# US 11,440,637 B2 · Actuation unit for actuating a foldable wing tip portion of a wing for an aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,637 B2 - Document ID: US11440637B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/270,938 - Filed: 2019-02-08 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-09 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH - Inventors: Christian Lorenz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440637B2 ## CPC - B64C 3/56: Folding or collapsing to reduce overall dimensions of aircraft - F16H 19/04: comprising a rack - F16H 19/06: comprising {flexible members, e.g. an} endless flexible member - F16H 25/20: Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) - F16H 2025/2043: {Screw mechanisms driving an oscillating lever, e.g. lever with perpendicular pivoting axis} - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An actuation unit (15) for actuating a foldable wing tip portion (9) of a wing (3) for an aircraft (1). The actuation unit (15) includes a track (25) configured to be mounted to a fixed wing (5), a carriage (27) configured to engage the track (25) for guided movement along the track (25), and configured to be coupled to a drive unit (31) for driving the carriage (27) along the track (25), and a link (29) configured to be coupled to the carriage (27) and configured to be coupled to a foldable wing tip portion (9). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuation unit for actuating a foldable wing tip portion to pivot about a hinge axis of a hinge connecting the foldable wing tip portion to a fixed wing portion of a wing for an aircraft, the actuation unit comprising: a track configured to be mounted to the fixed wing portion; a carriage configured to engage the track for guided movement along the track, and configured to be coupled to a drive unit configured to drive the carriage along the track, and a link configured to be coupled to the carriage and configured to be coupled to the foldable wing tip portion, wherein the link is offset from the hinge in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis such that an axis of the link does not extend through the hinge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the track has a straight form and engages the carriage from opposite sides so that the carriage is movable only linearly along the extension of the track. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the track comprises two opposite track parts, wherein the carriage is arranged between the track parts and comprises rollers engaging the track parts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the link is pivotally coupled to the carriage and is configured to be pivotally coupled to a foldable wing tip portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is formed as spindle drive comprising a spindle, a motor coupled to the spindle and configured to drive the spindle in a rotating manner, and a nut coupled to the carriage and configured to engage the spindle, so that upon rotation of the spindle the nut together with the carriage moves linearly along the spindle, wherein the spindle and/or the motor are configured to be supported at a fixed wing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The actuation unit according to claim 5, wherein the nut is coupled to the carriage via a first universal joint or spherical joint. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The actuation unit according to claim 5, wherein the motor is coupled to the spindle via a second universal joint or spherical joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is formed as a linear drive comprising a stator part configured to be supported at a fixed wing, and a movable drive rod having a first end received in the stator part and a second end coupled to the carriage, wherein the drive rod is axially movable relative to the stator part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The actuation unit according to claim 8, wherein the drive rod is coupled to the carriage via a universal joint or a spherical joint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The actuation unit according to claim 8, wherein the linear drive is formed as a hydraulic cylinder or as an electric linear motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is formed as a rack-and-pinion drive comprising a toothed rack mounted to the carriage, a drive pinon engaging the rack configured to linearly move the rack and the carriage, and a motor configured to rotatably drive the drive pinion, wherein the drive pinion and/or the motor are configured to be supported at a fixed wing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The actuation unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is formed as a chain drive comprising a chain coupled to the carriage, a drive wheel engaging the chain for linearly moving the chain and the carriage, and a motor configured to rotatably drive the drive wheel, wherein the drive wheel and/or the motor are configured to be supported at a fixed wing. ### Claim 13 A wing for an aircraft comprising a fixed wing portion, a foldable wing tip portion mounted to the fixed wing portion via hinges rotatable about a hinge axis, and an actuation unit including: a track mounted to the fixed wing portion; a carriage engaging the track to move along the track, a drive unit mounted to the fixed wing portion and configured to drive the carriage along the track, and a link coupled to the carriage and to the foldable wing tip portion at a position spaced apart from the hinge axis in a direction opposite to the direction in which the foldable wing tip portion is moved to the folded position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wing according to claim 13, wherein the track is mounted to the fixed wing such that it is inclined in a direction opposite to the direction in which the foldable wing tip portion is moved to the folded position. ### Claim 15 A wing of an aircraft, the wing comprising a fixed wing including a root attached to a fuselage of the aircraft and an end opposite to the root; a foldable wing tip mounted to the end of the fixed wing via hinges rotatable about a hinge axis, and an actuation unit including: a track mounted to the fixed wing; a carriage configured to engage the track and move along the track; a drive unit mounted to the fixed wing and configured drive the carriage along the track, and a link coupled to the carriage and to the foldable wing tip such that movement of the link and carriage moves the foldable wing tip between an extended position and an folded position, wherein a coupling between the link and the foldable wing tip is spaced apart from the hinges, and the carriage and link move along a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The wing of claim 15, wherein the track includes a straight path for the carriage that does not intersect the hinge axis, and the carriage is configured to move along the straight path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The wing of claim 15, wherein the link is an arm having a first end connected to the carriage and a second arm connected to the foldable wing tip.