# US 2023/0054504 A1 · High-lift device connection assembly as well as wing and aircraft equipped therewith

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- Number: US 2023/0054504 A1
- Document ID: US20230054504A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/889,996
- Filed: 2022-08-17
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18
- Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH
- Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH
- Inventors: Bernhard SCHLIPF; Martin GOETZE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054504A1

## CPC

- B64C 9/02: Mounting or supporting thereof
- B64C 9/22: at the front of the wing
- B64C 9/24: by single flap
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS

## Abstract

A high-lift device connection assembly (24) for movably connecting a high lift device (16) to a wing (14) of an aircraft (10) wherein a track (30) is movably guided between main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44). In order to provide an enhanced fall back safety feature in case of a failure of a roller the invention proposes a track catcher (92) to be attached to a structure (26) of the wing (14) and configured to bear a load imposed by the track (30) in case of a main roller failure, wherein the track catcher (92) has at least one first hook element (94, 94-1-94-4) engaged within a first recession (72) at a first side of the track (30) and at least one second hook element (96, 96-1-96-4) engaged with a second recession (74) at the second side of the track (30). Further, the invention relates to a wing and an aircraft equipped with such high-lift device connection assembly (24).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A high-lift device connection assembly configured to movably connect a high lift device to a wing of an aircraft, the high-lift device connection assembly comprising:
a track configured to hold the high-lift device, and
a guide arrangement configured to be installed on a structure of the wing and configured to guide forward and backward movement of the track, wherein the guide arrangement includes an upper main roller and a lower main roller, and a first side guidance element and second side guidance element,
wherein the track is a profiled beam with an upper surface element configured to be contacted by the upper main roller and a lower surface element configured to be contacted by the lower main roller,
wherein the track includes at least one vertical element connecting the upper surface element and the lower surface element, and is offset from outer edges of at least one of the upper surface element and the lower surface element,
wherein a first recession is at a first side of the track and a second recession is at a second side of the track,
wherein the guide arrangement comprises a track catcher configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a failure of the first or second main rollers, and
wherein the track catcher has a first hook element engaged within the first recession at a first side of the track and a second hook element engaged with the second recession at the second side of the track.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The high-lift device connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first hook element and the second hook element each comprise at least one of:
a protrusion projecting from a base into the recession,
is configured to be attached to the structure of the wing,
has a L-shaped, T-shaped or U-shaped profile;
is integrated in a holder for a side roller of the side guidance element;
has a curved upper or lower surface configured to engage with a curved upper wall or a curved lower wall of the recession;
is arranged with a clearance within the recession;
is integrated in a structure element of the structure of the wing;
is integrated in the side guidance element;
is configured to be connected to the structure of the wing with at least one shim plate therebetween;
has a base through which a shaft for at least one of the main rollers passes; and
has a free end arranged close to the at least one vertical element with a clearance therebetween configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a side guidance element failure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The high-lift device connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein track catcher comprises at least one of:
at least one hook element associated with any of the main rollers;
a C-shaped profile with a first leg on the first side and the first hook element on the end of the first leg, a second leg on the second side and the second hook element (96) on the end of the second leg, and a web connecting the other ends of the first and second legs, wherein the web is arranged with clearance close to the upper surface of the track or to the lower surface of the track;
upper and lower first and second hook elements;
forward and aft first and second hook elements; and
a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface each arranged in parallel with clearance therebetween to a first side surface and a second side surface, respectively, of the upper or lower surface element and configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a side guidance element failure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The high-lift device connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the track comprises at least one of:
a U-shaped profile with flanges at respective ends of the U-shaped profile such that one of the upper surface element and the lower surface element is formed by a web of the U-shaped profile, and a first flange and a second flange, the at least one vertical element is formed by a first leg and a second leg of the U-shaped profile, and the other of the upper surface element and the lower surface element is formed by a third flange and a fourth flange at the ends of the first and second legs of the U-shaped profile;
is curved to enable a bow shaped moving path of the high-lift device;
holds a slat as the high-lift device; and
holds a leading edge slat as the high-lift device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The high-lift device connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper main rollers comprise at least one of the following:
at least one forward upper main roller and at least one aft upper main roller with a distance in chord direction to the forward upper main roller.
the lower main rollers comprise at least one forward lower main roller and at least one aft lower main roller with a distance in chord direction to the forward lower main roller;
each of the main rollers have a bearing arranged on a shaft configured to be fixed between the first structure element and the second structure element of the wing.

### Claim 6

A high-lift device connection assembly configured to movably connect a high lift device to a wing of an aircraft, the high-lift device connection assembly comprising:
a track configured to hold the high-lift device and configured to extend forward of the wing, wherein the track includes an upper flange, a lower flange and at least one web connecting the upper flange to the lower flange and substantially perpendicular to the upper flange and the lower flange;
a guide arrangement configured to be fixed to a structure of the wing and configured to guide forward and backward movement of the track, wherein the guide arrangement includes:
an upper main roller configured in rolling contact with an upper surface of the upper flange and a lower main roller in rolling contact with a lower surface of the lower flange, wherein the upper main roller and lower main roller support the track;
side guidance elements each engaging an edge region of the upper flange or the lower flange, and
a track catcher configured to bear a load imposed by the track on the guide arrangement, the track catcher and the track catcher includes a first hook element and a second hook element each adjacent a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is a lower surface of the upper flange or an upper surface of the lower flange,
wherein the first hook element extends towards a first side of the at least one web and the second hook element extends towards a second side, opposite the first side, of the at least one web, and
wherein a clearance exists between the bearing surface and each of the first hook element and the second hook element while the upper and lower main rollers are operating in a non-failure mode, and at least one of the first hook element and the second hook element is in sliding contact with the bearing surface while at least one of the upper and lower main rollers are in a failure mode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The high-lift device connection assembly of claim 6, wherein the structure includes a first rib of the wing and a second rib of the wing, and the track and guide arrangement are between the first and second ribs, and
wherein the first hook element is fixed to the first rib and extends from the first rib towards the first side of the at least one web, and the second hook is fixed to the second rib and extends from the second rib towards the second side of the at least one web.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The high-lift device connection assembly of claim 6, wherein the bearing surface is a first bearing surface and the first bearing surface is the lower side of the upper flange, and the track catcher further comprises:
a third hook element engaged within the first recession at the first side of the track, a fourth hook element engaged with the second recession at the second side of the track, and the third and fourth hook element are each adjacent a second bearing surface which is the upper side of the lower flange; and
wherein a clearance exists between the second bearing surface and each of the third and fourth hook elements while the upper and lower main rollers are operating in a non-failure mode, and at least one of the third and fourth hook elements are in sliding contact with the second bearing surface while at least one of the upper and lower main rollers are in a failure mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The high-lift device connection assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and third hook elements are a single piece component including a first protrusion forming the first hook element, a second protrusion forming the third hook element and a base connecting the first and second protrusions.