US3701969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1971-07-13
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system is disclosed. A pair of lights are placed longitudinally relative to each other along a runway and emit light beams pointed upwardly and parallel to the runway define the vertical boundaries of a safe landing corridor. The lights are connected in series and include a photocell and a bi-stable relay in their control circuit to control the level of light and disable the system when either of the lights is out of adjustment. Each light includes an attitude switch comprising a heavy cylindrical pendulum supported by a stranded cable and positioned in a cup submerged in a viscous liquid, such as an equal mixture of two silicone liquids having centistoke ratings of about a 5 to 1 ratio, having minimum viscosity change over an ambient temperature range of -65* F. to +130* F. The cylindrical pendulum is spaced from the cup by an annulus which forms a hydraulic orifice in which the ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical to the width of the orifice is about 10 to 1 so that the pendulum is vibration insensitive and the switch will not close under low frequency vibrations having a double amplitude of about 10 times the maximum allowable misadjustment acceptable for landing guidance.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Lambert
- 👤 Edward W Beal
- 👤 Anthony J Bacewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:53
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/18; B64F1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system comprising a pair of light beam generators, said generators being connected in series circuit relationship and displaced relative to each other along a runway to define a safe landing corridor therebetween, said generators comprising a light source and a means for emitting a light beam pointed at a preselected acute angle upwardly from and parallel to the runway to define the vertical boundaries of said safe landing corridor, and means associated with each light beam generator to disable said system when either of said light beams deviates from the preselected acute angle therefor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system comprising a pair of light beam generators, said generators being connected in series circuit relationship and displaced relative to each other along a runway to define a safe landing corridor therebetween, said generators comprising a light source and a means for emitting a light beam pointed at a preselected acute angle upwardly from and parallel to the runway to define the vertical boundaries of said safe landing corridor, and means associated with each light beam generator to disable said system when either of said light beams deviates from the preselected acute angle therefor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The guidance system of claim 1 wherein said disabling means comprises a pendulum supported by a cable and a contact element cooperative therewith to form a switch connected to control the power delivered to said light beam generators, said pendulum being cylindrical and positioned in a cup to define an annulus therewith and a viscus fluid filling said annulus and submerging said pendulum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the diameter of the pendulum to the width of the annulus is of the order of about 10 to 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the upwind light beam generator is pointed at a greater angle upwardly with respect to the runway than is the downstream light beam generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the switch operates a bi-stable relay in the electrical control circuit for said generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 2 including means for adjusting the angular position of the switch relative to the axis of the light beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the power circuit for said light beam generators includes a photocell actuated control for controlling the level of light output of said light beam generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each light beam generator includes a filter to produce different colors of light above and below the central portion of the light beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
For use in an optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system including a pair of lights displaced relative to each other along a runway and emitting a light beam pointed at a preselected acute angle upwardly from and parallel to said runway to define a safe landing corridor therebetween, a support for each of said lights mounting a switch comprising a pendulum supported by a cable and a contact element cooperative therewith to form a switch, said switch being closed when said support deviates to shift the associated light beam from its preselected position by a predetermined amount, the improvement wherein said pendulum is cylindrical and positioned in a cup to define an annulus therewith, a viscous fluid fills said annulus and submerges said pendulum, and the ratio of the diameter of the pendulum to the width of the annulus is substantially greater than 6 to 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
For use in an optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system including a pair of lights displaced relative to each other along a runway and emitting a light beam pointed at a preselected acute angle upwardly from and parallel to said runway to define a safe landing corridor therebetween, a support for each of said lights mounting a switch comprising a pendulum supported by a cable and a contact element cooperative therewith to form a switch, said switch being closed when said support deviates to shift the associated light beam from its preselected position by a predetermined amount, the improvement wherein said pendulum is cylindrical and positioned in a cup to define an annulus therewith, a viscous fluid fills said annulus and submerges said pendulum, and the ratio of the diameter of the pendulum to the width of the annulus is substantially greater than 6 to 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the liquid has a viscosity sufficient to render the switch insensitive to vibrations having a double amplitude of about 10 times the amount of permanent deviation required to actuate the switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the cable is a stranded conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vibration insensitive switch suited for use in an optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system including a pair of lights displaced relative to each other along a runway and emitting light beams pointed at preselected acute angles upwardly from and parallel to a runwAy to define a safe landing corridor therebetween comprising a cylindrical pendulum supported by a cable, a contact element cooperative therewith to form a switch, said pendulum being positioned in a cup to define an annulus therewith, a viscous fluid in said annulus and submerging said pendulum, the ratio of the diameter of the pendulum to the width of said annulus being of the order of about 10 to 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vibration insensitive switch suited for use in an optical failsafe airplane landing guidance system including a pair of lights displaced relative to each other along a runway and emitting light beams pointed at preselected acute angles upwardly from and parallel to a runwAy to define a safe landing corridor therebetween comprising a cylindrical pendulum supported by a cable, a contact element cooperative therewith to form a switch, said pendulum being positioned in a cup to define an annulus therewith, a viscous fluid in said annulus and submerging said pendulum, the ratio of the diameter of the pendulum to the width of said annulus being of the order of about 10 to 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |