US3903501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft lighting system
Assignee: Grimes Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1969-12-31
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1989-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft lighting system includes a pair of forwardly facing flash lamps on the wing tips which flash at the same repetition rate but wherein the flashing of one lamp is delayed by a predetermined time interval from the flashing of the other lamp to provide a distinctive flash pattern at the forward part of the aircraft to aid in a collision avoidance.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul H Greenlee
- 👤 Erasmus W Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:48
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/30; H05B41/34; B; B64; B64D; B64D47/00; B64D47/02; B64D47/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
An attention-arresting aircraft stroboscopic lighting system providing recognition of the relative position of an aircrAft in flight to enable a pilot in an observing aircraft to determine quickly whether a possible collision condition exists, comprising forwardly-directed high-intensity flash lamp means on said aircraft, rearwardly-directed high-intensity flash lamp means on said aircraft, said lamp means each being of the same color and being oriented with respect to said aircraft to cover an azimuth field of approximately 360*, circuit means connected to said flash lamp means, said circuit means flashing said forwardlydirected flash lamp means with distinct closely-spaced pairs of flashes at a given rate and flashing said rearwardly-directed flash lamp means with single flashes substantially at said rate, the interval between the flashes of said pairs of flashes being sufficiently short so as to provide the appearance of a distinctive double flash without merging as a single flash, the periodic interval between said pairs of flashes being substantially longer than said interval between individual flashes of said pairs so as to provide for instant recognition of said forwardly-directed flash pairs from said rearwardly-directed single flashes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
An attention-arresting aircraft stroboscopic lighting system providing recognition of the relative position of an aircrAft in flight to enable a pilot in an observing aircraft to determine quickly whether a possible collision condition exists, comprising forwardly-directed high-intensity flash lamp means on said aircraft, rearwardly-directed high-intensity flash lamp means on said aircraft, said lamp means each being of the same color and being oriented with respect to said aircraft to cover an azimuth field of approximately 360*, circuit means connected to said flash lamp means, said circuit means flashing said forwardlydirected flash lamp means with distinct closely-spaced pairs of flashes at a given rate and flashing said rearwardly-directed flash lamp means with single flashes substantially at said rate, the interval between the flashes of said pairs of flashes being sufficiently short so as to provide the appearance of a distinctive double flash without merging as a single flash, the periodic interval between said pairs of flashes being substantially longer than said interval between individual flashes of said pairs so as to provide for instant recognition of said forwardly-directed flash pairs from said rearwardly-directed single flashes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 in which said forwardly-directed flash lamp means comprises a pair of individual flash lamps, and in which said circuit means flashes one lamp of said pair with a short time delay following the flashing of the other lamp of said pair providing said flash pairs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 in which said forwardly and rearwardly directed flash lamp means are visible together when said aircraft is viewed from the side, and in which one of said forwardly-directed flash lamps is flashed simultaneously with said rearwardly-directed flash lamp means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 2 in which said flash lamp means are mounted in the wing tips of said aircraft and in which said rearwardly-directed flash lamp means comprises a separate flash lamp in each wing tip and said forwardly-directed flash lamp means comprises a separate said pair of lamps in each said wing tip providing a visual indication of aircraft a titude as well as relative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 in which said interval between said flash pairs is in the order of 175 milliseconds and in which said rate is in the order of one per second.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |