A method of actuating a wing tip device on an aircraft, from a flight configuration to a ground configuration in which the span is reduced. The method includes receiving data indicative of a condition, such as the location or speed of the aircraft, and determining an actuation profile in dependence on the condition. The actuation profile may include determining a time period, and/or speed profile of the wing tip actuation over that time period. In this manner the actuation of the wing tip device can be tailored to minimize loads and wear on the actuator assembly.

A seal between two aircraft surfaces which are able to move relative to each other. A wing tip device moves between a flight configuration and a ground configuration, in which ground configuration the wing tip device is moved away from the fixed wing such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced. The fixed wing and wing tip device each comprise an outer surface, and a male seal and female seal are arranged such that when the wing tip device is in the flight configuration the female seal receives the male seal, and the female seal and male seal cooperate to provide a smooth transition from the fixed wing outer surface to the wing tip device outer surface.

An aircraft wing is provided having a fixed wing with a gulled wing tip rotatably mounted at the tip thereof, the gulled wing tip extending below a wing plane defined by the end of the fixed wing such that the centre of gravity of the gulled wing tip is located below the wing plane. Lowering the centre of gravity of the gulled wing tip has been found to reduce the onset of flutter. The gulled wing tip may be gulled about a hinge axis where it meets the fixed wing, or may be otherwise folded or curved to lower the centre of gravity of the gulled wing tip.

An aircraft wing is disclosed having a fixed wing with a tip, and a wing tip device rotatably mounted on a hinge at the tip of the fixed wing, such that the wing tip device is rotatable about the hinge, and an actuation system for rotating the wing tip device about the hinge. The actuation system includes a motor, at least one geared rotary actuator, a reduction gearbox, a clutch for selectively decoupling rotation of the motor from rotation of the geared rotary actuator, the geared rotary actuator is driveable by the motor and arranged to convert rotary motion into a different rotary motion and is arranged to rotate the wing tip device relative to the tip of the fixed wing. The clutch is coupled to the geared rotary actuator by a shaft and the shaft is fixed in rotation to a mass disposed radially outwardly from the shaft.

An aircraft wing is disclosed having a fixed wing with a tip, and a wing tip device rotatably mounted on a hinge at the tip of the fixed wing, such that the wing tip device is rotatable about the hinge, and an actuation system for rotating the wing tip device about the hinge. The actuation system includes a motor, at least one geared rotary actuator, a reduction gearbox, a clutch for selectively decoupling rotation of the motor from rotation of the geared rotary actuator, the geared rotary actuator is driveable by the motor and arranged to convert rotary motion into a different rotary motion and is arranged to rotate the wing tip device relative to the tip of the fixed wing. The reduction gearbox is positioned between the clutch and the geared rotary actuator along a drive train between the motor and the geared rotary actuator.

A wing (3) for an aircraft (1) including a fixed wing (5), a foldable wing tip portion (9) mounted to the fixed wing (5) via a hinge (11) in a manner rotatable about a hinge axis (13) between an extended position and a folded position, an actuation device (24) for actuating the foldable wing tip portion (9) for movement between the extended position and the folded position, and an arresting device (37) for arresting the foldable wing tip portion (9) in the extended position and/or in the folded position. The arresting device (37) includes a clutch device (39) configured for selectively holding the foldable wing tip portion (9) in a fixed position relative to the fixed wing (7) and releasing the foldable wing tip portion (9) for movement relative to the fixed wing (7) about the hinge axis (13).

An aircraft including an aircraft wing wherein the aircraft wing includes a fixed wing, a wing tip device at an end of the fixed wing, and a wing tip device actuator configured to move the wing tip device between a flight configuration and a ground configuration. The wing tip device actuator includes a shaft which is rotatable about a shaft axis to selectively displace respective first and second elbows of the wing tip device actuator towards or away from the shaft. The first elbow is connected to the wing tip device and the second elbow is connected to the fixed wing such that movement of the respective elbows away from the shaft causes the wing tip device to move away from the flight configuration and such that movement of the respective elbows towards the shaft causes the wing tip device to move towards the flight configuration.

An adjustable lift modification wingtip may be attached to a baseline wing of an aircraft. The adjustable lift modification wingtip may comprise a horizontal portion including a control surface and a vertical portion coupled to the horizontal portion. The vertical portion may move about an axis that may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion. The control surface and the vertical portion may be adjusted in conjunction to increase wing efficiency at a flight condition.

A foldable wing tip actuation system comprising: a plurality of actuators including: a wing tip actuator configured to move a wing tip relative to a fixed wing part of an aircraft about a hinge line (H, H) at which the wing tip is hingedly attached to the fixed wing part; one or more latch actuators configured to operate a latch mechanism for locking the wing tip against movement relative to the fixed wing part; and a common motor drive arranged to drive two or more of the plurality of actuators under control of a single motor control.

An aircraft wing assembly (31) is disclosed. The aircraft wing assembly (31) comprises a wing tip device (11) rotatable about a hinge axis (H) between a flight configuration and a ground configuration and a wing tip device actuation system (20) comprising a bell crank (21) and a linear actuator (23). The bell crank (21) is rotatably mounted to the aircraft wing assembly (31) and is rotatable about a bell crank axis (C) which is offset from the hinge axis (H). The linear actuator (23) is operable to rotate the bell crank (21) about the bell crank axis (C) to thereby move the wing tip device (11) about the hinge axis (H), between the flight configuration and the ground configuration.