Flexible shaft coupling for a power transmission system driven by a central drive unit, especially in aircraft

In an aircraft including a fuselage, a wing connected to said fuselage, a high lift flap provided on said wing, an actuator adapted to move said flap among selected positions, a central drive unit, and a drive shaft system connecting said central drive unit to said actuator for power transmission thereto,

• an improved flexible coupling arrangement for flexibly coupling first and second shafts of said drive shaft system, wherein said improved flexible coupling arrangement comprises:
• a first coupling flange secured to an end of said first shaft;
• a second coupling flange secured to an end of said second shaft and positioned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first coupling flange;
• a flexible disk arranged between said first and second coupling flanges;
• at least one first connector member securely fastened to and interconnecting said first coupling flange and said flexible disk;
• and
• at least one second connector member securely fastened to and interconnecting said second coupling flange and said flexible disk;
• wherein:
• said second connector member passes with free play through a first clearance hole provided in said first coupling flange;
• said first connector member passes with free play through a second clearance hole provided in said second coupling flange;
• each said connector member comprises a respective bolt including a bolt shaft, a bolt head at one end of said bolt shaft, and a nut threaded onto said bolt shaft;
• said bolt shaft of said first connector member passes through respective first holes in said first coupling flange and said flexible disk, and said nut and said bolt head of said first connector member receive and apply a clamping force to said first coupling flange and said flexible disk therebetween;
• said bolt shaft of said second connector member passes through respective second holes in said second coupling flange and said flexible disk, and said nut and said bolt head of said second connector member receive and apply a clamping force to said second coupling flange and said flexible disk therebetween;
• each said connector member further comprises a respective bushing arranged on said bolt shaft;
• each said bushing respectively comprises a first bushing member, and separate second and third bushing members;
• said separate second and third bushing members of said first connector member are arranged on opposite sides of said second coupling flange and each include an axially extending bushing sleeve and a rim protruding radially from said bushing sleeve;
• said first bushing member of said first connector member comprises an axially extending bushing sleeve arranged around said bolt shaft within said first hole in said first coupling flange, and a rim protruding radially from said bushing sleeve between said first coupling flange and said flexible disk;
• said separate second and third bushing members of said second connector member are arranged on opposite sides of said first coupling flange and each include an axially extending bushing sleeve and a rim protruding radially from said bushing sleeve;
• and
• said first bushing member of said second connector member comprises an axially extending bushing sleeve arranged around said bolt shaft within said second hole in said second coupling flange, and a rim protruding radially from said bushing sleeve between said second coupling flange and said flexible disk.