, 8 for the transmis sion 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 nanometer s .
  • the lighting arrangement is so constructed that the light source, optionally in combination with the cover glas s 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 pas sing 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 sector s 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 in ⁇ vention 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 pos sible 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)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Mechanical 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

A marker beacon comprising one or more planar surfaces and intended to be seen by those at sea which is characterized by the combination in which the surfaces (2, 3, 4) are provided with a fluorescent paint which transmits light in the visible waveband when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and in which a lighting arrangement (7, 8) is provided for illuminating the surfaces (2, 3, 4) with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light.

Description

A Marker Beacon
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 standardized in Sweden to the form of pyramidal box having a height of about 1 . 5 meter s. 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 fluouresce, 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 i 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 pro¬ gres sively 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 for this is that 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 correspond¬ ing light sour ce. Consequently, in order to be able to identify a marker beacon with the naked eye at greater distances , it is necess ¬ ary 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 pos sible 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 descern 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. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a marker beacon which includes one or more planar surfaces and is intended to be seen by those at sea, characterized by the combination in which said sur ¬ faces are provided with a fluourescent paint which when irradiated by ultraviolet light transmits light of visible wavelength; and in which a lighting arrangement is provided to irradiate said surfaces with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light.
An examplifying 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 is a side view of a marker beacon according to the invention; and,
Figure 2 illustrates the marker beacon of Figure 1 from above.
Figure 1 shows a marker beacon 1 as seen from one side, i. e. as seen by thos e on the seaward side of the beacon. Figure 2 shows the beacon 1 f rom above. According to one preferred embodiment there 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 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. Naturally, 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 fluouresces 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, trans ¬ mits light within the red region of the spectrum.
The illustrated beacon incorporates a lighting arrangement 6, 7, 8 for the transmis sion 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 nanometer s .
According to one preferred embodiment, the lighting arrangement is so constructed that the light source, optionally in combination with the cover glas s 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 pas sing through respective light apertures illuminates all the side panels 2, 3 , 4 of the beacon. In this regard, an advantage is gained when the lamp units are constructed so that substantially all light transmitted falls within the sector s 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 in¬ vention 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 pos sible 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

1 . A marker beacon which incorporates one or more planar surfaces and which is intended to be seen by those at sea, character ¬ ized by the combination in which said surfaces (2, 3 , 4) ar e coated with a fluourescent paint which transmits light of visible wavelength when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and in which a lighting arrange ¬ ment (7 , 8 ) is provided for irradiating said surfaces (2, 3 , 4) with light containing a high proportion of ultraviolet light.
2. A marker beacon according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the light source of the lighting arrangement (7 , 8) , optionally in combination with a cover glas s, is arranged so as to transmit substantially no light within the visible light spectrum.
3. A marker beacon according to Claim 1 or 2, character ¬ ized in that said surfaces (2, 3 , 4) ar e provided in a known manner with a paint which when irradiated with ultraviolet light transmits a visible wavelength within the red ar ea; and in that the lighting arrangement (7, 8) is arranged to transmit light of a wavelength of about 360 - 370 nanometer s .
4. A marker beacon according to Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the beacon (1 ) has a pyramidal configuration and a square cros s section in the horizontal plane .
PCT/SE1985/000435 1984-11-06 1985-11-05 A marker beacon WO1986002899A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60505138A JPH0774029B2 (en) 1984-11-06 1985-11-05 Marker signal sign
DE8585905906T DE3573414D1 (en) 1984-11-06 1985-11-05 A marker beacon
FI862841A FI88010C (en) 1984-11-06 1986-07-04 navigation Brand

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8405562-3 1984-11-06
SE8405562A SE455407B (en) 1984-11-06 1984-11-06 NAVIGERINGSMERKE

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1986002899A1 true WO1986002899A1 (en) 1986-05-22

Family

ID=20357642

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE1985/000435 WO1986002899A1 (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)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990007175A1 (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-06-28 Moagon Ag Arrangement for collecting and emitting light via defined surface areas
WO1993015494A1 (en) * 1992-01-29 1993-08-05 Ultralux Ab A method and an arrangement for illuminating flags

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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
FI46785B (en) * 1969-09-19 1973-02-28 Tuotantomyynti Oy

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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
FI46785B (en) * 1969-09-19 1973-02-28 Tuotantomyynti Oy

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990007175A1 (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-06-28 Moagon Ag Arrangement for collecting and emitting light via defined surface areas
WO1993015494A1 (en) * 1992-01-29 1993-08-05 Ultralux Ab A method and an arrangement for illuminating flags
US5597226A (en) * 1992-01-29 1997-01-28 Ultralux Ab Method and an arrangement for illuminating flags

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI862841A0 (en) 1986-07-04
FI88010B (en) 1992-12-15
SE8405562L (en) 1986-05-07
SE455407B (en) 1988-07-11
FI862841A (en) 1986-07-04
DE3573414D1 (en) 1989-11-09
FI88010C (en) 1993-03-25
JPS62500713A (en) 1987-03-26
EP0201581B1 (en) 1989-10-04
EP0201581A1 (en) 1986-11-20
JPH0774029B2 (en) 1995-08-09
SE8405562D0 (en) 1984-11-06

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