Anti-collision light assembly

• US 5,335,157 A
• Filed: 01/26/1993
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whelen Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Lyons, Harold W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/009,021
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 362/297, 362/186, 362/308, 362/309, 362/310, 362/337, 362/339, 362/340, 362/327, 362/328, 362/329, 362/346, 362/363
• US Class Current: 362/297
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like

Abstract

A compact and highly efficient warning light for producing high intensity light pulses which are radiated in accordance with a desired directional pattern includes a light source and a pair of reflectors disposed within a lens cover. The reflectors each include plural parabolic reflective surfaces distributed about an axis with the surfaces having a common focal point located on the axis. The two reflectors are coaxial and the common focal points of the surfaces thereof coincide.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing pulses of light in the visible spectrum comprising:

a light generator, said light generator having a light emitting region from which light rays are radiated when the light generator is in a energized state;

light transmissive cover means;

means for supporting said light generator within said cover means, said supporting means positioning said light generator so that a portion of the light emitting region thereof lies on an axis;

first reflector means positioned within said cover means on a first side of said light generator for intercepting and redirecting light rays radiating from said light generator, said first reflector means comprising a plurality of parabolic reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces having a common focal point and being arranged about said axis, said common focal point being located approximately on said axis whereby light rays incident on said first reflector means parabolic surfaces will be redirected in directions which are generally transverse to said axis; and

second reflector means positioned within said cover means for intercepting light rays radiating from said light generator, said second reflector means comprising a plurality of parabolic reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces of said second reflector means having a common focal point and being arranged about said axis, said common focal point of said second reflector means parabolic reflective surfaces being located approximately on said axis and approximately coincident with said focal point of said first reflector means whereby light rays incident on said second reflector means parabolic reflector surfaces will be redirected in directions which are generally parallel to the directions of the light rays redirected by said first reflector means, said second reflector means being located along said axis at a second side light generator and in a generally facing relationship to said first reflector means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first reflector means is integral with said light generator supporting means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein aid second reflector means is integral with said cover means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said light generator is an incandescent lamp.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said light generator is a gaseous discharge tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light generator is an incandescent lamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first reflector means defines a base with an internal cavity and wherein circuitry for periodically interrupting the energization of said incandescent lamp is positioned within said cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first reflector means is integral with said light generator supporting means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light generator is a gaseous discharge tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second reflector means is integral with said cover means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said parabolic reflective surfaces define portions of paraboloids of revolution, each of said paraboloids of revolution having a focal length, and wherein the focal lengths of the paraboloids of revolution of said firstctor means are all the same and are different from the focal lengths of the paraboloids of revolution said second reflector means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said parabolic reflective surfaces of said first reflector means are segments of parabolic trough reflectors.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said parabolic reflective surfaces of said second reflector means define portions of paraboloids of revolution.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said reflective surface of said first reflector means extend generally outwardly with respect to said axis to outer ends thereof, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

reflective extensions of at lest some of said parabolic reflective surfaces of said first reflector means, said extensions being disposed at the said outer ends of said surfaces, said extensions being shaped to reflect light incident thereon in directions which are angularly related to said transverse directions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said reflective extensions have a generally spherical shape.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second reflector means is integral with said cover means.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said parabolic reflective surfaces of said second reflector means define portions of paraboloids of revolution.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said second reflector means is integral with said cover means.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface of said first reflector means extend generally outwardly with respect to said axis to outer ends thereof, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

reflective extensions of at least some of said parabolic reflective surfaces of said first reflector means, said extensions being disposed at the said outer ends of said surfaces, said extensions being shaped to reflect light incident thereon in directions which are angularly related to said transverse directions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reflective extensions have a generally spherical shape.