US3678260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system for aircraft guidance light
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-06
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-02-06
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft guidance light having a reflector formed of a plurality of elliptical surfaces of revolution of different eccentricities about a common major axis are joined together at their common diameters in planes perpendicular to the axis and are displaced axially relative to each other to reflect light in the same general direction. The elliptical surfaces have a common focus and the elliptical surface of least eccentricity is nearest the common focus. A mirror is disposed at an acute angle to the common axis between the conjugate foci of the elliptical surfaces to capture and reflect the light through a side exit window in the hermetic housing of the light which contains a non-oxidizing gas at a positive pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward W Beal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:31
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G5/00; G08G5/50; G08G5/54; B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/18; B64F1/20; B64F1/205; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/553; E01F9/559; G08G5/20; G08G5/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An optical system suited for an aircraft guidance light comprising a reflector having a plurality of substantially elliptical surface portions of different eccentricities axially displaced relative to each other to reflect light in the same general direction, the major axis and a focus of each of said elliptical surface portions being substantially coincident, the elliptical surface portion having the least eccentricity being disposed nearest to said focus and the conjugate focus of said elliptical surface portions being disposed on said major axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical system suited for an aircraft guidance light comprising a reflector having a plurality of substantially elliptical surface portions of different eccentricities axially displaced relative to each other to reflect light in the same general direction, the major axis and a focus of each of said elliptical surface portions being substantially coincident, the elliptical surface portion having the least eccentricity being disposed nearest to said focus and the conjugate focus of said elliptical surface portions being disposed on said major axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 including a divergent light source disposed substantially at said focal point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2 including means for adjusting said light sOurce along said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 2 comprising two substantially elliptical surface portions and including a mirror disposed at an angle to said axis between the conjugate foci of said elliptical surface portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said mirror is disposed substantially at midpoint between said foci where the aperture required for passing the reflected light from said elliptical surface portions is minimum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said mirror is flat and is disposed at an angle less than 45* relative to said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said elliptical surface portions comprise surfaces of revolution about said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 4 housed in a hermetically sealed container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the container is filled with a nonoxidizing gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the gas in said container is maintained at a positive pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the container is provided with a light exit window having a width to height ratio greater than one.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the exit window comprises a light refracting prism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 11 wherein an apertured opaque shield is interposed between said reflector and said mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the aperture of said shield has a contour generally corresponding with the contour of the exit window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system recited in claim 14 including heat dissipating means disposed between said container and said mirror adjacent the edges of said window.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said elliptical surface portions are substantially surfaces of revolution about said axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said elliptical surface portions comprises surfaces of revolution about said axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said elliptical surface portions are joined together along a circle disposed in a plane perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 17 including a divergent light source located substantially at said focal point, the radius of gyration of each of said elliptical surface portions about said axis being increased by a fixed amount approximating the radius of said light source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said elliptical surface portions terminate axially at the point where the angles of light rays reflected therefrom form equal angles with said axis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 20 wherein each of said elliptical surface portions are joined to the next adjacent elliptical surface portion in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and a mirror is disposed at an angle to said axis between the conjugate foci of said elliptical surface portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 21 wherein each of said elliptical surface portions are substantially surfaces of revolution about said axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |