Patent ID: 7641145

Claim:
An apparatus for use in moving a control surface during operation of an aircraft, said apparatus comprising an actuator assembly which is connected with the control surface by a force transmission apparatus, a flexible drive shaft which is rotatable about a longitudinal central axis of said flexible drive shaft, and a coupling assembly which interconnects said flexible drive shaft and said actuator assembly, said coupling assembly includes an input member connected with said flexible drive shaft, an output member connected with said actuator assembly, and a plurality of balls which interconnect said input and output members and are rotatable to accommodate relative movement between said input and output members, said actuator assembly includes a worm gear which is connected with said input member of said coupling assembly and is rotated by said input member of said coupling assembly upon rotation of said flexible drive shaft and a worm wheel which is disposed in meshing engagement with said worm gear, said worm wheel being rotatable under the influence of force transmitted from said flexible drive shaft through said coupling assembly and said worm gear to said worm wheel to actuate said force transmission apparatus to move the control surface.