LED array warning light system

• US 6,525,668 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TWR Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TWR Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Petrick, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/973,906
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.4, 340/473, 340/908.1, 340/982, 340/953, 362/800, 362/249, 362/80
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An LED array warning light system comprises a plurality of struts in a generally conical configuration. Each strut has an upper and lower edge and an inner and an outer edge. A plurality of light emitting diodes are affixed one above the other to an edge of each strut. A top disk with radial slots receives and is affixed to an upper edge of an associated strut. A bottom disk has radial slots which receive and are affixed to a lower edge of an associated strut. The disks are sized whereby the LED'"'"'s are at an angle of between 3 and 25 from the axis.

Claims

1. An LED array warning light system for rendering towers, cables and tall buildings visible to approaching aircraft, comprising, in combination:

fifteen elongated plate-like struts vertically aligned in a generally conical configuration, each strut having a short horizontal upper edge and a parallel short horizontal lower edge and with a long inner edge and a parallel long outer edge;

six light emitting diodes arrays, each LED with an external light emitting portion and an internal non-light emitting portion, each affixed one above the other to the outer edge of each strut;

a horizontal small too disk having a centrally disposed vertical axis, the top disk having fifteen radial slots, each slot receiving and affixed to an upper edge of an associated strut;

a horizontal large bottom disk having a centrally disposed vertical axis, the bottom disk having fifteen radial slots, each slot receiving and affixed to a lower edge of an associated strut, the axes of said top and bottom disk being a common vertical axis, the disk'"'"'s being sized whereby the LED'"'"'s are at an angle of between 3 and 25 degrees, preferably 10 degrees, from the common vertical axis;

an array base having a lower face and an upper circular face receiving and supporting the bottom disk and struts, top disk and LED'"'"'s;

the struts, disks and LED'"'"'s constituting a light source array;

a threaded attachment depending on a downwardly from the lower face of the array base;

the disks and struts being fabricated from electrically insulating material with a thermally insulating layer and with electrically conductive lines for conducting power to the LED'"'"'s;

a base with a threaded internal socket having electrically conductive portions for receiving the threaded attachment and the passage of electrical energy from a remote power source to the LED'"'"'s; and

a translucent dome supported by the base with an open too for the dissipation of heat and with a lenticular array to provide azimuthal spread.

2. An LED array warning light system comprising:

a plurality of struts in a generally conical configuration, each strut having an upper and lower edge and with a inner and an outer edge;

a plurality of light emitting diodes affixed one above the other to an edge of each strut whereby the light emitting diodes may be viewed for 360 degrees;

a top disk with radial slots for receiving and affixed to an upper edge of an associated strut; and

a bottom disk with radial slots for receiving and affixed to a lower edge of an associated strut, the disks being sized whereby the LED'"'"'s are at an angle of between 3 and 25 degrees from the axis.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 and further including an array base having a lower face and an upper circular face receiving and supporting the bottom disk and struts, top disk and LED'"'"'s, the struts, disks and LED'"'"'s constituting a light source array.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 and further including a threaded attachment depending downwardly from the lower face of the array base.

5. The system as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the disks and struts being fabricated from electrically insulating material wish a thermally insulating layer and with electrically conductive lines for conducting power to the LED'"'"'s.

6. The system as set forth in claim 2 and further including a base with a threaded internal socket having electrically conductive portions for receiving the threaded attachment and the passage of electrical energy from a remote power source to the LED'"'"'s.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 and further including a translucent dome supported by the base with an open top for the dissipation of heat and with a lenticular array to provide azimuthal spread.

8. The system as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the LED'"'"'s are along the exterior edge.

9. The system as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the LED'"'"'s are along the interior edge.