Airship aerodrome lighting

Abstract

A platform (1) for receiving an airship (2) comprising a mooring mast (3) with a light (4) and a circular light beacon arrangement (5), referred to as the safety zone, centered on the mooring mast, comprising: a first zone (6), referred to as the take-off zone, circular in shape, delimited by a plurality of lights (7), referred to as guide lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast, and of predetermined radius (8); a second zone (9), referred to as the safety zone, annular in shape, centered on the mooring mast, delimited by said plurality of lights and a plurality of lights (10), referred to as perimeter lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast, the ring having a predetermined radial distance (11). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Marking system for airship aerodromes Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a specific marking system for airships on their dedicated platforms. This marking system will be used for night flights to safely guide the crew on board the airship to its landing and takeoff area. State of the art

[0002] To date, there is no specific marking system for the use of airships at night. At night, optical and sensory illusions are increased.

[0003] Only procedures and ground personnel are used to guide the airship.

[0004] One object of the invention is to provide a marking system enabling night takeoff and landing, thus ensuring air safety.

[0005] Another objective of the invention is to provide adaptive guidance for the airship to optimize its approach and ensure a more successful landing. This reduces the exposure time of this always challenging phase, further improving the overall safety of the operation. Description of the invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a landing platform for an airship is proposed, comprising a mooring mast with a light and a circular light beacon arrangement, referred to as a secure zone, centered on the mooring mast, comprising: • a first zone, called the take-off zone, circular in shape, delimited by a plurality of lights, called guide lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast and of predetermined radius, • a second zone, called the safety zone, of annular shape, centered on the mooring mast, delimited by said plurality of lights and a plurality of lights, called perimeter lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast, the ring having a predetermined radial distance.

[0007] Advantageously, the plurality of guide lights is regularly spaced angularly around the mooring mast, each of the lights being capable of diffusing two distinct colors.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for guiding an airship is proposed, implemented by a platform according to the first aspect of the invention, or one or more of its improvements, comprising a step of piloting the guide lights and the plurality of lights.

[0009] The method may advantageously include a step of determining and lighting a guide light, called a wind light, from a wind direction data.

[0010] In addition, the method may include a step of determining and lighting up so-called door guide lights.

[0011] Advantageously, the determination of door lights is carried out from a wind intensity data point. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments, which are by no means limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: • [Fig.1] Fig.1 illustrates the general arrangement of an example of a platform according to the invention; • [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] presents a particular arrangement of light the platform illustrated on [Fig.l]; • [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 schematically presents a Y-guide implemented on the platform illustrated in [Fig.1]. Description of implementation methods

[0013]

[037] The embodiments described below are in no way limiting, it may In particular, consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of the described features, subsequently isolated from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection includes at least one feature, preferably functional, without structural details, or with only a portion of the structural details if this portion alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0014]

[038] In the figures, an element appearing in several figures retains the same reference. A platform 1 and a guidance method implemented by the platform are described jointly.

[0015] [Fig.1] illustrates the general arrangement of a platform 1 for accommodating an airship 2.

[0016] The platform 1 includes a mooring mast 3 having a light 4 and a light beacon arrangement 5 suitable for guiding the circular-shaped airship, known as the safe zone, centered on the mooring mast.

[0017] The lighting arrangement 5 comprises: • a first zone 6, known as the take-off zone, also referred to as the ATOL (for English Area for Take Off and Landing) of circular shape, delimited by a plurality of lights 7 ([Fig.2]), called guide lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast 3, and of predetermined radius 8. • a second zone 9, called the safety zone, also designated by the English term Clearway, of annular shape, centered on the mooring mast, delimited by said plurality of guide lights and a plurality of lights 10, called perimeter lights, arranged on a circle centered on the mooring mast, the ring having a predetermined radial distance 11.

[0018] A key feature of an airship is the need to always take off and land into the wind, which is provided by the circular area of ​​the proposed arrangement. The takeoff area is the zone designed to receive the airship at the end of landing or before takeoff. The safety zone is an unobstructed area around the takeoff area, to ensure additional margins.

[0019] The proposed marking system therefore makes it possible to identify the takeoff zone as well as the safety zone. The guidance method includes a step of controlling the guide lights and the plurality of lights.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the predetermined radius of the takeoff zone is 200 m. According to another embodiment, the predetermined radial distance of the safety zone is 100 m.

[0021] The light 4 of the mooring mast 3 makes it possible to detect a drift of the airship 2 relative to the mooring mast in order to correct it as quickly as possible to stay within the secure perimeter.

[0022] The perimeter lights 10 are advantageously fixed white omnidirectional lights used to delimit the secure area. The choice of perimeter lights also prevents this area from being mistaken for a conventional airport (for airplanes) or a heliport (for helicopters). In the example shown in [Fig. 2], the omnidirectional lights are spaced 45° apart around the mooring mast.

[0023] Yet another plurality of lights 12, called flight zone delimitation lights, can be placed on the same circle as the guide lights 7. More precisely, each of the flight zone delimitation lights 12 can be arranged next to a guide light 7.

[0024] The positioning of the delimitation lights for the launch zone 12 must be carried out so that they are visible to the airship when it is on approach and not only a few hundred meters from the zone, thus allowing it to anticipate the trajectory. This is why the delimitation lights are placed at a predetermined height. finished, for example between one and two meters.

[0025] The guide lights 7 are regularly spaced angularly, preferably at 22.5° as illustrated, around the mooring mast and have two distinct diffusion colours, for example green and red.

[0026] The guidance method may include a step of determining and activating a guidance light 13, called a wind light, of a predetermined color, for example green, based on wind direction data. This light 13 makes it possible to visualize a wind, coming from the west in the illustrated example.

[0027] Two other guidance lights, 14 and 15 respectively, called door lights, arranged on the opposite side of the mast 3 from the wind light 13, provide lateral guidance for the airship, enabling it to align itself correctly with the wind while anticipating the trajectory to reach the center of the launch area. The guidance method may include a step of determining and illuminating the door lights, preferably in the same predetermined color as the wind light.

[0028] [Fig. 3] allows for the representation (for the sake of illustration and understanding of the invention only) of the letter Y formed by the wind light 13 and the door lights 14, 15. The light at the center of the takeoff zone 4 is that of the mast 3. The idea is to create a "Y" shape to provide an entry point through which the airship must enter (the top of the "Y"). Furthermore, the reference point for maintaining the airship-mast axis, with a light opposite the entry point (the stem of the "Y"), provides a reference to prevent lateral movements that are difficult to discern at night.

[0029] Advantageously, means of communication are provided between the airship and the platform configured to control means of piloting the platform according to the invention.

[0030] The platform control means are configured to control the switching on or off of the various lights on the platform.

[0031] Automation of the servo system would allow activation by the crew directly when they arrive in the area.

[0032] Activating the lights based on wind direction, and in particular intelligent management when the wind is very light or variable (frequent changes in wind direction), will provide the best information. The option to widen the top of the "Y" will indicate whether the wind is steady in a given direction or, conversely, remains somewhat variable. This, combined with radio instructions from the ground crew, ensures the most optimized and safest approach for the airship.

[0033] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the various characteristics, forms, variants, and modes of implementation The implementation of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

Claims

Demands

1. Platform (1) for hosting an airship (2) comprising a mooring mast (3) having a light source (4) and a light beacon arrangement (5) of circular conformation, called the safety zone, centered on the mooring mast, comprising: a. a first zone (6), called the launch zone, of circular conformation, delimited by a first plurality of light sources (7) of the platform, called the guidance lights, arranged on a first circle centered on the mooring mast, and of predetermined radius (8), b. a second zone (9), called the safety zone, of annular conformation, centered on the mooring mast, delimited by said guidance lights and a second plurality of light sources (10) of the platform, called the perimeter lights, arranged on a second circle centered on the mooring mast, said second circle having a predetermined radius having a predetermined radial distance (11).

2. Platform according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide lights (7) are regularly spaced angularly around the mooring mast, each of the lights being capable of diffusing two distinct colors.

3. Method for guiding an airship (2), implemented by a platform according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of controlling the guidance lights and the perimeter lights.

4. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the platform is further of claim 2, further comprising a step of determining and lighting a guidance light (13), called a wind light, from a wind direction data.

5. Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising a step of determining and lighting guide lights (14, 15), called door lights.

6. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the determination of door lights is carried out from a wind intensity data.

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