In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first deflector configured to couple to a shaft of a wing of an aircraft and form part of a top surface of the wing when in a first closed position, and a second deflector configured to couple to the shaft and form part of a bottom surface of the wing when in a second closed position. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to be positioned proximate to the tip of the wing. The first deflector and the second deflector may be configured to simultaneously pivot from the closed positions to respective first and second open positions upon actuation of the shaft.

A flap system driving a leading-edge flap between retracted and extended positions comprises a leading-edge flap having first and second flap joints, first and second scissor links, a first connecting link, and an actuator. The actuator couples with either the first scissor link or first connecting link. The first scissor link is rotatable supported on a first fixed point by a first support joint. An end of the first scissor link opposite the first support joint couples with the first flap joint. The first connecting link is rotatably supported on a second fixed point by a second support joint. An end of the first connecting link opposite the second support joint rotatably couples with an end of the second scissor link. An opposite end of the second scissor link couples with the second flap joint. The first and second scissor links are rotatably coupled to form a scissor arrangement.

A flap system driving a leading-edge flap between retracted and extended positions comprises a leading-edge flap having first and second flap joints, first and second scissor links, a first connecting link, and an actuator. The actuator couples with either the first scissor link or first connecting link. The first scissor link is rotatable supported on a first fixed point by a first support joint. An end of the first scissor link opposite the first support joint couples with the first flap joint. The first connecting link is rotatably supported on a second fixed point by a second support joint. An end of the first connecting link opposite the second support joint rotatably couples with an end of the second scissor link. An opposite end of the second scissor link couples with the second flap joint. The first and second scissor links are rotatably coupled to form a scissor arrangement.

A screw (20) assembly for an actuator (10) is described comprising: a screw (20); a nut (22) threaded on said screw (20), such that rotation of said screw (20) causes axial movement of said nut (22); a stop located at an end of said screw (20) and defining an axial limit of said nut (22); a first feature located on said nut (22); and a second feature located on said stop; wherein said first and second features are configured to cooperate with one another substantially upon contact of said nut (22) with said stop so as to indicate an amount of free movement between said nut (22) and said screw (20).

A compact electromechanical decoupler device is operatively connected between a manual control device of an aircraft and an electromechanical actuator that controls the flight modes of the aircraft. The electromechanical decoupler device is operable to decouple the operative connection between the manual control device and the electromechanical actuator with the absence of power supplied to the electromechanical decoupler device. The electromechanical decoupler device can recouple the operative connection between the manual control device and the electromechanical actuator on resupply of power to the electromechanical decoupler device and on manually achieving proper rotational alignment or indexing between the mechanical control device and the electromechanical actuator.

A rotary hydraulic actuator may be configured to output rotary motion to control a hinged surface of an aircraft. The actuator includes a nested ballscrew, ballnut, and output assembly that form concentric ball races for converting the linear motion and force of the linear actuator to rotary motion and torque of the output assembly that is connected to the hinged surface. One of the ball races is helically inclined and the other of the ball races is linear. The rotary hydraulic actuator may include a ball return structure that returns the balls from a loaded path of a ball race to an unloaded path of the ball race. The ball return structure may define a ball return path that is located at the same radial distance from the actuator centerline as the loaded path for minimizing the overall diameter of the actuator.

A light unmanned vertical take-off aircraft includes at least two fixed coplanar propulsion devices and at least one wing providing the lift for the drone. The coplanar propulsion devices and the wing are each laid out on the frame of the drone so that the plane of the profile chord line of the wing is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the two coplanar propulsion devices. The wing is pivotingly mobile relative to the frame along an axis parallel to the pitch axis of the drone. Also a method is provided for controlling orientation of a wing of a light unmanned vertical take-off aircraft as described here above. The method includes controlling an orientation of a wing as a function of at least one flight parameter of the aircraft.

A force-shunting device including a tube defining a main axis and an inner wall, a first member sliding within the tube, a primary leg arranged obliquely, attached to the first member and including a primary pad in frictional contact with the inner wall, such that, when an external force is applied in a first direction on the first member, the primary leg rubs, or grips by mechanical camming, against the inner wall, the tube thus reacting all or part of the external force, the device including a second member mounted within the tube, sliding along the main axis and securely provided with a driving element of the primary pad so as to reduce the friction on the inner wall, to unprime the rubbing or mechanical camming.

A force-shunting device including a tube defining a main axis and an inner wall, a first member sliding within the tube, a primary leg arranged obliquely, attached to the first member and including a primary pad in frictional contact with the inner wall, such that, when an external force is applied in a first direction on the first member, the primary leg rubs, or grips by mechanical camming, against the inner wall, the tube thus reacting all or part of the external force, the device including a second member mounted within the tube, sliding along the main axis and securely provided with a driving element of the primary pad so as to reduce the friction on the inner wall, to unprime the rubbing or mechanical camming.

A method for adjusting play in a high-lift system of an aircraft with several flaps, moved by a drive unit with the aid of driving stations connected to a driveshaft, includes disengaging the mechanical connections between the driveshaft and the driving stations in the first position, displacing the individual drive levers by mechanically driving a gear input of the associated rotary actuator such that the individual drive levers come into mechanical contact with a stop in a second position, spaced apart from the first position, and are pretensioned by a certain torque, rotationally fixing the gear inputs of the rotary actuators, adapting the length of connecting links between the respective drive levers and a support arm carrying the associated flap such that a position of the associated flap corresponding to the position of the stop is reached, and reconnecting the driving stations to the driveshaft pretensioned to have no play.