Patent Application
20140185280
Obstruction light beacons are usually placed on varying styles of towers that have varying heights and configurations. Typically, the higher the tower the greater the lighting requirements. Obstruction light beacon systems are different from most other lighting systems in that they must output very high light intensity along the horizon so that obstructions are clearly marked for pilots to see. Obstruction light beacon systems must also have a very narrow vertical beam spread so that this very high light intensity is not directed downward into residential areas. In addition, obstruction light system requirements for towers normally require that light be output in a 360 degree fashion around the horizontal axis of the tower and that the obstruction lighting provide different intensity levels as a function of the ambient light level.
Currently, multiple obstruction lights are placed around the tower. However, due to current obstruction light designs each obstruction light fixture requires an independent power supply, cabling and monitoring. Each power supply, wiring and monitoring can add up to be a significant portion of the overall cost to install the obstruction lights on the tower.
In addition, obstruction lights are designed to provide a complete 360 degree coverage for each individual obstruction lights. However, when the obstruction light is mounted on the tower, some of the light may be blocked by the tower itself. As a result, some of the light output of the obstruction light and the power provided to drive the light output is wasted. Therefore, additional obstruction lights must be placed on the same level of the tower in order to provide light to horizontal angles where the light is blocked by the tower.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an obstruction lighting system for an elevated structure, e.g., a tower. In one embodiment, the obstruction lighting system for an elevated structure includes two obstruction light beacons that provide at least 1,500 candelas (cd) of light output, wherein each one of the two obstruction light beacons comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and at least one optic, wherein each one of the two obstruction light beacons provides at least a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction for being operated together to provide a combined 360 degree light output in a horizontal direction, wherein the at least one optic collimates light in a vertical axis to create a beam spread in the vertical axis of between 3 and 6 degrees, wherein a light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and +/−90 degrees horizontal is between 30% and 70% of the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 0 degrees horizontal for each one of the two obstruction light beacons, wherein the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 180 degrees horizontal is less than 10% of the light intensity at 0 degree vertically and 0 degrees horizontally for each one of the two obstruction light beacons and a single power supply for providing power to the two obstruction light beacons using a single set of wires that connects the two obstruction light beacons in series.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for providing obstruction lighting on an elevated structure. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a single power supply, coupling a first obstruction light beacon to the tower to provide a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction, coupling a second obstruction light beacon to the tower to provide a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction, wherein the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the first obstruction light beacon and the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the second obstruction light beacon provides a combined 360 degree light output in the horizontal direction and connecting the first obstruction light beacon and the second obstruction light beacon to the single power supply in series via a single set of wires.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a second embodiment of an obstruction lighting system for an elevated structure. The second embodiment of the obstruction light system for the elevated structure includes a first obstruction light beacon coupled to a first side of the tower, wherein the first obstruction light beacon provides a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction, a second obstruction light beacon coupled to a second side of the tower, wherein the second obstruction light beacon provides a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction, wherein the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the first obstruction light beacon and the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the second obstruction light beacon provide a combined 360 degree light output in the horizontal direction and a single power supply for providing power to the first obstruction light beacon and the second obstruction light beacon using a single set of wires that connects the first obstruction light beacon and the second obstruction light beacon in series.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
As discussed above, current towers use multiple obstruction light beacons around a tower. However, due to current obstruction light beacon designs each obstruction light beacon requires an independent power supply and wiring. Each power supply and wiring can add up to be a significant portion of the overall obstruction lights installation cost on the tower.
In addition, obstruction light beacons are designed to deploy lights in a complete 360 degree coverage for each individual obstruction light beacon. However, when the obstruction light beacon is mounted on the tower, some of the light emitted by the beacon may be blocked by the tower itself and, therefore, more than one beacon is required for each level of the tower. This results in waste of the light output of the obstruction light and the power provided to drive the light output. Therefore, significant energy is wasted.
Previous obstruction lights typically had a single omni-directional light source such as an incandescent light bulb or strobe tube. A single omni-directional light source does not easily allow for emitting light in only a 180 degree horizontal light distribution. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an obstruction lighting system for a tower that uses obstruction light beacons that use a precise optical design that provides a specific predetermined 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction. Thus, when two obstruction lights are placed around the tower at a common horizontal level, a single power supply (e.g., a master power supply) using a single set of wires may be used to power the multiple obstruction light beacons and still provide an even 360 degree light output in the horizontal direction around the tower. As a result, significant cost savings can be achieved due to the reduced costs to produce the obstruction light beacon, the reduced costs in power supplies that are deployed, reduced costs in the amount of wiring that is required and reduced energy costs in the amount of power that is consumed to operate the obstruction light beacons.
In one embodiment, the tower 108 may require medium intensity dual obstruction light beacons. In other words, the obstruction light beacons 102, 104 and 106 are capable of producing two different light outputs at two different intensities. For example, the first light may be a day time light that is a white color providing at least 15,000 candelas of light output so that the light can be seen by aircraft pilots during the day. The second light may be a night time light that is a red color and provides at least 1,500 candelas of light output so that the light can be seen by aircraft pilots at night.
In one embodiment, the obstruction light beacon at a top most level, e.g., the obstruction light beacon 106, may be a standard obstruction light beacon that provides a 360 degree light output in a horizontal direction. The obstruction light beacon 106 may be powered by a power supply 112 (e.g., a single independent power supply) with a set of wires 116. However, some levels of the tower 108 may require multiple obstruction light beacons to produce a 360 degree light output in a horizontal direction due to the tower 108 blocking the light.
However, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 may be designed with LEDs and an optic so that each obstruction light beacon 102 and 104 only produces at least 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction and be powered by a single power supply 110. In one embodiment, the single power supply 110 may be referred to as a master power supply because the single power supply 110 powers both obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the optic may be a lens or a reflector.
The six reflectors 1306 with respective LED arrays 1304 comprising a plurality of LEDs 1302 are shown in
The beam spread should be wide in the horizontal axis but should be very narrow in the vertical axis so that light is not wasted upward in the sky or downward toward the ground, but yet still can be seen by approaching aircraft.
When operated together the optical designs of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 described herein may work together so that the combined light output produces a 360 degree uniform distribution in the horizontal direction, while being powered by a single power supply 110. The optic should be tailored for the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 to achieve a uniform overlap around 360 degrees horizontal when the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are used together. In one embodiment, the light output should be between 180 degrees and 270 degrees for each of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 so that there are no horizontal angles of insufficient light output or excessive light output intensity when operated together. For example, when the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are operated together the combined light output at zero degree vertical and every angle around the horizontal should be at a specific intensity, such as 2,000 cd for example, plus or minus 25%.
The light output throughout the 180 degrees does not necessarily need to be constant for the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 described herein. The light intensity at +/−90 degrees is of particular importance for each one of the obstruction lights 102 and 104. In order to provide a smooth light transition between the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104, the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and +/−90 degrees horizontal is about 50% of the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 0 degrees horizontal. In one embodiment, the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and +/−90 degrees horizontal is between 30% and 70% of the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 0 degrees horizontal for each of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. In one embodiment, there should be little or no light output at 180 degrees as this may be or may not be blocked by the tower and wasted depending on the physical construction of the various tower types. In one embodiment, the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 180 degrees horizontal is less than 10% of the light intensity at 0 degrees vertical and 0 degrees horizontal for each of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104.
In one embodiment, a single power supply may be defined as all the circuitry and power sources needed to power and operate each different color output at each different intensity level of each one of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 within a single enclosure. In one embodiment, the power supply 110 provides a constant current output that feeds the one or more LEDs to both obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the power supply 110 provides the same constant current output to both obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the power supply provides a constant voltage output that feeds the one or more LEDs to both obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the circuitry of the single power supply may be placed on a single circuit board. In one embodiment, the circuitry of the single power supply may be placed on multiple circuit boards that are electrically connected together.
In addition, only a single set of wires 114 may be needed. In one embodiment, “a single set” may be defined as the wires running to and from a common power supply (e.g., a master power supply). In contrast, previous obstruction light systems required multiple sets of wires to and from separate power supplies powering separate obstruction light beacons that may be located on a common horizontal level. In one embodiment, a single set of wires may be defined as being two conductors. In another embodiment, a single set of wires may be defined as being three or more conductors.
In addition, only a single monitor 120 may be needed. In one embodiment, the monitor 120 may be defined as circuitry capable of monitoring and detecting failures, faults, health, or other problems with the LEDs of one of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 that may be located on a common horizontal level. In contrast, previous obstruction light systems required multiple monitors for monitoring separate obstruction light beacons that may be located on a common horizontal level.
In one embodiment, the number of LED arrays 206 may be about half that of the number of reflectors 204. In other words, half of the LED arrays 206 and associated electronics and hardware (e.g., drivers, circuit boards, and the like) may be removed from the obstruction light beacon 102 such that it only emits light 180 degrees horizontally around. As a result, the cost of the materials as well as the cost to manufacture the obstruction light beacon 102 may also be reduced in addition to achieving the energy savings. In one embodiment, all or at least more than half or all of the LEDs in the array 206 may be present, but only a subset of the LEDs is powered or used. In other words, the LED arrays 206 and associated electronics and hardware are not physically removed from the obstruction light beacon 102, but only a subset of the LEDs is used such that the beacon 102 only emits light 180 degrees horizontal. In one embodiment, two or more wiring options are present to allow the beacon 102 to provide power to all of the LEDs or to power a subset of LEDs and therefore provide either 360 degrees of coverage, 180 degrees of coverage, or some other angle that is less than 360 degrees of coverage in the horizontal axis.
The reflectors 204 may be curved to substantially collimate the light emitted by the array of LEDs 206. The array of LEDs 206 may be placed at a focal distance from the reflector 204 to achieve the high degree of collimation. In one embodiment, the obstruction light 102 is similar to the beacon light disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/300,700, assigned to Dialight® Corporation, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. One difference between the design of the beacon light in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/300,700 and the present obstruction light beacon 102 is that half of the LED arrays 206 are removed or are not utilized. However, the design of the reflectors 204 and placement of the LED arrays 206 may be identical.
In one embodiment, the obstruction light beacon 102 may include an alignment feature 202. The alignment feature 202 ensures that when two of the obstruction light beacons (e.g., the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 in
The alignment feature 202 is for providing a consistent light output around 360 degrees horizontal. For example, if the two obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are not properly aligned, a portion of the light output of the two obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 may not overlap properly to provide consistent light output around 360 degrees in a horizontal direction. Consequently, the combined light output would be too high or too low at certain horizontal directions.
In one embodiment, the alignment feature 202 may be a cooperative alignment feature, such as a precise, but simple alignment icon (e.g., an arrow) that needs to be lined up with another alignment icon of a second obstruction light beacon. In another embodiment, the alignment feature 202 may be an independent alignment feature, such as laser or non-optical indicator. The non-optical indicators may include, for example, a magnetic indicator (e.g., a compass), an electronic non-optical indicator or a global positioning satellite (GPS) module. For example, this would be beneficial if the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are deployed on a solid tower (e.g., a smokestack) where the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are not in view of one another. As a result, the non-optical indicator may be used to simply point each of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 in an appropriate direction to ensure that the combined light output of the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104 are 360 degrees in a horizontal direction. In one embodiment, the alignment feature may be any mechanical member of the obstruction light beacon 102. In one embodiment, the alignment feature may be any mechanical or non-mechanical feature of a first obstruction light beacon 102 that may provide an angular reference with respect to a second obstruction light beacon 104.
The cooperative alignment feature may be permanently fixed or temporarily fixed to the obstruction light beacons 102 and 104. The angle of the cooperative alignment feature may be determined visually or may be remotely sensed through a wire or wirelessly.
In a further embodiment, three or more obstruction light beacons may be powered from a single power supply using a single set of wires. For example, obstruction light beacons 102, 104 and 106 may be powered from a single power supply using a single set of wires. In one embodiment, some electronics in addition to the power supply electronics may by located in the obstruction light beacons. In one embodiment, constant current regulator electronics may by located in the obstruction light beacons. In this case a constant AC or DC voltage may be supplied to the obstruction light beacons 102, 104 and 106 in a series or parallel configuration.
At step 806, the method 800 couples a first obstruction light beacon to the tower to provide a 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction. The first obstruction light beacon may be an obstruction light beacon similar to the obstruction light beacons 102 or 104 described above. The tower may be an “E-2” type tower as define by the FAA.
At step 808, the method 800 couples a second obstruction light beacon to the tower to provide a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction, wherein the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the first obstruction light beacon and the 180 degree light output in the horizontal direction of the second obstruction light beacon provide a combined 360 degree light output in the horizontal direction. The second obstruction light beacon may be an obstruction light beacon similar to the obstruction light beacons 102 or 104 described above.
In one embodiment, an alignment feature on both the first obstruction light beacon and the second obstruction light beacon may be used to align the first and second obstruction light beacons. In one embodiment, the alignment feature may be a cooperative alignment feature. In other words, the cooperative alignment feature may be a feature on each one of the obstruction light beacons that work together, e.g., an arrow or other linear mark, that points to each other on the same line, a laser level on one obstruction light beacon and a receiver on another obstruction beacon light, and the like.
In one embodiment, the alignment feature may be an independent alignment feature. In other words, the obstruction light beacons may be independently aligned without the need of each alignment feature on each one of a plurality of obstruction light beacons to work together. For example, the independent alignment feature may be a non-optical indicator. Thus, an installer only needs to point the non-optical indicator in the proper direction to ensure the obstruction light beacon is properly aligned, irrespective of how the other obstruction light beacons are aligned or whether other obstruction light beacons are visible around the tower.
At step 810, the method 800 connects the first obstruction light beacon and the second obstruction light beacons to the single power supply in series via a single set of wires. The electrical connection may be configured as illustrated in
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
