Device and method for signalling at a runway

Communications: electrical – Aircraft alarm or indicating systems – Land-based landing guidance

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C340S908100, C359S527000, C359S530000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06452509

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device and a method for signalling in connection with runways. The device and the method are intended to give pilots of aircraft, helicopters etc. information especially at night and in case of poor visibility about the borders of a runway, doors, traffic regulations and the like.
2. Prior-Art
When using known methods for this kind of signalling, use is in most cases made of devices with signal means such as light signs and signal lights. The latter are, for instance, signal lights of different colors showing the approach lane of the airport as well as the beginning, edges and end of the runway. The signal means are supplied with current and controlled in their functions by means of cables and other electric equipment. The signal means and the associated equipment in the device are expensive to purchase, install and maintain. For instance, in international relief work, it is sometimes necessary to use airfields, the ordinary signalling device of which has been destroyed or does not exist at all. An emergency device must then be sent to the airfield and installed to enable the field to be used also when the visibility is not optimal. Since such a device is heavy and bulky, it requires great freight capacity in relief consignments. Moreover, much more work is necessary for the installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device, both mentioned in the introduction, for signalling at runways, The device should:
be simple and inexpensive to buy, install and maintain
allow quick installation in an emergency airfield or an airfield with its ordinary signalling device destroyed
be light and require little space to allow quick transportation to the location of use
consume a small amount of power to make it possible to use small power plants.
This object is achieved by the device and the method being given the characteristic features that appear from a signalling device for placement adjacent to a runway comprising an essentially permanent sheet-shaped structure with two opposite boundary surfaces fixed in an orientation relative to the runway. The signal means is sheet-shaped with two opposite boundary surfaces and comprises a structure material of color pigment adapted to reflect light in a visible area and, on the other hand, pigment of a wavelength-converting material, is adapted to emit, from an activating radiation, visible light of approximately the same as the reflected light from the color pigments. The signal means is arranged in such a manner that if at least part of an arbitrarily selected boundary surface are illuminated by the activating radiation, corresponding parts of the other boundary surface will emit the visible light emitted by the wavelength-converting material.
Also, the color pigment of the signal means and its pigment of the wavelength-converting material are jointly or each are separately contained in the signal means in one or more of the following ways: mixed into a matrix included in the polymer material, applied to one boundary surface, and applied to both boundary surfaces.
The signal means is arranged as a flat screen, and the screen is arranged vertically and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the runway.
Alternatively, the signal means is made of a flexible material and adapted, when located adjacent to the runway, to be expanded to the permanent shape by a support. Two poles are arranged vertically adjacent to the runway, and the signal means is adapted to be expanded to a flat screen between the poles. The signal means is arranged to be in omnidirectional, for instance, by being made as a tube which can be closed at the upper end, or the signal means is adapted to be expanded by the support to a dimensionally stable, possibly truncated, cone.
A lighting device is provided and comprises a source of radiation for activating radiation. The source of radiation is adapted to illuminate a plurality of signal means simultaneously, and a first and a second signal means, as well as a first and a second source of radiation is provided, each illuminating the two signal means. The signal means and the sources of radiation being arranged such that if the distance between the first source of radiation and the first signal means is greater than the distance between the first source of radiation and the second signal means, the distance between the second source of radiation and the first signal means is to be smaller than between said second source of radiation and the second signal means.
In the device, the structure material is a polymer material and the active radiation is UV light. The pigment of a wavelength-converting material is a fluorescent material.
An activating radiation is allowed to illuminate one of the boundary surfaces of the signal means and is converted into of a different wavelength, which from the boundary surface of the signal means is shown with a predetermined color to a flying observer. The activating radiation is normally invisible to the observer, and that the converted radiation is visible to him. The signal means is illuminated from two directions , in case of flat signal means both towards its front and towards its back.
According to the invention it is suggested that the individual signal means, for instance, those used to show the borders of the runway, be supplied with energy by being illuminated by some radiation of a form of energy that preferably cannot be perceived by the pilots to prevent them from being disturbed by the radiation. The signal means convert in their turn this radiation energy to radiation that can be perceived by the pilots. In the preferred embodiment, use is made of UV light from e.g. UV lamps as energy radiators. Normally this light cannot be perceived by pilots. However, by letting the signal means contain a fluorescent material, these means can convert the UV light into visible light. Depending on what material the signal means contain, the signal means can be made to emit different signal colors. Instead of UV light, IR light can be used. This light would then be converted into light having a shorter wavelength by the signal means so as to make it perceivable.
If it is desirable that the signal means emit radiation that is to be perceived by the own pilots only, it is possible to use, for instance, UV light or IR light which can be converted into light having a longer or shorter wavelength that can be perceived only by those pilots who are equipped with appropriate visual instruments.
The signal means could in fact contain a fluorescent material that is non-translucent, but according to the invention a translucent material is preferred that allows the energy radiators illumination to pass. This results in the advantages that an object acting as signal means can emit light also from a side that is not directly illuminated from the front and that radiation to some extent can penetrate means and reach other signal means shaded by these means.
The signal means should be sheet-shaped with two opposite boundary surfaces and comprise a polymer material and on the one hand common color pigment which is adapted to reflect light in the visible area and, on the other hand, pigment of a wavelength-converting material, e.g. a fluorescent material, which is adapted to emit, from an activating radiation, such as UV light, visible light of approximately the same color as said reflected light from the color pigments. Moreover, the signal means should be arranged in such a manner that if at least parts of an arbitrarily selected boundary surface are illuminated by said activating radiation, corresponding parts of the boundary surface will emit the visible light emitted by the wavelength-converting material.
The color pigment of the signal means and its pigment of the wavelength-converting material should jointly or each separately be contained in the signal means, for instance, in one or more of the following ways: mixed into a matrix included in the polymer mat

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