LINKAGE OF A HIGH-LOAD DEVICE AND WING EQUIPPED THERE AND AIRCRAFT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a high-lift device connection assembly for movably connecting a high lift device to a wing of an aircraft, comprising: a track for holding to the high-lift device and a guide arrangement to be installed on a structure of the wing for guiding a forward and backward moving of the track, wherein the guide arrangement has upper and lower main rollers and a first and second side guidance element. Further, the invention relates to a wing for an aircraft as well as to an aircraft equipped with such high-lift device connection assembly.

[0002] High-lift devices such as slats are movably connected to a wing structure of an aircraft so that they can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. Known high-lift device connection assemblies use a track in the form of a curved beam which is guided between upper and lower main rollers.

[0003] High-lift connection assemblies for movably connecting a high-lift device to a wing of an aircraft including a track for holding the high-lift device and a guide arrangement to be installed on a structure of the wing for guiding a forward and backward moving of the track are known from EP 0 045 987 A1 and US 2020 / 0055589 A1.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an enhanced fall-back safety feature for a high-lift device connecting assembly.

[0005] To address this object, the invention provides a high-lift device connection assembly as defined in claim 1. A wing for an aircraft as well as an aircraft provided therewith are the subject-matter of the further independent claims.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention provides a high-lift device connection assembly for movably connecting a high lift device to a wing of an aircraft, comprising: a track for holding the high-lift device and a guide arrangement configured to be installed on a structure of the wing for guiding a forward and backward moving of the track, wherein the guide arrangement has upper and lower main rollers and a first and second side guidance element, wherein the track is a profiled beam with upper and lower surface elements to be contacted by the upper and lower main rollers, respectively, and at least one vertical element connecting the upper and lower surface elements and arranged offset from the outer sides of at least one of or both of the upper and lower surface elements such that a recession is formed at each side of the track, wherein the guide arrangement comprises a track catcher configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a main roller failure, wherein the track catcher has at least one first hook element engaged within the recession at a first side of the track and at least one second hook element engaged with the recession at the second side of the track.

[0008] According to a first alternative of the invention, each of the at least one first and second hook elements is integrated in a holder for a side roller of the side guidance element.

[0009] According to a second alternative of the invention, each of the at least one first and second hook elements has a basis through which a shaft for at least one of the main rollers passes.

[0010] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements comprises a protrusion projecting from a basis into the recession.

[0011] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements is configured to be attached to the structure of the wing.

[0012] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements has a L-shaped, T-shaped or U-shaped profile.

[0013] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements has a curved upper or lower surface to be engaged with a curved upper or lower curved wall of the recession, wherein the curvature of the curved upper or lower surfaces is different to the curvature of the upper or lower curved wall of the recession.

[0014] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements is arranged with a clearance within the recession.

[0015] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements is configured to be connected to the structure of the wing with at least one shim plate therebetween.

[0016] Preferably, each of the at least one first and second hook elements has a free end arranged close to the at least one vertical element with a clearance therebetween configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a side guidance element failure.

[0017] Preferably, the track catcher has at least one hook element associated to any of the main rollers.

[0018] Preferably, the track catcher has a C-shaped profile with a first leg on the first side and the first hook element on the end of the first leg, a second leg on the second side and the second hook element on the end of the second leg, and a web connecting the other ends of the first and second legs, wherein the web is arranged with clearance close to the upper surface of the upper surface element or to the lower surface of the lower surface element.

[0019] Preferably, the track catcher has upper and lower first and second hook elements. Preferably, the track catcher has forward and aft first hook elements and / or forward and aft second hook elements.

[0020] Preferably, the track catcher has a first and second vertical surface arranged in parallel with clearance therebetween to a first and second side surface, respectively, of the upper or lower surface element and configured to bear a load imposed by the track in case of a side guidance element failure.

[0021] Preferably, the track has a U-shaped profile with flanges at each of the edges such that one of the upper and lower surface elements is formed by a web of the U-shaped profile and a first and second flange, the at least one vertical element is formed by a first and second leg of the U-shaped profile, and the other of the upper and lower surface elements is formed by a third and fourth flange at the ends of the first and second legs of the U-shaped profile.

[0022] Preferably, the track is curved in order to enable a bow shaped moving path of the high-lift device.

[0023] Preferably, the track is configured to hold a slat as high-lift device.

[0024] It is preferred, that the upper main rollers comprise at least one inward upper main roller and at least one outward upper main roller with a distance in chord direction to the inward upper main roller.

[0025] It is preferred, that the lower main rollers comprise at least one inward lower main roller and at least one outward lower main roller with a distance in chord direction to the inward lower main roller.

[0026] It is preferred, that each of the main rollers have a bearing arranged on a shaft to be fixed between two structure elements of the wing.

[0027] According to another aspect, the invention provides a wing for an aircraft, comprising at least one or several of the high-lift device connection assembly according to any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0028] According to another aspect, the invention provides an aircraft, comprising at least one wing according to the aforementioned embodiment and / or at least one high-lift device connection assembly according to any of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the invention refer to kinematics of a high-lift device such as a slat. Especially, preferred embodiments relate to slat-track kinematics. One aim of preferred embodiments is to provide a fail safe device for a moving kinematics of a high-lift device. Especially, embodiments of the invention provide a back-up load path structure for main rollers for supporting and guiding a track of a high lift device that can be move forward and backward in order to move the slat between the retracted and the extended position.

[0030] Preferred embodiments address cases in which a main roller - forward or aft main rollers, upper or lower main rollers - fails which in some previous designs would disturb the whole function of the corresponding track station with the risk that the high-lift device does not work properly anymore. Therefore, preferred embodiments propose a back-up structure. This fail-safe system realized by a track catcher using hook elements ("funk hooks") engaging into side recessions of the track.

[0031] Preferred embodiments have at least one of the following advantages: space allocation - less space of cross section assumed weight saving back-up side guidance

[0032] A typical track is a profiled beam having flanges on each edge so that each of a first and second side of the track has a recession formed between the upper and lower flanges. With preferred embodiments, the flange sides also can cover failsafe functions as back-up side pads.

[0033] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1a perspective view of an airplane with high-lift devices; Fig. 2a side view, partially in section, of a conventional high-lift device connection arrangement; Fig. 3a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 4a sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 2; Fig. 5a side view, partially in section, of a high-lift device connection arrangement according embodiments of the invention; Fig. 6a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 5 according to a first comparative example, presented for illustration purposes only; Fig. 7a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 5 according to a second comparative example, presented for illustration purposes only; Fig. 8a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 5 according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 5 according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10a side view, partially in section, of a high-lift device connection arrangement according to further embodiments of the invention; Fig. 11a sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 10 according a third comparative example, presented for illustration purposes only; Fig. 12a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 10 according to a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 13a side view, partially in section, of a high-lift device connection arrangement according to still further embodiments of the invention; Fig. 14a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 13 according to a fourth comparative example, presented for illustration purposes only; Fig. 15a sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 13 according to the fourth comparative example; Fig. 16a detail of one of the Figs. 5 or 13 according to a variant which is possible for all of the embodiments of the invention; Fig. 17a sectional view along the line A-A of any of the Figs. 5, 13, 16, or 18, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 18a view as in Fig. 16 according to an fifth embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 19a sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 18 according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows an aircraft 10 having a body 12 and wings 14 equipped with high-lift devices 16 on the leading edge 18 and on the trailing edge 20 of the wings 14.

[0035] Figs. 2 to 19 show different views of high-lift device connecting arrangements 22, 24 for connecting the high-lift devices 16 to a structure 26 of the wings 14 wherein Figs. 2 to 4 show a conventional high-lift device connecting arrangement 22 and Figs. 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16 to 19 show a high-lift device connecting arrangement 24 according to embodiments of the invention. Figs. 6, 7, 11, 14 and 15 are comparative examples and are present for illustration purposes only.

[0036] While the high-lift device connecting arrangement 22, 24 are explained in the following by using the example of a connecting arrangement for connecting a slat 28 to a structure 26 on the leading edge of the wings 14, it should be noted that the principles explained also can be used for any other high-lift device which is hold by a track 30 to be moved in a guide arrangement 32.

[0037] The high-lift device connection assembly 22, 24 is configured to movably connect the high lift device 16, such as the slat 28, to one of the wings 14 of the aircraft 10. The high-lift device connecting arrangement 22, 24 comprises a track 30 for holding the high-lift device 16 and a guide arrangement 32 to be installed on the structure 26 of the wing 14 for guiding a forward and backward moving of the track 30. The structure 26 includes a first structure element 33 on a first side of the high-lift device connecting arrangement 22, 24 and a second structure element 35 on a second side of the high-lift device connecting arrangement 22, 24. According to some embodiments the first structure element 33 is a first rib 34 of the wing 14, and the second structure element 35 is a second rib of the wing 14. The first side can be one of the inboard or outboard sides, and the second side is the other of the inboard and outboard sides.

[0038] The guide arrangement 32 has upper and lower main rollers 38, 40, 42, 44 and a first and second side guidance elements 46, 48, 50, 52.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the guide arrangement 32 comprises a forward upper main roller 38, an aft upper main roller 40, a forward lower main roller 42, and an aft lower main roller 44. The main rollers 38-44 have a bearing (generally known, not shown) such as a needle bearing and are supported each on a stationary shaft 53 fixed to the first and second structure elements 33, 35. The forward main rollers 38, 42 are arranged with a distance in chordwise direction to the aft main rollers 40, 44.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the guide arrangement 32 comprises at least two guidance elements 46, 48, 50, 52 on each of the first and second sides. At least one of the guidance elements 46, 48, 50, 52 on each side is configured to guide an upper portion of the track 30, and at least one of the guidance elements 46, 48, 50, 52 is configured to guide a lower portion of the track 30. Further, there are at least two guidance elements 46, 48, 50, 52 on each side which are shifted to each other in the spanwise direction so that at least one of the guidance elements 46-52 on each side guides a more forward portion of the track 30, while the at least one other guidance element 46-52 on each side guide a more backward portion of the track 30. The side guidance elements 46-52 may include side rollers 54 with a side roller support 56 and / or side guide pads 58.

[0041] The track 30 is a profiled beam with upper and lower surface elements 60, 62 to be contacted by the upper and lower main rollers 38-44, respectively, and at least one vertical element 64, 66 connecting the upper and lower surface elements 60, 62 and arranged offset from the outer sides 68, 70 of the upper and lower surface elements 60, 62 such that a recession 72, 74 is formed at each of the first and second sides of the track 30.

[0042] According to some embodiments, that the track 30 has a U-shaped profile with flanges 76, 78, 80, 82 at each of the edges such that one 60 of the upper and lower surface elements 60, 62 is formed by a web 84 of the U-shaped profile and a first and second flange 76, 78, the at least one vertical element 64, 66 is formed by a first and second leg 86, 88 of the U-shaped profile, and the other 62 of the upper and lower surface elements 60, 62 is formed by a third and fourth flange 80, 82 at the ends of the first and second legs 86, 88 of the U-shaped profile.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the track 30 is curved in order to enable a bow shaped moving path of the high-lift device 16.

[0044] The first recession 72 is defined by the first flange 76, the first leg 86 and the third flange 80 and has the form of a groove.

[0045] Figs. 2 to 4 show the conventional high-lift device connecting arrangement 22. In most prior art aircrafts, the guide arrangement 32 of the leading edge track 30 is realized by the main rollers 38-44 supporting the track 32 on the upper and lower side, in combination with side rollers 54 and eventually gliding pads 58 which are all attached to the leading edge ribs 34, 36. As a part of the leading edge high-lift system the track 30 is deploying and retracting the slat 28 in certain stages of the flight, allowing the wing 14 to operate at a higher angle of attack.

[0046] In order to provide a fall-back safety, the conventional high-lift device connecting arrangement 22 comprises safety pins 90 ("funk pin") located upside the upper surface element at a forward and backward position and downside the lower surface element at a forward and backward position.

[0047] Figs. 5 to 19 show different embodiments of the high-lift device connecting arrangement which does not comprise safety pins 90 but at least one or several track catchers 92 as a fall-back safety feature in case of a failure of one of the main rollers 38-44.

[0048] The track catcher 92 is configured to bear a load imposed by the track 30 in case of a main roller failure. The track catcher 92 has at least one first hook element 94 engaged within the first recession 72 at the first side of the track 30 and at least one second hook element 96 engaged with the second recession 74 at the second side of the track 30.

[0049] In normal operation, the track catcher 92 is arranged with a clearance to the track. When any of the rollers 38, 40, 42, 44, 54 of the guide arrangement 32 fails, at least one of the hook elements 94, 96, preferably a pair of first and second hook elements, slidingly contacts the track 30.

[0050] According to some embodiments, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, and 10 to 19, the track catcher 92 has at least one hook element 94, 96 associated to any of the main rollers 38-44. According to some embodiments, the track catcher 92 has, on the first side, a forward upper first hook element 94-1, an aft upper first hook element 94-2, a forward lower first hook element 94-3 and an aft lower first hook element 94-4, and, on the second side, a forward upper second hook element 96-1, an aft upper second hook element 96-2, a forward lower second hook element 96-3 and an aft lower first hook element 96-4.

[0051] The hook elements 94, 96, 94-1, 94-4, 96-1, 96-4 (which can also be named as safety hooks or "funk hooks") engage with the inner side of the slat track flanges 76-82. Thus, the upper hook elements 94-1, 94-2, 96-1, 96-2 engage with the lower side of the upper track flanges 76, 78, and the lower hook elements 94-3, 94-4, 96-3, 96-4 engage with the upper side of the lower track flanges 80, 82. In normal operation, there is a small clearance (e.g. 0.1 mm to 10 mm) between the hook element 94, 96 and the associated flange 76-82 which is so small that in case that the associated main roller is worn, and its diameter is reduced, the load of the track can be supported by the hook element 94, 96.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 16 and 18 the contact surfaces 124 of the hook elements 94, 96 facing the associated flange 76-82 may be curved. The curvature may be complementary to the curvature of the corresponding side of the flange 76-82, but also different curvatures are possible. According to some preferred embodiments, protrusions 100 on which the contact surface 124 is formed may be curved as a whole with a radius, or only the contact surface may be formed with a radius. For stress reasons, it may advantageous that the radius of the contact surface 124 is different to the associated contact surface at the track 30. The contact surface 124 may have different curvatures at different portions thereof, for example another radius near the edges compared with an radius in the middle. The contact surface 124 may also be double-curved with an additional crown radius.

[0053] Further, the contact surface 124 (and the corresponding contact surface at the track 30) may be provided with a friction liner 106.

[0054] The hook elements 94, 96 comprise a basis 98, and a protrusion 100 protruding from the basis 98 into the corresponding recession 72, 74.

[0055] The protrusion 100 has a free end 102 arranged close to the at least one vertical element 64, 66 with a clearance therebetween configured to bear a load imposed by the track 30 in case of a side guidance element failure. Hence, the hook elements 94, 96 provide a functional surface 104 as a back-up side pad.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 17, the hook elements 94, 96 may be integrally formed in the ribs 34, 36 so that the basis 98 is formed by the ribs 34, 36. Since the ribs 34, 36 are normally made from lightweight material such as aluminium materials, and the hook elements 94, 96 are preferably made from a wear resistance material, such as steel or titanium, it is preferred in such case that the surfaces of the protrusions 100 have a liner 104 made of wear resistance material.

[0057] As shown in the comparative examples of Figs. 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, each or some of the hook elements 94, 96, 94-1-94-4, 96-1-96-4 may be single elements, for example shaped essentially in T-shape (or L-shape - not shown), wherein the basis 98 is fixed by appropriate fixation means 108 such as bolts, rivets, screws, adhesive to the structure element 33, 35.

[0058] Referring to Figs. 12 and 15, a shim plate 114 may be arranged between the basis 98 and the structure element 33, 35 in order to set a side clearance between the hook element 94, 96 and the track 30.

[0059] The basis 98 may have a portion 110 which is configured as (additional) support for the shaft 53, as this is shown in the embodiment of Fig. 19. A similar configuration is also possible for the other embodiments.

[0060] A pair of lower and upper hook elements 94-1 / 94-3, 94-2 / 94-4, 96-1 / 96-3, 96-2 / 96-4 may be integrated in one bracket as this is shown in Figs. 7 and 19.

[0061] Referring the Figs. 8 and 9, the first and second hook elements 94, 96 may be integrated in one bracket bridging the two structure elements 33, 35. For example, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the track catcher 92 has a C-shaped profile 116 with a first leg 118 one the first side and the first hook element 94 on the end of the first leg 118, a second leg 120 on the second side and the second hook element 96 on the end of the second leg 120, and a web 122 connecting the other ends of the first and second legs 118, 120. The web 122 is arranged with clearance close to the upper surface of the track 30 (Fig. 9) or to the lower surface of the track (Fig. 8).

[0062] Such bracket 112 is a back-up safety element both for failure of the upper main roller 38, 40 and the lower main roller 42, 44, so that it is not necessary to provide both upper hook elements and lower hook elements.

[0063] As may be noted from Figs. 8 and 9, such bracket 112 also functions with tracks 30 where those flanges that are not surrounded (upper flanges 76, 78 in Fig. 8, lower flanges 80, 82 in case of Fig. 9) by the bracket 112 are omitted.

[0064] According to the embodiments of Figs. 12 and 15, the hook elements 94, 96 can be integrated in the side guidance elements 46-52, for example as part of the side roller supports 56 and / or as part of the side guide pad 58.

[0065] The features of the different embodiments can be combined as needed. Especially, different combinations of different hook elements are possible.

[0066] The embodiments described relate to a high-lift device connection assembly (24) for movably connecting a high lift device (16) to a wing (14) of an aircraft (10) wherein a track (30) is movably guided between main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44). In order to provide an enhanced fall-back safety feature in case of a failure of a roller the embodiments include a track catcher (92) to be attached to a structure (26) of the wing (14) and configured to bear a load imposed by the track (30) in case of a main roller failure, wherein the track catcher (92) has at least one first hook element (94, 94-1-94-4) engaged within a first recession (72) at a first side of the track (30) and at least one second hook element (96, 96-1-96-4) engaged with a second recession (74) at the second side of the track (30). Further, a wing and an aircraft equipped with such high-lift device connection assembly (24) have been described.Reference sign list:

[0067] 10aircraft 12body 14wing 16high-lift device 18leading edge 20trailing edge 22conventional high-lift device connecting arrangement 24high-lift device connecting arrangement (according to embodiments of the invention) 26structure 28slat 30track 32guide arrangement 33first structure element 34first rib 35second structure element 36second rib 38forward upper main roller 40aft upper main roller 42forward lower main roller 44aft lower main roller 46forward first side guidance element 48aft first side guidance element 50forward second guidance element 52aft second guidance element 53shaft 54side roller 56side roller support 58side guide pad 60upper surface element 62lower surface element 64first vertical element 66second vertical element 68first outer side 70second outer side 72first recession 74second recession 76first flange 78second flange 80third flange 82fourth flange 84web (U-shaped track) 86first leg 88second leg 90pin ("funk pin") 92track catcher 94first hook element 94-1forward upper first hook element 94-2aft upper first hook element 94-3forward lower first hook element 94-4aft lower first hook element 96second hook element 96-1forward upper second hook element 96-2aft upper second hook element 96-3forward lower second hook element 96-4aft lower second hook element 98basis 100protrusion 102free end 104functional surface 106liner 108fixation means 110portion of basis 112bracket 114shim plate 116C-shaped profile 118first leg (C-shape) 120second leg (C-shape) 122web (C-shape) 124contact surface

Claims

1. High-lift device connection assembly (24) for movably connecting a high lift device (16) to a wing (14) of an aircraft (10), comprising: a track (30) for holding the high-lift device (16) and a guide arrangement (32) configured to be installed on a structure (26) of the wing (14) for guiding a forward and backward movement of the track (30), wherein the guide arrangement (32) has upper and lower main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44) and a first and second side guidance element (46, 48, 50, 52), wherein the track (30) is a profiled beam with upper and lower surface elements (60, 62, 76, 78, 80, 82) to be contacted by the upper and lower main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44), respectively, and at least one vertical element (64, 66, 86, 88) connecting the upper and lower surface elements (60, 62, 76, 78, 80, 82) and arranged offset from the outer sides of at least one of or both the upper and lower surface elements (60, 62, 76, 78, 80, 82) such that a recession (72, 74) is formed at each side of the track (30), wherein the guide arrangement (32) comprises a track catcher (92) configured to bear a load imposed by the track (30) in case of a main roller failure, wherein the track catcher (92) has at least one first hook element (94, 94-1-94-4) engaged within the recession (72) at a first side of the track (30) and at least one second hook element (96, 96-1-96-4) engaged with the recession (74) at the second side of the track (30), characterized in that each of the at least one first and second hook elements (94, 94-1-94-4; 96, 96-1-96-4) 1.1 is integrated in a holder (56) for a side roller (54) of the side guidance element (46, 48, 50, 52) or 1.2 has a basis (98) through which a shaft (53) for at least one of the main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44) passes.

2. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to claim 1, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, that each of the at least one first and second hook elements (94, 94-1-94-4; 96, 96-1-96-4): 2.1 comprises a protrusion (100) projecting from a basis (98) into the recession (72, 74), 2.2 is configured to be attached to the structure (26) of the wing (14), 2.3 has a L-shaped, T-shaped or U-shaped profile.

3. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the at least one first and second hook elements (94, 94-1-94-4; 96, 96-1-96-4) has a curved upper or lower surface (124) to be engaged with a curved upper or lower curved wall of the recession (72, 74) wherein the curvature of the curved upper or lower surfaces (124) is different to the curvature of the upper or lower curved wall of the recession (72, 73).

4. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, that each of the at least one first and second hook elements (94, 94-1-94-4; 96, 96-1-96-4): 4.1 is arranged with a clearance within the recession (72, 74); 4.2 is configured to be connected to the structure (26) of the wing (14) with at least one shim plate (114) therebetween; 4.3 has a free end (102) arranged close to the at least one vertical element (64, 66) with a clearance therebetween configured to bear a load imposed by the track (30) in case of a side guidance element failure.

5. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, that the track catcher (92) 5.1 has at least one hook element (94, 96, 94-1-94-4, 96-1-96-4) associated to any of the main rollers (38-44); 5.2 has a C-shaped profile (116) with a first leg (118) on the first side and the first hook element (94) on the end of the first leg (118), a second leg (120) on the second side and the second hook element (96) on the end of the second leg (120), and a web (122) connecting the other ends of the first and second legs (118 120), wherein the web (122) is arranged with clearance close to the upper surface of the track 30) or to the lower surface of the track (30); 5.3 has upper and lower first and second hook elements (94-1-94-4; 96-1-96-4).

6. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, that the track catcher (92) 6.1 has forward and aft first and second hook elements (94-1-94-4; 96-1-96-4); 6.2 has a first and second vertical surface (104) arranged in parallel with clearance therebetween to a first and second side (68, 70) surface, respectively, of the upper or lower surface element (60, 62) and configured to bear a load imposed by the track (32) in case of a side guidance element failure.

7. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, that the track (30) 7.1 has a U-shaped profile with flanges (76, 78, 80, 82) at each of the edges such that one of the upper and lower surface elements (60, 62) is formed by a web (84) of the U-shaped profile and a first and second flange (76, 78), the at least one vertical element (64, 66) is formed by a first and second leg (86, 88) of the U-shaped profile, and the other of the upper and lower surface elements (66, 64) is formed by a third and fourth flange (80, 82) at the ends of the first and second legs (86, 88) of the U-shaped profile; 7.2 is curved in order to enable a bow shaped moving path of the high-lift device (16).

8. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the track (30) is configured to hold a slat (28), especially a leading edge slat (28), as high-lift device.

9. High-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one or several of the following features, 9.1 that the upper main rollers comprise at least one forward upper main roller (38) and at least one aft upper main roller (40) with a distance in chord direction to the forward upper main roller (38); 9.2 that the lower main rollers comprise at least one forward lower main roller (42) and at least one aft lower main roller (44) with a distance in chord direction to the forward lower main roller (42); 9.3 that each of the main rollers (38, 40, 42, 44) have a bearing arranged on a shaft (53) to be fixed between first and second structure elements (33, 35) of the wing (14).

10. Wing (14) for an aircraft (10), comprising at least one high-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the preceding claims.

11. Aircraft (10), comprising at least one wing (14) according to claim 10 and / or at least one high-lift device connection assembly (24) according to any of the claims 1 to 9.