Patent ID: 7726610

Claim:
An aircraft wing system, comprising: a wing having a leading edge and a trailing edge; a first deployable lift device having a first spanwise location and being movable relative to the wing from a stowed position to at least one first deployed position; a second deployable lift device having a second spanwise location different than the first and being movable relative to the wing from a stowed position to at least one second deployed position; a drive system that includes: a first motor; a first motor brake coupled to the first motor to selectively inhibit the first motor; a second motor; a second motor brake coupled to the second motor to selectively inhibit the second motor; and a drive link that includes a mechanical shaft, wherein the first and second motors are individually coupleable to the mechanical shaft, and wherein the drive link is connected to the first deployable lift device; a differential having a single power input, the single power input being connected to the mechanical shaft, the differential further having an output connected to the second deployable lift device; a differential brake coupled to the differential; a lift device brake coupled to the differential; and a control system connected to the drive system, the differential, the differential brake and the lift device brake, the control system being programmed with instructions that, when executed: connect the first and second deployable lift devices to the first motor via the drive link and engage the differential brake to move the first and second deployable lift devices together; and disconnect the first and second deployable lift devices from the first motor, connect the first deployable lift device to the second motor via the drive link, and engage the lift device brake to move the first deployable lift device relative to the second deployable lift device.