System and method for extending the life of aircraft anti-collision lights
OwnerRobert M. Dempseyinventor
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Abstract
A system and method for extending the useful life of anti-collision lights comprising inert gas flash tubes and which are included on commercial, military, and business jet aircraft. When the aircraft is cruising in high altitude tightly controlled airspace (where instrument flight rules are controlling, i.e., at altitudes above 18,000 feet), and when the aircraft is not undergoing a substantial change in altitude, the power input to the anti-collision lights is reduced. The reduction in the power provides a significant increase in the useful life of the flash tube while causing only slight reduction in the intensity of the light output of the flash tube.
Claims32
An apparatus for extending the useful life of an anti-collision light included on an aircraft capable of flying in high altitude controlled air space, the apparatus comprising:
- means for sensing when the aircraft is above a threshold altitude;
- means for sensing when the aircraft undergoes a substantial change in altitude;
- and
- means for automatically reducing power input to the anti-collision light when the aircraft is above the threshold altitude and when the aircraft is not substantially changing altitude such that the useful life of the anti-collision light is extended.
A system for lengthening the useful life of a flash tube containing an inert gas and mounted in an anti-collision light included on an aircraft capable of flying in high altitude controlled air space, the anti-collision light comprising a charging voltage source and at least one capacitor device, the system comprising:
- a pressure sensor configured to sense the absolute ambient pressure about the aircraft, the pressure sensor outputting a pressure signal;
- means for determining when the pressure signal reaches a value which corresponds to a sensed pressure substantially equivalent to an altitude of at least 18,000 feet;
- means for determining when the pressure signal changes at a rate at least as great as that corresponding to a rate of altitude change of 100 feet per minute;
- and
- means for reducing the power input to the flash tube whenever the pressure signal corresponds to an altitude at least as great as 18,000 feet and when the pressure signal is not changing at a rate at least as great as that corresponding to a rate of altitude change of 100 feet per minute such that the output of the flash tube is decreased and the useful life of the flash tube is increased and for increasing the power input to the flash tube to full power whenever the pressure signal corresponds to an altitude less than about 18,000 feet or when the pressure signal changes at a rate at least as great as that corresponding to a rate of altitude change of 100 feet per minute.
A method of lengthening the useful life of a flash tube used in an anti-collision light included on an aircraft capable of flying in high altitude controlled air space, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing when the aircraft is above a threshold altitude;
- sensing when the aircraft undergoes a substantial change in altitude;
- and
- reducing the power input to the flash tube when the aircraft is above the threshold altitude and when the aircraft is not substantially changing altitude such that the useful life of the flash tube is lengthened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.