US 12,084,185 B2
Track drive device for an aircraft, a drive arrangement and an aircraft having such a track drive device
Bernhard Schlipf, Bremen (DE); and Florian Lorenz, Bremen (DE)
Assigned to Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed by Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/580,779.
Claims priority of application No. 102021101508.1 (DE), filed on Jan. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234722 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 9/22 (2006.01); B64C 13/34 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 9/22 (2013.01) [B64C 13/34 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A track drive device configured to drive a first airfoil relative to a second airfoil between a fully extended and fully retracted position, the track drive device comprising:
a track member that extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a toothed rack member,
a plurality of support members that are configured to support the track member in a movable manner, and
a drive device configured to drive the track member between the fully extended and fully retracted positions, the drive device having at least one drive unit that is arranged adjacent to the track member,
wherein each drive unit comprises a plurality of engaging members being supported so as to be movable between a fully engaged position, in which the respective engaging member fully engages the toothed rack member, and a fully disengaged position, in which the respective engaging member is fully disengaged from the toothed rack member, and
a rotatable cam member having a control cam portion, the control cam portion being configured so as to, upon rotation of the rotatable cam member, sequentially move the engaging members linearly in a direction orthogonal to a direction of motion of the track member between the fully engaged and fully disengaged positions so as to cause a linear motion of the track member relative to the drive device along the longitudinal direction, wherein each of the plurality of engaging members is aligned parallel to the direction of motion of the engaging members when moving between the fully engaged and fully disengaged positions.