Patent ID: 7051975
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: B64C,B64D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for actuating lift enhancing elements selected from the group consisting of trailing edge flaps and leading edge slats on left and right lifting wings of an aircraft, comprising: a first centralized drive unit; a left first rotational shaft drive line that is made up of shaft segments and that is mechanically connected to and rotationally drivable by and extends leftwardly from said first centralized drive unit along said left lifting wing; a right first rotational shaft drive line that is made up of shaft segments and that is mechanically connected to and rotationally drivable by and extends rightwardly from said first centralized drive unit along said right lifting wing; plural actuator mechanisms that are mechanically interconnected between said first rotational shaft drive lines and said lift enhancing elements on said wings, and that are adapted to convert a rotational motion of said first rotational shaft drive lines to a translational motion that is applied by said actuator mechanisms to said lift enhancing elements; plural drive line separating devices that are interposed between successive ones of said shaft segments of said first rotational shaft drive lines respectively at locations between respective ones of said actuator mechanisms connected to adjacent ones of said lift enhancing elements on each of said wings, and that are each adapted to selectively couple and separate respective successive ones of said shaft segments of said first rotational shaft drive line on opposite sides of each one of said drive line separating devices, wherein said drive line separating devices couple said respective successive shaft segments of said first rotational shaft drive lines in a normal operating condition; a second centralized drive unit; a left second rotational shaft drive line that is mechanically connected to and rotationally drivable by and extends leftwardly from said second centralized drive unit along said left lifting wing; a right second rotational shaft drive line that is mechanically connected to and rotationally drivable by and extends rightwardly from said second centralized drive unit along said right lifting wing; and a right additional drive line separating device that is interposed between and selectively connects and disconnects respective outboard ends of said right first and second rotational shaft drive lines, and a left additional drive line separating device that is interposed between and selectively connects and disconnects respective outboard ends of said left first and second rotational shaft drive lines; wherein said first and second centralized drive units are coupled with one another via said first and second rotational shaft drive lines through said additional drive line separating devices so that said drive lines and said additional drive line separating devices form a closed loop drive train.