Double level flight deck type aircraft carrier

A double level flight deck type aircraft carrier is disclosed to include a second level of flight deck so that aircraft launching and landing operations can be separately performed on the decks. The double deck design doubles the operation capacity and capability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to aircraft carrier technology and more particularly, to a double level flight deck type aircraft carrier that provides two level of flight decks for aircraft launching and landing operations separately.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional aircraft carrier5, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, simply has one single flight deck51for the operations of aircraft A launching and landing. Because the flight deck51has a very limited space and a short runway, it is very crowed and dangerous to let a number of aircrafts perform launching and landing operations on this single flight deck51. An accident may happen when aircrafts are landing on the flight deck one after another within a short interval. To improve this problem, the Navy needs to build larger aircraft carriers that provide a relatively greater runway for aircrafts. In consequence, the aircraft carrier construction cost is getting higher. Further, the aircraft elevator platforms53of the conventional aircraft carrier5are a part of the flight deck51. When one aircraft elevator platform53of the flight deck51is lowered to carry the landed aircraft A to the bottom hanger deck52, a dangerous opening is left on the flight deck51above the respective aircraft elevator platform53.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide an aircraft carrier, which provides a second level flight deck to double the aircraft capacity and operation capability so that aircraft launching and landing operations can be performed on the two level flight decks separately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a double level flight deck type aircraft carrier, which is equipped with a runway buffer device to buffer aircraft landing speed on a short distance section, assuring safer landing condition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double level flight deck type aircraft carrier, which is equipped with extended aircraft elevator platforms, thereby increasing deck space and enhancing operation safety.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double level flight deck type aircraft carrier, which is has stabilizer fins provided at both sides of the ship hub to stabilize navigation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1˜4, a double level flight deck type aircraft carrier1in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a first level flight deck11and a second level flight deck12spaced above the first level flight deck11. Aircraft A launching and landing operations is performed on the first level flight deck11and the second level flight deck12separately, assuring higher safety. Further, the added flight deck (the second level flight deck) can nearly doubles the aircraft capacity and operation capability. The construction of this second flight deck12may simply needs about extra 15˜20% of the cost while the aircraft capacity and operation capability are doubled. The second flight deck12is almost the same as the first flight deck11(the conventional single flight deck). The added second flight deck12can be used for aircraft launching operation as well as aircraft landing operation. When no any aircraft is to be landing, both the first flight deck11and the second flight deck12can be used for aircraft launching. Thus, aircrafts A can be launched from the aircraft carrier1faster, raising the operation capability of the aircraft carrier1.

Further, runway buffer devices2are installed in the first flight deck11and the second flight deck12to buffer aircraft landing and launching speed. Further, extended first and second aircraft elevator platforms3are provided at edge side of the first flight deck11and the second flight deck12, and adapted to carry each landed aircraft A to the bottom hanger deck13of the aircraft carrier1(seeFIGS. 1 and 5). The extended aircraft elevator platforms3are folding collapsible. When not used or when the weather is not suitable for aircraft launching and landing, the extended aircraft elevator platforms3can be folded up, assuring safety (seeFIG. 6).

The aforesaid runway buffer devices2each comprise a conveyor21, a plurality of supporting rollers22, a plurality of driven rollers23, a plurality of driving motors24, a control system25and a plurality of speed sensors26. When an aircraft A is landing on the second flight deck12, the speed sensors26detect the landing speed of the aircraft A and send a detection signal to the control system25so that the control system25control the driving motors24to rotate the driving rollers23at speeds subject the detection of the speed sensors26. When the aircraft A reaches the conveyor21, the conveyor21is moved in direction reversed to the landing direction of the aircraft A, thereby buffering the landing speed of the aircraft A. By means of the buffer effect of the runway buffer devices2, the length of the second flight deck12can be minimized.

Further, a stabilizer4is installed in both sides of the ship hub of the aircraft carrier1near the bottom to stabilize navigation (seeFIG. 5) . Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.