Aircraft Beacon Light Unit with Vertical and Horizontal Emission Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft beacon lights are large, causing significant aerodynamic drag and being prone to bird or stone strikes, while also requiring multiple units to cover the 360° light emission requirement, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact aircraft beacon light unit with a first light emission opening angle of at least 150° vertically and a second opening angle of up to 180° horizontally, allowing for reduced size and integration into wing-tips and tail areas, eliminating shadowing and aerodynamic drag, and providing equal warning illumination in both hemispheres.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If beacon lights are made large to cover 360° light emission requirement, then light emission coverage is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon light system is divided into multiple separate light units positioned at different locations on the aircraft (wingtips, tail, fuselage). Each unit emits light in a specific direction, and collectively they provide 360° coverage without requiring any single unit to be large
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large beacon light covering all directions to multiple smaller units distributed in three-dimensional space around the aircraft. This spatial distribution allows comprehensive light emission coverage while keeping each individual unit compact and aerodynamic
2Illumination intensity
If beacon lights are made large to cover 360° light emission requirement, then light emission coverage is improved, but susceptibility to bird or stone strikes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon light system is divided into multiple separate light units positioned at different locations on the aircraft (wingtips, tail, fuselage). Each unit emits light in a specific direction, and collectively they provide 360° coverage without requiring any single unit to be large
Solution Approach 2:
Each beacon light unit is positioned at a specific location on the aircraft where it is least susceptible to bird or stone strikes. The wingtip units are positioned at the extremities, the tail unit at the rear, and the fuselage unit in a protected area, distributing risk across multiple locations
3Illumination intensity
If multiple beacon light units are used to cover different areas, then light emission coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
All beacon light units use the same standardized design and mounting configuration, allowing them to perform the same function of emitting light in a specific direction. This modularity simplifies the overall system despite having multiple units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple beacon light units into a coordinated system where each unit is positioned to cover a specific sector. The units work together as an integrated system providing comprehensive 360° coverage, eliminating the need for a single complex large-scale beacon light
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft beacon light unit has an operating light emission distribution. The operating light emission distribution has a first light emission opening angle of at least 150° in a first cross-sectional plane, and a second light emission opening angle of at most 180° in a second cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the first cross-sectional plane. The aircraft beacon light unit is configured in such a way that it is mountable to an aircraft with the first cross-sectional plane being oriented in a vertical direction and the second cross-sectional plane being oriented in a horizontal direction, and the first light emission opening angle extends at least 75° both above and below the second cross-sectional plane.