Method for controlling an obstruction light

• US 9,604,732 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Harms, Stephan, Moller, Gerd, Schweizer, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/321,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539, 340/500
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/10 Arrangements for warning air traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/06 Means for the lighting or illuminating of antennas, e.g. for purpose of warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of controlling a flight obstacle lighting arrangement, wherein a receiver co-operates with a switching device for the flight obstacle lighting arrangement. According to the invention it is proposed that the receiver upon receiving a first predetermined signal controls the switching device in such a way that the flight obstacle lighting arrangement is switched off.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a flight obstacle lighting arrangement of a wind power installation, the method comprising:

using a transponder signal receiver, receiving a first predetermined data signal that includes a height of an aircraft in a vicinity of the wind power installation;

comparing the height of the aircraft to a threshold value; and

when the height of the aircraft is determined to be above the threshold value, using a switching device coupled to the flight obstacle lighting arrangement to switch off the flight obstacle lighting arrangement.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

switching on the flight obstacle lighting arrangement when at least one of the following occurs;

a fault;

the first predetermined data signal is not received; and

an incorrect evaluation of the first predetermined data signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising switching on the flight obstacle lighting arrangement upon receipt of a second predetermined signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a central control station transmits at least one of the first predetermined data signal and the second predetermined signal through at least one intermediate station to a plurality of transmitting stations.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of transmitting stations includes either all existing transmitting stations, or transmitting stations selected in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein a fault in the first predetermined data signal or the second predetermined signal of the central control station causes the at least one intermediate station to transmit a signal to at least a portion of the plurality of transmitting stations, causing the transmitting stations to either switch off, or emit the second predetermined signal.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein, in the event of a fault in the signal of an intermediate station, the transmitting stations associated with said intermediate station emit the second predetermined signal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the height of the aircraft is determined to be less than the threshold value, switching on the flight obstacle lighting arrangement.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of the first predetermined data signals at intervals; and

so long as the using first predetermined data signals are received at the intervals, maintaining the flight obstacle lighting arrangement off.

10. A wind power installation comprising:

a flight obstacle lighting arrangement;

a transponder signal receiver configured to receive a plurality of first transponder signals at intervals, the first transponder signals including a height value, the transponder signal receiver being configured to compare the received first transponder signals to a threshold value; and

a switching device coupled to the receiver and to the flight obstacle lighting arrangement, the switching device configured to switch off the flight obstacle lighting arrangement in response to the transponder signal receiver receiving one of the first transponder signals that is at or above the threshold value, wherein the flight obstacle lighting arrangement remains off while the receiver receives the plurality of first transponder signals that are at or above the threshold value and received at the intervals, the switching device further configured to switch on the flight obstacle lighting arrangement in response to the transponder signal receiver receiving one of the first transponder signals that is below the threshold value.

11. The wind power installation according to claim 10 wherein, the switching device is structured to switch on the flight obstacle lighting arrangement in response to detection of a fault in the first transponder signal.

12. The wind power installation according to claim 10 wherein the flight obstacle lighting arrangement comprises a wind power installation.

13. The wind power installation according to claim 10, further comprising at least one entrance door operatively connected to the switching device, wherein the switching device is structured to activate the flight obstacle lighting arrangement in response to the at least one entrance door being opened.

14. The wind power installation according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of first transponder signals are data signals.