System for controlling the high-lift flaps of an aircraft

In a system for controlling the high-lift flaps of an aircraft comprising two fixed wings, symmetrical to each other with respect to the median horizontal plane of said aircraft and each provided with at least one engine for propulsion and a high-lift flap, each of said flaps being subjected to the blast of at least one engine, said control system comprising:

• a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure;
• a unit for distributing hydraulic fluid connected to said source;
• means for actuating said high-lift flaps controlled by said hydraulic fluid distributing unit;
• a device for controlling said hydraulic fluid distributing unit;
• a voluntary control member, at a pilot's disposal and controlling, via said control device, said hydraulic fluid distributing unit and said actuating means, said high-lift flaps between a retracted neutral position and at least one extended lift-augmenting position, and vice-versa,
• said actuating means are reversible hydraulic jacks, arranged so that each flap is actuated by a jack and each of the two chambers of one jack is connected to the corresponding chamber of the other jack, as well as to an orifice in said hydraulic fluid distributing unit, so that the supply and exhaust of the corresponding chambers of said jacks are respectively simultaneous;
• said high-lift flaps are connected by a mechanical torsional link allowing a dissymetry of position of said high-lift flaps in extended position;
• and
• means are provided for blocking said high-lift flaps in position, as soon as the dissymetry of position of said high-lift flaps in extended position attains a predetermined threshold.