Luminaire

Claim 2

A refractor in the general shape of two halves symmetric about a plane of symmetry, each of the refractor halves comprising: a. an end section including an integral Fresnel-type lens; and b. a center section in the general shape of a transversely elongated semi-frustocone having its base contiguous with the plane of symmetry, the center section including an array of lenticular prisms, the prisms having concave portions and convex portions both lying in planes parallel to the plane of symmetry.

Claim 3

The refractor of claim 1 wherein each end section lens has an axis angularly intersecting said plane of symmetry and comprises an outer surface having a spherical upper half and a frustoconical lower half and an inner surface having a center portion and a step portion, the center portion having an upper half consisting of a plane normal to the axis of the lens and a lower half consisting of a partial right cylinder, and the step portion having a prism riser contiguous with the periphery of the lens center portion and a face being planar at its upper half and cylindrical at its lower half.

Claim 4

The refractor of cLaim 2 in which the step portion of the inner surface of each end section lens has a lower half defined by prism risers which extend downwardly and outwardly, whereby a plunger forming said end section lens may be withdrawn on an axis parallel to the plane of symmetry.

Claim 5

The refractor of claim 1 in which the center section prisms extend up one side of the center section, across the top thereof and down the opposite side thereof.

Claim 6

The refractor of claim 1 in which the sides of the convex and concave portions facing away from said plane of symmetry communicate directly with each other and the sides of the convex and concave portions facing toward the plane of symmetry are connected by a tangential straight portion.

Claim 7

The refractor of claim 1 wherein the convex and concave portions of the center section prisms are struck from equal radii.

Claim 8

The refractor of claim 1 in which the innermost, convex portion of the center section prisms lies in the plane of symmetry.

Claim 9

A luminaire for medium-intensity and high-intensity bidirectional runway lighting comprising: a. a centrally-positioned light source; b. a refractor in the general shape of two symmetric halves symmetrical about a plane of symmetry and defined by a circular base portion, each of the refractor halves including an end portion and a center portion, each end portion having an integral Fresnel-type outer lens and each center portion being of the general shape of a vertically transversely elongated semi-frustocone having its base contiguous with the plane of symmetry, the center section having an array of lenticular prisms extending up one side of the center section, across the top thereof, and down the opposite side thereof, the convex portions and concave portions of the prisms lying in planes parallel to the plane of symmetry; and c. two Fresnel-type condensing lenses, each having a center portion and a step portion, each center portion having an aspherical outer surface and a spherical inner surface, the step and center portions being adapted to collect light from said source and direct it toward the refractor end section Fresnel-type lens.

Claim 10

A luminaire for medium-intensity and high-intensity bidirectional runway lighting comprising: a. a centrally-positioned light source; b. a refractor in the general shape of two symmetric halves symmetrical about a plane of symmetry and defined by a circular base portion, each of the refractor halves including an end portion and a center portion, each end portion having an integral Fresnel-type outer lens and each center portion being of the general shape of a vertically transversely elongated semi-frustocone having its base contiguous with the plane of symmetry, the center section having an array of lenticular prisms extending up one side of the center section, across the top thereof, and down the opposite side thereof, the convex portions and concave portions of the prisms lying in planes parallel to the plane of symmetry; and c. two Fresnel-type condensing lenses, each having a center portion and a step portion, each center portion having an aspherical outer surface and a spherical inner surface, the step and center portions being adapted to collect light from said source and direct it toward the refractor end section Fresnel-type lens.

Claim 11

The luminaire of claim 8 wherein each end section integral lens comprises an outer surface having a spherical upper half and a frustoconical lower half and an inner surface including a central portion and a step portion, the central portion having a planar upper half and a cylindrical lower half, and the step portion including a face having a planar upper half and cylindrical lower half.

Claim 12

The luminaire of claim 9 in which each step portion of the end section outer lenses has a prism riser contiguous with the periphery of the upper half of the outer lens central portion, and said prism riser extending downwardly and outwardly to lie in two planes adjacent the lower half of the outer lens central portion.

Claim 13

The luminaire of claim 8 in which the convex and concave portions of the center section prisms communicate directly with each other on their sides facing away from said plane of symmetry but are connected on their sides facing said plane of symmetry by a tangential straight portion.

Claim 14

The luminaire of claim 8 in which the innermost convex portion of the lenticular prisms of the refractor center section lies in the plane of symmetry.

Claim 15

The luminaire of claim 9 wherein the convex and concave portions of the refractor center section prisms are struck from equal radii.

Claim 16

A refractor in the form of a globe for use with a luminaire, said refractor comprising a central section and a pair of opposed end sections, said refractor being capable of orientation such that a vertical plane of symmetry passing centrally through said central section divides the refractor into two symmetrical halves each comprising one of said end sections and half of said central section, said central and end sections terminating at their lower extents in a circular base portion lying within a plane perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, eacH of said end portions including a Fresnel-type lens formed integrally therewith, said central section having an outer upper surface portion in the form of the upper half of a pair of frustocones abutting at their bases along said plane of symmetry, a pair of abutting angularly disposed planar surfaces extend downwardly on each side of said central section from said abutting frustocones to said circular base portion, a plurality of juxtaposed lenticular prisms formed in said central section, said lenticular prisms having adjacent concave and convex portions, and the convex portion of each said prism as well as the concave portion thereof lying in planes parallel to said plane of symmetry.

Claim 17

A refractor in the form of a globe for use with a luminaire, said refractor comprising a central section and a pair of opposed end sections, said refractor being capable of orientation such that a vertical plane of symmetry passing centrally through said central section divides the refractor into two symmetrical halves each comprising one of said end sections and half of said central section, said central and end sections terminating at their lower extents in a circular base portion lying within a plane perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, eacH of said end portions including a Fresnel-type lens formed integrally therewith, said central section having an outer upper surface portion in the form of the upper half of a pair of frustocones abutting at their bases along said plane of symmetry, a pair of abutting angularly disposed planar surfaces extend downwardly on each side of said central section from said abutting frustocones to said circular base portion, a plurality of juxtaposed lenticular prisms formed in said central section, said lenticular prisms having adjacent concave and convex portions, and the convex portion of each said prism as well as the concave portion thereof lying in planes parallel to said plane of symmetry.

Claim 18

A refractor as defined in claim 14 wherein vertical planes passing through the center of radius of each concave and convex portion of said lenticular prisms bisect the curved portion of each of said convex and concave portions, and said prisms include planar means for refracting light from a central source about peripherial portions of said Fresnel-type lenses.

Claim 19

A refractor as defined in claim 14 wherein said lenticular prisms include planar tangential portions connecting at least some of said concave and convex portions, and each said prism extends continuously from adjacent said base portion upwardly along side wall portions of said central portion, over the top of said central portion and downwardly along the opposite side wall portion thereof.

Claim 20

A refractor as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said Fresnel-type lenses comprises a circular central portion surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped step portion having an outer edge concentric with said circular central portion.

Claim 21

A refractor as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said Fresnel lenses is formed about an axis which intersects said plane of symmetry at an angle of less than 90* thereto.

Claim 22

A refractor as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said Fresnel-type lenses includes a circular central portion and a step portion adjacent thereto, said central portion having an inner surface with a planar upper half and a cylindrical lower half, said cylindrical lower half being cylindrical about a horizontal axis, and the outer surface of said central portion being hemispherical above a horizontal plane passing through a geometric center of said circular central portion and frustoconical below such plane.

Claim 23

A refractor as defined in claim 19 wherein said step portion includes a prism riser having an upper frustoconical portion contiguous with the periphery of an upper portion of said circular central portion and a lower portion which extends downwardly to form two planar surfaces, and said step portion having an inner face provided with a planar upper portion and a cylindrical lower portion concentrically cylindrical with the lower half of the inner surface of said circular central portion.

Claim 24

A luminaire for use in lighting and marking runways and taxiways which comprises, a central light source, a globe-like refractor about said light source, and means positioned between said light source and said refractor for collecting rays from said light source and directing such rays towards specific areas of said refractor, said refractor including a central section and a pair of end sections which terminate at their lower extents in a circular base portion, said end portions each including a Fresnel-type lens having a circular central portion bounded at least partially by a step portion having an outer edge concentric with said circular portion, and at least one array of lenticular prisms formed in said central section and extending from adjacent said base on one side of said refractor to adjacent the base on the opposite side thereof, each of said lenticular prisms within said array having concave and convex portions joined by planar tangential portions and said prisms each lying within a plane parallel to each other, and said means for collecting rays of light from said light source directing said Rays toward said Fresnel-type lenses formed in said end sections.

Claim 25

A luminaire for use in lighting and marking runways and taxiways which comprises, a central light source, a globe-like refractor about said light source, and means positioned between said light source and said refractor for collecting rays from said light source and directing such rays towards specific areas of said refractor, said refractor including a central section and a pair of end sections which terminate at their lower extents in a circular base portion, said end portions each including a Fresnel-type lens having a circular central portion bounded at least partially by a step portion having an outer edge concentric with said circular portion, and at least one array of lenticular prisms formed in said central section and extending from adjacent said base on one side of said refractor to adjacent the base on the opposite side thereof, each of said lenticular prisms within said array having concave and convex portions joined by planar tangential portions and said prisms each lying within a plane parallel to each other, and said means for collecting rays of light from said light source directing said Rays toward said Fresnel-type lenses formed in said end sections.

Claim 26

A luminaire as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for collecting light rays from said light source and directing such rays toward said Fresnel-type lenses includes a pair of condensing lenses positioned within said globe, each of said condensing lenses having a central portion surrounded by a step portion, said central portion having an aspherically shaped outer surface facing toward one of said Fresnel-lenses and a spherically shaped inner surface facing said light source.