Day-night flash beacon

Claim 2

A flash beacon for providing high power daytime flashes and relatively lower power nighttime flashes comprising: a. A dual-mode capacitive discharge power supply having selectable large and small discharge capacities; b. A gaseous discharge flashlamp connected to said power supply; c. A dual-mode trigger circuit having selectable single repeititive trigger generator and group repetitive trigger generator connected to said flashlamp for providing ionizing trigger pulses; and, d. An automatic switch connected to said dual-mode capacitive discharge power supply and said dual-mode trigger circuit for operating to select said small discharge capacity and said group repetitive trigger generator at night.

Claim 3

A flash beacon according to claim 1 wherein said automatic switch is a light sensitive switch.

Claim 4

A flash beacon according to claim 1 wherein said group repetitive trigger generator generates group pulses at a repetition rate within each group in the range of 15 to 120 pulses per second.

Claim 5

A flash beacon according to claim 1 wherein said small discharge capacity is charged by said large discharge capacity through an inductance.

Claim 6

A capacitive discharge circuit for driving a flash lamp comprisIng: a. A single high voltage DC power supply having first and second output terminals; b. A first capacitor of a predetermined cpacity having first and second electrodes connected to said first and second output terminals respectively; c. A second capacitor of substantially less capacity than said first capacitor having a first electrode connected to said first terminal and a second electrode; d. A flash lamp having a first electrode connected to said first terminal and a second lamp electrode; e. Switchable contacts for connecting said second lamp electrode to the second electrode of an alternative one of said first and second capacitors and actuated by a light sensitive relay connected for activating said contacts to connect the electrodes of said second capacitor across said flash lamp when the ambient light falls below a preset level; f. a charging circuit for said second capacitor comprising an inductor connected between the second electrodes of said first capacitor and said second capacitor across said switchable contacts; and, g. A trigger circuit coupled to said flash lamp for triggering discharge of a connected one of said first and second capacitors through said flash lamp.

Claim 7

A capacitive discharge circuit for driving a flash lamp comprisIng: a. A single high voltage DC power supply having first and second output terminals; b. A first capacitor of a predetermined cpacity having first and second electrodes connected to said first and second output terminals respectively; c. A second capacitor of substantially less capacity than said first capacitor having a first electrode connected to said first terminal and a second electrode; d. A flash lamp having a first electrode connected to said first terminal and a second lamp electrode; e. Switchable contacts for connecting said second lamp electrode to the second electrode of an alternative one of said first and second capacitors and actuated by a light sensitive relay connected for activating said contacts to connect the electrodes of said second capacitor across said flash lamp when the ambient light falls below a preset level; f. a charging circuit for said second capacitor comprising an inductor connected between the second electrodes of said first capacitor and said second capacitor across said switchable contacts; and, g. A trigger circuit coupled to said flash lamp for triggering discharge of a connected one of said first and second capacitors through said flash lamp.