Batterson, S. A.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

May 16, 1961 
Fi led S6pt. 24, 1959 
S. A. BATTERSON 
RUNlRAY LIGHT 
2,984,735 
2 Sheets-Sheet 1 
i 
13 
FIG. I 
BY 
W E N T O R  
SIDNEY A. BATTERSON 
g.or* ATTOR S 
/--- 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700024018 2020-03-17T01:34:14+00:00Z
May 16, 1961 S. A. BATTERSON 
RUNWAY LIGHT 
Filed Sept. 24, 1959 
2,984,735 
2 Sheets-Sheet 2 
FIG. 2 
II 26 
INVENTOR 
SIDNEY A. BATTERSON ILJ 
2,984,735 United States Patent Office patented Ma,, 16, 1961 
2,984,735 
RUNWAY LIGHT 
Sidney A. Batterson Newport News, Va, &or to &e 
United States ob America as represented by the Admin- 
istrator of National Aeronautics and Space Ahinis- 
tration 
Filed Sept. 24,1959, Ser. No. 842,171 
9 Claim& (Ci. 240-1.2) 
(Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) 
The invention described herein may be manufactured 
and used by or  for the Government of the United States 
of America for governmental purposes without the pay- 
ment of any royalties thereon or  therefor. 
This invention relates generally to a travelled surface 
light and more particularly to  an aircraft runway light 
capable of being seen from the air and of being struck 
by landing gear of airplanes on landing and takeoffs with- 
out causing adverse structural effects to  the airplane and 
without causing damage to the light. 
A great deal of effort has been devoted to the im- 
provement of runway lighting in order to reduce the 
minimum visibility requirements which currently impose 
a severe limitation on flight operations in inclement 
weather. The results of some recent flight tests have 
indicated that, when lights are installed along the runway 
center line in the landing area, most aircraft are capable 
of landing safely under conditions that approach zero 
ceiling and zero visibility. Because of the favorable re- 
sults obtained during these tests, a great interest in in- 
stalling runway center line lighting on all major runways 
has developed. The button type runway lights which 
have been used heretofore protrude from the runway 
surface and can cause adverse effects on the airplane 
structure when struck by the aircraft landing gear on 
takeoff and landing. Furthermore, the illumination 
which these button type lights produce on the runway 
surface is somewhat inadequate. Another disadvantage 
of the button t y p e  lights is that runways provided with 
them cannot have snow removed by snowplows as the 
plows would damage these lights. A still another dis- 
advantage of the button type lights is that reevaluation 
of runways from which high speed jet aircraft operate 
indicates highly adverse structural effects produced on 
these aircraft by striking protruding objects such as button 
type lights. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide 
a light for location on and illumination of a vehicular 
travelled surface. 
Another object of the invention is to  provide a runway 
light capable of giving substantial illumination to the 
runway surface under poor visibility weather conditions. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a runway 
light that will not produce adverse structural effects on 
aircraft striking or running over the light. 
Still another object of the invention is to  provide a 
runway light which may be used on runways from which 
snow is to be removed by snowplows. 
Another still further object of the invention is to  pro- 
vide a runway light that will not be damaged if struck 
by an aircraft during takeoff, landing or taxiing. 
A still fcrther object of the invention is to  provide a 
runway light that will not lose its lighting intensity due 
to  the blackening caused by jet aircraft operating on the 
runway. 
One still further object of the invention is to provide 
a runway light that will provide adequate illumination 
2 
even after a particular accumulation of snow on the mn- 
way surface. 
Generally speaking, the foregoing objects as well as 
others are accomplished in accordance with this invention 
6 by providing a light unit capable of emitting light to  mark 
and illuminate the runway surface and of folding flush 
with the runway surface when struck by an airplane land- 
ing wheel without causing any adverse effects or damage 
to the light unit or the wheel striking the light. 
A more complete understanding of the invention and 
many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily 
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by 
reference to the following detailed description when con- 
sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings 
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, 
of the runway light unit in an elevated position. 
Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational view of the runway 
light unit in an erected condition; and 
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the runway light unit 
in a retracted position. 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference 
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts 
throughout the several views, and more particularly to 
25 Fig. 1 whereon the runway light unit, generally indicated 
by the reference numeral 10 is shown as consisting essen- 
tially of a reflector carriage 11, top plate 12, and a recep- 
tacle 13. The receptacle 13 is generally cup shaped and 
adapted to be buried into the ground or within the run- 
The receptacle houses a lighting unit 14 and is 
provided with a lip 15 which supports the top plate 12. 
The lighting unit may be any type which will give ade- 
quate illumination to the surface of the runway. The 
receptacle 13 may be provided with a drain 16, as seen 
36 on Fig. 2, which enables rain, snow and any other water 
finding its way into the receptacle to escape and thereby 
keep the receptacle 13 free of water. 
The top plate 12, as seen on Fig. 2 is preferably a 
circular disc adapted t o  be rigidly secured to receptacle 
40 13 by means of bolts 18 positioned within corresponding 
clearance holes 19 formed along the periphery at pre- 
determined intervals in the top plate 12 and top holes 
20 in the lip 15 of the receptacle. The upper surface 
of top plate 12 is flush with the runway surface. 
The top plate 12 has an opening 21 formed therein 
through which light passes from the lighting means 14. 
The top plate 12 has grooves, or indentations, 22 formed 
therein, as seen on Fig. 1, which are adaptable to re- 
ceive the reflector carriage 11. The reflector carriage is 
60 pivotally connected at one end to the top plate 12 by a 
hinge pin 23. The hinge pin extends through corre- 
sponding apertures formed in the carriage 11 and an 
aperture 24 formed in the top plate 12. The carriage 
11 is capable of being elevated, as seen in  Figs. 1 and 2, 
55 and retracted, as seen in Fig. 3. The reflector carnage 
11 in a retracted position is flush with the top plate 12 
and runway surface 17. 
The reflector carriage 11 consists of three parallel 
frontal links 25 which are rigidly connected to  a cover 
60 plate 26 by means of screws 27, as seen in  Fig. 1, thereby 
forming the top flush surface of the reflector carriage in 
a retracted position, as seen in Fig. 3. As seen in Fig, 1 
the grooves 22 formed in the top plate 12 receive the 
frontal links 25 when the reflector carriage 11 is in a 
65 retracted position thereby forming a flush surface with 
the top plate. As seen in Fig. 2 a frontal link extension 
28 is rigidly secured to one of the frontal links and pro- 
jects downwardly therefrom. A reflector plate 29 is 
secured to the underside of the coverplate 26 in a man- 
70 ner to project downwardly and outwardly so that a line 
drawn perpendicularly from the outermost edge of the 
coverplate 26 will intersect the lowest .point on the re- 
10 
15 wherein: 
20 
30 way. 
45 
a,oa4,7a15 
3 4 
flector 29. A brace 30 may be rigidly secured to the used by aircraft landing from either direction on the 
reflector 29 and coverplate 26 to  give the structure added same runway by retracting one group of lights. 
strength and maintain the reflector in a fixed position. The lighting means employed in the present invention 
A spring 31 is attached a t  one end to the lower end of for lighting runway surfaces may also be used to light 
the frontal link extension 28 and at  the other end to the 5 other vehicularly traveled surfaces, such for example as, 
under side of the top plate 12. The spring 31 normally highways, automobile parking lots, crosswalks, and the 
maintains the reflector carriage 11 in a raised position like. 
thereby effecting illumination of the runway surface by Obviously numerous modifications and variations of the 
horizontal reflection of the light from the source 14. present invention are possible in the light of the above 
The reflector carriage 11 may be retracted, or lowered, 10 teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within 
by expanding the spring 31. The spring 31 will be ex- the scope of the appended claims the invention may be 
panded by the force of a colliding object, such as, for practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 
example, an airplane wheel striking the reflector car- What is claimed as new and desired to  be secured by 
riage 11 in the direction indicated by arrowhead 32. The Letters Patent of the United States is: 
force exerted on the reflector carriage is transferred to 15 1. A runway light unit comprising a receptacle buried 
the spring causing it to  expand and lower the reflector within a vehicular traveled runway, a light source dis- 
carriage 11. When the force is removed, as for example, posed in said receptacle, the upper extremity of said re- 
by the wheel passing off the reflector carriage, the spring ceptacle being substantially flush with the surface of said 
31 will contract and again raises the reflector carriage 11 runway, a reflector carriage having slots formed therein, 
above the runway surface. The spring 31 may be at- 20 said reflector carriage carrying a reflector surface, said 
tached directly to the underside of the top plate 12, or reflector carriage being pivotally connected to  said re- 
t o  a block 33 fastened to the top plate 12, as shown in captack adjacent an edge of said upper extremity thereof 
Fig. 2. The angle of elevation of the reflector carriage expected to be initially struck by approaching vehicular 
11 may be controlled by placing a stop block 34 on the traffic, said reflector camage being pivotally movable 
top plate 12. The stop block 34 restricts the upward 25 about said pivotal connection between a retracted posi- 
swing of the reflector carriage by engaging the frontal tion within said receptacle in which said carriage is sub- 
link extension 28 and restricting its upward swing. stantially flush with said upper extremity of said recepta- 
A motor 35 may also be provided within the receptacle cle and an elevated position wherein light emitted from 
14 for controlling the operation of the carriage. The said light source is reflected from said reflector surface 
motor 35 is preferably an electric motor and the source 30 though said slots over said pivotal connection upon said 
for energizing the light source may also be used by ener- runway surface toward approaching vehicular traffic, and 
gizing the electric motor. The electric motor 35 may be means for normally maintaining said reflector carriage 
any t y p  motor currently on the market which is strong in said elevated position yet yieldable for allowing re- 
enough to expand spring 31. The motor is provided with 35 traction of said carriage to said retracted position when 
control means for elevating and retracting the reflector said carriage is struck by a vehicle traveling towards the 
camage. A cable 36 is connected at one end t o  the reflected light. 
motor and at the other end to the frontal link extension 2. A runway light unit according to claim 1 wherein 
as shown on Fig. 2. When the motor is energized and said reflector carriage elevated position maintaining means 
the cable wound up, the spring 31 is expanded and the 4o is substantially completely positioned within said re- 
reflector carriage is retracted until it rests flush with the ceptacle, and wherein said unit includes means for over- 
top plate 12. Preferably, the motor should be equipped riding the operation of said carriage elevated position 
with s t o p  which cut off the energy source when the motor maintaining means and effecting retraction of said car- 
has wound the cable 36 up to  a p i n t  where the reflector riage. 
carriage 11 is flush with the top plate 12. A means for 3. A runway light unit according to  claim 2 wherein 
reversing the motor may also be provided SO that the 46 said reflector carriage elevated position maintaining 
cable can be unwound thereby releasing the tension on  means includes a resilient element having a minimum 
the spring allowing it t o  retract and raise the reflector length when said reflector carriage is maintained in an 
camage 11 above the runway surface. The means for elevated position relative to the runway surface. 
energizing the motor and light may be remotely located 4. A runway light unit according to  claim 3 wherein 
in a control tower. I t  will be aparent to  one skilled in 6o said means for overriding the operation of said camage 
the art that by the inclusion of a motor in each runway elevated psi t ion maintaining means and effecting re- 
light unit, the camages can all be retracted concurrently traction of said carriage includes a reversible electric 
thereby allowing snowplows to  clear the Snow off the en- motor mounted within said receptacle and a cable inter- 
tire runway surface. The runway light units may also 66 connected between said reflector carriage and said motor 
be retracted during good visibility when the lights are not which upon operation of said motor in one direction is 
needed. wound in thereby to  effect retraction of said camage. 
The coverplate 26, frontal links 25, brace 30, frontal 5. A runway light unit comprising a receptacle buried 
link extension 28 and top plate 12 may be produced from within a vehicular traveled runway, a light source dis- 
any material having a strength sufficient to withstand 60 posed in said receptacle, a top plate secured to said r e  
loads such as are encountered when airplane wheels ceptacle, the upper surface of said top plate being sub- 
strike the light on takeoff and landing or  by rolling over stantially flush with the surface of said runway, an 
them while taxiing. The material should also be able aperture formed in said top plate, a reflector carriage in- 
to  withstand the effects of weather. Some such suitable cluding a slotted upper surface and a reflector surface 
materials have been found to be, for example, aluminum, 65 positioned on the lower side of said upper surface in angu- 
titanium and stainless steel. A circular top plate 12 has lar relation thereto, said reflector cam’age upper surface 
been used having a diameter of about 12 inches and a being pivotally connected to  said top plate adjacent an 
thickness of about VI inch. However, it is pointed out edge thereof expected to  be initially struck by approach- 
that different diameters and thicknesses may be utilized ing vehicular traffic, said reflector carriage being pivotally 
as well as sizes, shapes and configurations. 70 movable about said pivotal wnnection between a retracted 
The runway lights may be placed into ‘the runway in position within said top plate aperture and said receptacle 
any desired pattern. The lights may also be used in series in which said carnage is substantially flush with said u p  
with one another; Le., two lights used together and posi- per surface of said top plate and a n  elevated position 
tioned SO that they illuminate in opposing directions. By wherein light emitted from said light source through said 
having the lights installed in this manner the lights can be 76 aperture is reflected from said reflector surface through 
2,084,75 6 
5 6 
raid dots and over said pivotal connection upon said run- traffic, said reflector carriage being pivotally movable 
way toward approaching vehicular traffic, and means for about said pivotd connection between a retracted posi- 
m d y  maintaining said reflector carriage in said ele- tion within said top plate aperture and said receptade 
vated position yet yieldable for allowing retraction of said in which said carriage is substantially flush with the up- 
carriage to said retracted position when said camage is I per surfam of said top plate and an elevated position 
by 811 approaching vehicle f r a v e h ?  towards the wherein light emitted from said light source through said 
reflead light. aperture is reflected from said reflector surface 'through 
6- A m m y  light unit according to claim 5 wherein said carriage slots over said pivotal connection and upon . 
aPJd nflectQr S u r f x e  comprises a Plished metal ekment said runway surface towards approaching vehicular traf- 
P d h S  SubStantially domWardlY from said r&ctor 10 fic, and means for normally maintaining said reflector 
carriage upper surface. carriage in said elevated position yet yieldable for allow. 
7. A runway Eeht unit according to claim 6 including ing retraction of said carriage to said retracted position 
meam for effecting retraction of said carriage, com- when said carriage is struck by an approaching vehicle 
fling a reveraible electric motor mounted within said traveling t awark  the reflected light. 
feceptacle and a cable interconnected between said re- 16 9. A runway light unit according to claim 8 wherein 
flcctor & a e  and said motor which upon operation of said reflector carriage elevated position maintaining 
said motor in one direction is wound in thereby to effect means c ~ m p n ' ~ ~  a spring having a minimum length when 
retraction of said carriage. said reflector carriage is maintained in an elevated posi- 
8. A runway light unit comprising aireceptacle buried tion relative to the runway surface, 
within a vehicular traveled runway, a light source dis- 20 
posed in said receptacle, a top plate secured to said re- 
-le, the upper surface of said top plate being s u b  
atantidly flush with the surface of said runway, an aper- 
ture formed in said plate above said light a 2,848,597 Knottnerus _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  Aug. 19, 1958 
ntlector carriage having a plurality of slots formed therein 26 
and having a reflector surface positioned on the lower 
surface thereof projecting substantially downwardly there- 
from, said reflector carriage being pivotally connected at 
one end thereof to said top plate adjacent an edge thereof 
e m  to k initially struck by approaching vehicular 80 
References Cited in the file of this patent 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
FOREIGN PATENTS 
300,045 
463,918 
821,255 
Germany ________-____ May 22, 1920 
Great Britain _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  Apr. 8, 1937 
France ___-_____--_-__ Aug. 23, 1937 


Runway light Patent

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server