Airbus Operations Gmbh

Helen Driffill

Henry Edwards

An aircraft is disclosed having a device and an aircraft wing. The aircraft wing includes a main wing element and a movable wing tip device attached to a tip end of the main wing element. The movable wing tip device includes an accumulator configured to store energy and the movable wing tip device can move relative to the main wing element to vary a span of the aircraft wing. The accumulator is configured to transmit power to the device. The accumulator enables energy to trickle between the main wing element and the movable wing tip device whilst still providing a suitable power source to the device. Additional embodiments include a method of maintenance, and a method of operating the aircraft wing to store energy in the movable wing tip device.

Aircraft with movable wing tip device

An aircraft wing is disclosed including a main wing element and a movable wing tip device attached to a tip end of the main wing element. The movable wing tip device can move relative to the main wing element to vary a span of the aircraft wing. An inductive coupler is arranged to inductively transmit data and/or power between the main wing element and the movable wing tip device. The inductive coupler removes the need for wires and cables to pass across a joint between the main wing element and a movable wing tip device. Additional embodiments include a method of maintenance, and a method of operating the aircraft wing to transmit data and/or power between the main wing element and the movable wing tip device.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Helen Driffill