Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FILF. ~r~ ! TNIS AMEND
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Description
Lighting device, in particular a flush-marker light
with spatially orientated light distribution
The invention relates to a lighting device, in
particular a flush-marker light with spatially
orientated light distribution, for airport runways and
taxiways, which has, in a housing which can be run
over, at least one reflector lamp for generating light
and at least one lens or a prism acting like a lens for
guiding the light exit.
A lighting device corresponding to the above is
known from DE 690 17 682 T2. For a portion of the light
emitted by the lamp, this known lighting device has in
the interior a reflecting mirror which disadvan-
tageously constitutes a separate part which has to be
mounted and adjusted individually.
It is the object of the invention to specify a
lighting device, in particular a flush-marker light
with spatially orientated light distribution for
airport runways and taxiways which, by contrast, can be
designed to be simpler, more cost-effective and lower.
Moreover, an embodiment as a flush-marker light
emitting on both sides or radiating omnidirectionally
is also to be possible.
The object is achieved by virtue of the fact
that a part of the lens surface or prism surface on the
lamp side has a coating having reflecting properties.
As a result of this advantageously simple embodiment, a
component which is to be separately mounted and
adjusted is eliminated, and the overall volume of the
lighting device can advantageously be reduced.
One embodiment of the invention provides that
the coating is constructed to totally reflect the light
of the reflector lamp. Reflecting coatings are not
necessarily constructed to be
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GR 96 P 3374 P - 2 -
totally reflecting; it can also prove to be
advantageous for specific applications if the
reflecting layer is only partially reflecting, for
example if the light is to be emitted in bright and
dark zones. A totally reflecting coating according to
the invention is, however, advantageous for emitting
light with a particularly high intensity.
In a further embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the coating is composed of metal, in
particular aluminum, for example in a vapor-deposited
finish. The result is a reflecting layer having
particularly good long-term use characteristics. It is
also possible to use another metal, for example a
silver alloy, instead of aluminum. However, from the
point of view of cost aluminum is the most favorable.
It is furthermore provided that the direction
in which the light of the lamp is reflected points into
the reflector interior. Renewed emission of the
reflected portion of the light in a simple way is
thereby ensured.
The lens or the prism can be constructed
differently using the principle of retroreflecting a
portion of the light emitted by the lamp in the
reflector of the lamp. It is possible, for example, in
this case for the lens or the prism to have individual
surface elements which are geometrically separated from
one another and cooperate optically in an active
fashion. It is thereby possible, for example, for the
lens or the prism to be constructed so as to generate a
belt-lens effect. This produces a construction which is
particularly suitable for a flush-marker light at
airports which may have particularly favorable emission
characteristics.
The construction of the lighting device as an
omnidirectional radiator is also possible. A
particularly favorable illumination of the surface can
be achieved thereby, in particular for instances of
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two-dimensional lighting of, for example, aircraft
parking spaces, for the ramp etc.,
,
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but also for traffic routes, footpaths etc.
Particularly for the use of the lighting device
according to the invention as a runway end light or as
a stop bar light, it is provided that the lens or the
prism has a red, in particular dichroic, coating,
preferably at least in the region which is constructed
to be non-reflecting. The result is an advantageous,
compact construction of a flush-marker light for the
abovementioned applications which emits at high
intensity.
Of course, the lighting device according to the
invention is suitable not only for emitting white or
red light. Blue, green or yellow light, as well, can
likewise advantageously be emitted. In this case, color
can be generated in all known ways.
The invention is explained in more detail with
the aid of drawings from which, as well as from the
subclaims, further details also essential to the
invention can be gathered, and in which:
Figure 1 shows the beam path in the case of a
reflecting layer on a prism,
Figure 2 shows the beam path in a lighting device
emitting in several directions,
Figure 3 shows an enlarged representation of the
region III in Figure 2,
Figure 4 shows a side view of an emitting prism having
a filter layer with partial cover by a
reflecting layer,
Figure 5 shows a perspective representation of a prism
having an angled-off reflector surface,
Figure 6 shows a section through a flush-marker light
of particularly low construction which
operates using the beam guidance according to
the invention, and
Figure 7 shows a plan view of a flush-marker light in
accordance with Figure 6.
, . ~ ... , . , . . . . ,, _
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In Figure 1, 1 denotes an emitting prism having
a stop collar 2. A layer 3, a reflecting one in the
example, is arranged on the lamp side of the prism 1.
This layer is, for example, a vapor-deposited one. Such
a layer can, however, also be sprayed on or bonded on.
The lamp with the reflector 4 and the filament 6
generates light which is reflected at least partially
in accordance with the illustrated beams 5 by the
reflecting layer 3, re-reflected by the reflector 4 and
emitted as a directed light beam 7.
In Figure 2, 8 denotes an optically active body
having prismatic surfaces, or similar, which
advantageously emits in several directions. The
principle according to the invention is implemented by
applying reflecting layers 9 and 10, which either
reflect the beams 11 into the lamp 12 having the
filament 13, or deflect them in such a way that they
advantageously emerge directly from the illuminating
device as directed beams 20 or, after passing the
reflector 12 again, as beams 21. As may be seen in
Figure 3, the reflecting layer 9 is advantageously
divided and exposes an exit diaphragm 23. The upper
part serves in this case as reflecting surface for the
light 11. The reflecting layer 10 can optionally also
be constructed in its upper part to retroreflect
directly by means of optically active surfaces
(stages), and in its lower part, as in the first-named
embodiment, to emit in accordance with the law of
"angle of incidence = angle of reflection", that is to
say singly coated, for example.
In Figure 4, 14 denotes a prism, seen from the
side, having the collar 15. On the entrance site, the
prism 14 has, for example, a red, dichroic layer 16 on
the outside of which a reflecting layer 17 is arranged.
On the entrance side, the prism 14 is advantageously
switched off to be simply flat.
In Figure 5, 18 denotes the prism and 19 the
reflecting layer, 22 denoting a bend in the entrance
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surface. On the inside, such prisms do not,
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advantageously as the case may be, have a flat entrance
surface, as represented in Figure 1 and Figure 4, for
the light. In order to be able to fashion the optical
properties yet more favorably, a flat or lens-shaped
entrance surface is joined to an angled-off reflecting
surface, for example. The bend is relatively slight in
this case, for example below 1~. The result is a lens-
prism combination having optimum properties for the
respective task of emission, which can advantageously
be mounted in the simple way which is customary.
In Figure 6, 24 denotes the cover of a flush-
marker light which is of particularly low construction
and which snow-clearing vehicles can roll over
effectively. 25 denotes the housing of the flush-marker
light, which has a cable bushing 32. The lamp 29,
emitting through the prism 26, is arranged with the
reflector 28 on a plate 31 in a vibration-damped
fashion. The optical axis of the lamp 29 extends,
advantageously as the case may be, asymmetrically
relative to the mechanical axis of the prism, and can,
just like its angle of inclination, be modified, for
example by means of special lamp mounts, depending on
the specification. The beam path is visible from the
arrows drawn in. Despite the fact that the light is
emitted in accordance with airport specifications, the
elevation 30 is only approximately 5-7 mm.
By way of example, Figure 7 shows the flush-
marker light according to the invention - the principle
according to the invention can be used to produce all
flush-marker lights used at airports - in a 3-lamp,
bidirectional finish seen from above. The light is
emitted through the exit openings 35, 36 and 37, and is
indicated by the arrows drawn in. The cover 33 is
fastened to the lower part (not visible) by means of
screws 34.
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