Abstract: An aircraft wing (10) having a fixed wing (12) and an outboard wing section (14) is disclosed, the outboard wing section (14) being rotatable about a hinge axis. A shaft (621) of a hinge pin (62) extends through interleaved lugs (58a, 58b) of the fixed wing (12) and the outboard wing section (14). A plurality of bearing elements (85a, 85b) are carried upon the hinge pin (62) by a bearing carrier (82). The bearing elements (85a, 85b) are longitudinally distributed along the shaft (621) of the hinge pin (62) such that each lug (58a, 58b) contains a dedicated bearing element (58a, 58b), each respective bearing element (85a, 85b) thereby being configured to provide a rotational interface between the shaft (621) of the hinge pin (62) and the respective one lug (58a, 58b).

Abstract: An aircraft wing, comprising a fixed wing 12 and an outboard wing section 14. The aircraft wing is configurable between: a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations, in which ground configuration the outboard wing section is moved away from the flight configuration, such that the span of the aircraft wing is reduced. The aircraft wing further comprises a position sensing assembly 40 for generating an output useable to determine the position of the outboard wing section 14 relative to the fixed wing 12. The position sensing assembly 40 is associated with the wiring harness 15. The assembly 40 may comprise a sensor such as a potentiometer 42. The assembly may comprise a deformation sensor 142.

Abstract: A latching unit in an aircraft wing having a fixed wing part and a hinged wing tip foldable about a hinge axis, including a first latching actuator driven by a drive unit within the fixed wing part and coupled to a first latching bolt and a second latching actuator coupled to a second latching bolt with both latching bolts configured for locking or unlocking hinge levers extending into the latching unit. The latching actuators include hollow screw shafts having threaded rods extending in opposite directions from adjacent ends of the hollow screw shafts and engaging with threaded elements provided in end portions of the respective latching bolts, and wherein the latching bolts are movable in opposite axial directions into a locking or unlocking position by rotation of the threaded rods. An aircraft wing and aircraft having such wing are disclosed.

Abstract: An actuation and latching system in an aircraft wing having a fixed wing part and a foldable wing tip part, including at least one tip actuation unit providing an interface between the fixed wing part and the foldable wing tip having hinge levers, a latching unit in the fixed wing part and including latching bolts displaceable in opposite directions parallel to the hinge axis and that can engage with the hinge levers extending into the latching unit, a drive unit in the fixed wing part and axially down-stream of the latching unit and having at least a first drive shaft coupled to the latching unit and a second drive shaft passing through the latching unit and coupled to the tip actuation unit, and a controller for the drive unit. A method for extending the foldable wing tip part of an aircraft wing, an aircraft wing and an aircraft are disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft wing, including a fixed wing an outboard wing section, and a hinge assembly connecting the outboard wing section to the fixed wing. The aircraft wing is configurable between a flight configuration and a ground configuration. The hinge assembly includes a fore set of interleaving lugs and an aft set of interleaving lugs, an actuator, such as a Geared Rotary Actuator (GRA), located between the fore set of lugs and the aft set of lugs. The aircraft wing also includes a latch assembly, located in the fixed wing and inboard of the actuator, a fore latching arm and an aft latching arm. The latch assembly includes an aft latch pin, deployable in the aft direction to latch the aft latching arm, and a fore latch pin, deployable in a forward direction, to latch the fore latching arm.

Abstract: An aircraft wing having a fixed wing and an outboard wing section including a powered system. The aircraft wing is configurable between a flight configuration for use during flight and a ground configuration for use during ground-based operations by rotating the outboard wing section about a hinge axis of a hinge assembly. The aircraft wing also includes a power transmission conduit extending across the hinge assembly from the fixed wing to the outboard wing section, the first power transmission conduit being configured to power the powered system. The power transmission conduit extends across the hinge assembly along either a leading edge space or a trailing edge space.

Abstract: A hinge arrangement for an aircraft wing is provided, for providing a folding wingtip. The hinge arrangement comprises a first mount for securing in a first wing section and a second mount for securing to a second relatively foldable wing section, each having a plurality of hinge elements arranged along a hinge axis. The arrangement comprises a latching arrangement for securing the mounts against folding movement, the latch arrangement having a latch axis being spaced from the hinge axis in a substantially spanwise direction for example so as to extend into the wing box. This can provide an efficient arrangement which may be contained within the outer mould line of the wing which can reduce the need for a fairing.

Abstract: An aircraft wing assembly with a fixed wing and a wing tip device are disclosed. The wing tip device is moveable between a flight configuration and a ground configuration. In the ground configuration the span of the aircraft wing assembly is reduced. The fixed wing includes a fixed wing lug and the wing tip device comprises a wing tip lug. A locking pin is provided. In the flight configuration the fixed wing lug and wing tip device lug are aligned such that the locking pin may be inserted through the fixed wing lug and wing tip device lug into a locking position to lock the wing tip device in the flight configuration. The locking pin is hollow and includes a heating element.

Abstract: A wing hinge assembly is disclosed a wing tip fitting pivotally mounted to a fixed wing fitting. The wing tip fitting is rotatable about a hinge axis (H) with respect to the fixed wing fitting. One of the wing tip fittings and the fixed wing fitting defines a locking channel. The other of the wing tip fitting and the fixed wing fitting includes a locking member which defines a locking member axis. The wing hinge assembly is configurable to a locked configuration in which the locking member is received in the locking channel by moving the locking member in a direction perpendicular to the locking member axis.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for locking an aircraft folding wing is disclosed including at least one lug having an aperture and a latch pin moveable within the aperture between a latched configuration in which the latch pin is received in the aperture, and an unlatched configuration in which the latch pin is withdrawn from the aperture. At least part of one of the pin and the aperture has a hydrophobic coating. A hydrophobic coating may be applied to all apertures in the mechanism and/or to the latch pin. The provision of a hydrophobic coating helps to prevent the formation of moisture and hence ice on the latch pin and/or in the aperture, which ice can inhibit the pin from moving along the aperture into and out of its latching position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A compliant mount for an aircraft, for attaching equipment (such as a latching unit, for example) to a structural member of the aircraft, the compliant mount comprising: a mounting member for attachment to the structural member of the aircraft; a receptacle for supporting the equipment, the receptacle being coupled to the mounting member along a longitudinal axis; and one or more spring elements arranged to resiliently bias the receptacle into alignment with the longitudinal axis and to allow angular movement of the receptacle away from the longitudinal axis. Also provided is an aircraft equipment assembly comprising such a compliant mount, and aircraft equipment supported by the receptacle, and an aircraft having one or more such equipment assemblies. The aircraft may be a folding wingtip aircraft and the equipment assembly may be part of a folding wingtip actuation mechanism.

Abstract: An aircraft wing tip that is movable by an actuator between a flight configuration, and a ground configuration which has a shorter wingspan for use in ground-based operations. Lugs that connect to arms of the actuator are integrally formed as part of the primary structure of either the fixed wing or outboard wing section, such as a folding tip section.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A bush is provided including a sleeve for receiving a pin; a shoulder extending from the sleeve, the shoulder for delimiting insertion of the sleeve into an aperture; and a sensor mount for mounting a sensor such that the sensor may detect the presence of a pin within the sleeve. Installing such a bush within an aperture of a component may negate the requirement for lugs and/or brackets on the component. This may enable reduction of the weight, size and/or complexity of the component.

Abstract: A latch for locking an aircraft folding wing is disclosed having a lug including an aperture, and a latch pin moveable within the aperture. The latch further includes a seal configured to inhibit fluid transfer between the aperture and the latch pin as the latch pin moves within the aperture.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A pin joint assembly is disclosed having a first lug and a second lug, a pin extending through the first and second lugs, a U-shaped bushing between the first lug and the pin, wherein the U-shaped bushing includes a first end flange and a second end flange that extend radially outwards and retain the U-shaped bushing to the first lug, and wherein the U-shaped bushing includes a bearing surface between the first and second end flanges on which the first lug is slidable.

Abstract: A pin joint assembly including: a first end lug and a second end lug; a pin hole extending through the first and second end lugs; a first retaining feature and a second retaining feature arrangeable at opposing ends of the pin hole; a headless pin including a pin body for inserting through the pin hole to rotatably couple the first and second end lugs, such that the pin body is retained between the first and second retaining features; a first bushing for positioning between the headless pin and the first end lug, and a second bushing for positioning between the headless pin and the second end lug; wherein the headless pin is isolated from the first and second retaining features.