Patent ID: 8118254

Claim:
A flap actuator for controlling movement of a flap on a wing of an aircraft, comprising: a housing having a leading end and a trailing end; a ball nut rotatably supported in the housing; a motor having a rotatable drive shaft, the drive shaft rotatable in first and second opposite directions; and a gear assembly for translating rotation of the drive shaft to the ball nut; a ball screw extending along a longitudinal axis and having a terminal end operatively connectable to the flap, the ball screw movable between a first retracted position response to rotation of the ball nut in a first direction and a second extended position in response to rotation of the ball nut in a second direction; a one-way roller clutch operatively connectable to the ball nut, the roller clutch engaging the housing and preventing rotation of the ball nut in a first direction in response to a compressive force on the ball screw by the flap; first and second concentric gimbals positioned about the longitudinal axis adjacent the housing; and a first pin extending through the first and second gimbals and being operatively connected to the housing.