An aircraft flap (or slat) drive apparatus includes first and second
centralized drive units that respectively rotationally drive first and
second drive lines in both wings. The first drive line includes shaft
segments connected end-to-end by selectively engageable separating
devices. The outboard ends of the first and second drive lines are
coupled through one of the separating devices, in each wing. At least one
actuator mechanism connects each flap to a respective shaft segment of
the first drive line, and converts the drive line rotational motion to a
flap translational motion. If a component breaks, jams, or otherwise
fails, it is isolated by disengaging the two adjacent separating devices
with the faulty component therebetween, so that the rest of the apparatus
remains functional. Each one or both of the drive units can drive one or
more or all of the flaps through the interconnected first and second
drive lines.