An aerobeacon is a light assembly used to create a fixed or flashing signal visible over long distances. It consists of a high intensity electric lamp mounted with a focusing device in a cylindrical housing, which usually is rotated on a vertical axis by an electric motor. The sweep of the narrow beam thus produced gives the flashing effect. Aerobeacons were originally developed for aviation use, mostly as

aerodrome beacon An aerodrome beacon, airport beacon, rotating beacon or aeronautical beacon is a beacon installed at an airport or aerodrome to indicate its location to aircraft pilots at night. An aerodrome beacon is mounted on top of a towering structure, o ...

s, but they also saw extensive use in

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

s. They were far less expensive to manufacture and maintain than classic glass

Fresnel lens A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens (optics), lens which reduces the amount of material required compared to a conventional lens by dividing the lens into a set of concentric annular sections. The simpler Dioptrics, d ...

es, and much more durable; they could be mounted and exposed to the weather. Historic models include the DCB-24, which used a single parabolic reflector; the DCB-224, a double-beamed version of the DCB-24; and the DCB-36, which used a system of plastic Fresnel type lenses. Manufacturers included Carlisle & Finch in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

and the

Crouse-Hinds Company Crouse-Hinds Electric Company, a manufacturer of high grade electrical specialties, was established in 1897 in Syracuse, New York. They later shortened their name to Crouse-Hinds Company and beginning in the early 1920s specialized in the manufac ...

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...

. Aerobeacons have replaced fragile glass Fresnel lenses in many lighthouses and are still widely used in other applications.

DCB-224

The model DCB-224 is a high-power spotlight designed and built by Carlisle & Finch. Originally intended for use as an

, it was also widely used in marine

s. Depending on the type of bulb installed, the beam could be seen for . The unit consists of a 25-inch aluminum housing with a parabolic reflector. An electric motor and gearbox drives the optical unit's rotation. They can optionally be fitted with a

CG-2P An automatic lamp changer (or lampchanger) is a device used to ensure that a navigational light such as a marine lighthouse or aero beacon stays lit even if a bulb burns out. Numerous types exist. The common design elements are an array of two or ...

automatic bulb changer. The letters ''DCB'' stand for ''Directional Code Beacon''.

References

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External links

photos of a DCB-36 installation
at the Massey Air Museum Lighting Lighthouse fixtures Air traffic control {{aviation-stub

DCB-224

See also

References

External links