US3731312A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air traffic control utilizing rotating radial signals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-27
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1990-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Air traffic is controlled to follow azimuthally rotating radial signals, from an off-airport terminal omnirange station, sweeping over an air-port in a direction and at a speed suitable for approach to landing. Dual omnirange stations flanking the airport may be used similarly for control of traffic to respective dual runways or for control of departure after takeoff as well as approach to landing.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kurkjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
In aircraft traffic control in terminal airspace wherein an airport is within range of an omnirange station located off the airport and adapted to broadcast azimuthally characteristic radial signals, the improvement comprising imparting an azimuthal rotation to the signals to sweep over the airport in a direction and at a speed suitable for air traffic approach to landing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
In aircraft traffic control in terminal airspace wherein an airport is within range of an omnirange station located off the airport and adapted to broadcast azimuthally characteristic radial signals, the improvement comprising imparting an azimuthal rotation to the signals to sweep over the airport in a direction and at a speed suitable for air traffic approach to landing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 1, including the step of designating a certain rotating radial upon which an approaching aircraft is to orbit the omnirange station until entering a landing pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 2 wherein a portion of the landing pattern is provided by a localizer beam aligned with the desired landing location for intersection by successive radial signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 1, wherein the distance of the omnirange station from the airport is about 5 to 10 miles, and the rate of rotation of the radial signals is about 20* per minute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 4, wherein landing aircraft are controlled to make a left traffic entry when the direction of rotation of the radial signals is counter-clockwise, and a right traffic entry when the direction of rotation is clockwise, as viewed in plan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
Aircraft traffic control for terminal airspace, comprising broadcasting azimuthally characteristic radial signals sweeping azimuthally at constant velocity over a nearby airport in a direction and at a speed suitable for approach to landing of aircraft, designating a certain radial to be followed by a given approaching aircraft, and controlling the aircraft to orbit the omnirange station on that radial until entering a conventional landing pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Aircraft traffic control for terminal airspace, comprising broadcasting azimuthally characteristic radial signals sweeping azimuthally at constant velocity over a nearby airport in a direction and at a speed suitable for approach to landing of aircraft, designating a certain radial to be followed by a given approaching aircraft, and controlling the aircraft to orbit the omnirange station on that radial until entering a conventional landing pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 6, including the step of designating a certain altitude to be followed by the given approaching aircraft during the orbiting of the station by the aircraft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 6, including the steps of directing IFR traffic to land essentially tangentially to the radial and directing VFR traffic to land in a more nearly radial direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 6, including the step of providing to the aircraft an indication of any deviation of the aircraft from the designated radial.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Aircraft traffic control for terminal airspace, comprising broadcasting azimuthally characteristic signals from a pair of omnirange stations flanking an airport and counter-rotating the radial signals from the respective signals azimuthally in opposite directions synchronously.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Aircraft traffic control for terminal airspace, comprising broadcasting azimuthally characteristic signals from a pair of omnirange stations flanking an airport and counter-rotating the radial signals from the respective signals azimuthally in opposite directions synchronously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 10, including the steps of controlling approaching aircraft by use of the signals from one of the stations and controlling departing aircraft by use of the signals from the other station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 11, including the step of constraining approaching aircraft to orbit the first station on a designated radial thereof until entering the landing pattern and constraining departing aircraft to orbit the second station on a designated radial thereof until leaving the departure pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 12, wherein the approaching aircraft and departing aircraft are constrained to follow oppositely directed traffic patterns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 11, wherein dual parallel runways are used, including the steps of controlling aircraft approaching and departing one of the runways by use of the signals from one of the stations and controlling aircraft approaching and departing the othEr runway by use of signals from the other station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 14, including the steps of constraining aircraft approaching for landing on the first runway to orbit the first station on a designated radial thereof, and constraining aircraft approaching for landing on the second runway to orbit the second station on a designated radial thereof, before entering a landing pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Aircraft traffic control according to claim 15, wherein aircraft approaching and departing via each runway are constrained to follow oppositely directed traffic patterns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2252083A
Cited
US2844817A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |