Aeronautical obstruction light

• US 5,448,138 A
• Filed: 12/22/1992
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Staggs
• Original Assignee: David Staggs
• Inventors: Staggs, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RATLIFF, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US07/999,700
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 315/307, 315/308, 315/291, 315/292, 315/248, 315/200 A, 362/391
• US Class Current: 315/248
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62

Abstract

A light that meets Federal Aviation Administration requirements for marking powerlines or powerline support structures that is powered from the magnetic field created by the conduction of electricity along a powerline. The energy in the naturally occurring magnetic filed induces an electric current in a specialized coil within the device that delivers a constant voltage to a lamp. The lamp is focused through a lens into the beam pattern required for marking powerline support structures.

Claims

1. A lighting device for use in marking aeronautical obstructions comprising:

(a) voltage source means for producing an electrical voltage from an interacting magnetic field, whereby said lighting device does not require a direct electrical connection to an external power source,

(b) regulating circuit means electrically connected to said voltage source means that provides a steady voltage from said voltage source means, and,

(c) illumination means electrically connected to said regulating circuit means that provides illumination adequate to mark an aeronautical obstruction.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said voltage source means comprises a plurality of electrically connected voltage source means, whereby sufficient voltage can be acquired from interaction with weaker magnetic fields.

3. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into a toroidial shape.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into an elliptical shape.

5. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a battery electrically connected to said voltage source means for storing power from said voltage source means for use by electrically connected said voltage regulating means when required.

6. A lighting device for use in marking electric powerlines as aeronautical obstructions comprising:

(a) voltage source means mounted near the electric powerline for producing an electrical voltage from the interacting magnetic field generated during the transmission of electricity along said electric powerline, whereby said lighting device does not require a direct electrical connection to an external power source,

(b) regulating circuit means electrically connected to said voltage source means that provides a steady voltage from said voltage source means,

(c) illumination means electrically connected to said regulating circuit means, and,

(d) focusing means encasing said illumination means so that said illumination means is adequate to mark an aeronautical obstruction.

7. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein said voltage source means comprises a plurality of electrically connected voltage source means.

8. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into a toroidial shape.

9. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into an elliptical shape.

10. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein said illumination means is mounted remotely from the powerline, whereby electric powerline support structures can also be marked.

11. The lighting device of claim 6 further comprising a battery electrically connected to said voltage source means for storing power from said voltage source means for use by electrically connected said voltage regulating means when required.

12. A lighting device for use in marking electric powerlines as aeronautical obstructions comprising:

(a) voltage source means mounted on the electric powerline for producing an electrical voltage from the interacting magnetic field generated during the transmission of electricity along said electric powerline, whereby said lighting device does not require a direct electrical connection to an external power source,

(b) regulating circuit means electrically connected to said voltage source means that provides a steady voltage from said voltage source means,

(c) illumination means electrically connected to said regulating circuit means, and,

(d) focusing means encasing said illumination means that focuses said illumination means into a 360 degree beam adequate to mark an aeronautical obstruction.

13. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said voltage source means are spatially oriented parallel to said electric powerline and perpendicular to said interacting magnetic field generated by transmission of electricity along said electric powerline.

14. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said voltage source means comprises a plurality of electrically connected voltage source means, whereby sufficient voltage can be acquired from interaction with weaker magnetic fields from said electric powerline.

15. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into a toroidial shape.

16. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said voltage source means comprises electrically conductive wire coiled into an elliptical shape.

17. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said illumination means is a non-flashing lamp.

18. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said illumination means is a halogen lamp.

19. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said illumination means is mounted remotely from the electric powerline, whereby electric powerline support structures can also be marked as aeronautical obstructions.

20. The lighting device of claim 12 further comprising a battery electrically connected to said voltage source means for storing power from said voltage source means for use by said electrically connected voltage regulating means when required.