tangential forces into the carrier 16 causing the carrier 16 to tend to rotate relative to the support ring 60 see the relative direction marked by the arrows u201c r u201d in fig4 this results in elastic bending of the torque fingers 68 in the tangential direction shown by arrow u201c b u201d the center plates 58 will deflect arrows u201c d u201d to accommodate the bending of the of the torque fingers 68 their effect is to absorb the torque as strain energy and isolate the movement of the torque fingers 68 from the carrier 16 this avoids distortion of the carrier 16 and consequent misalignment of the bearings and changing of gear operating clearances the center plates 58 are sized and shaped such that the stresses in them will remain in the elastic range for the expected operating loads the gearbox support apparatus described herein has several advantages over the prior art it eliminates several separate parts as compared to a prior art gearbox no lubrication of joints is required the low misalignment provided by this apparatus is enabling technology for use of a gearbox embedded in a gas turbine engine in particular low misalignment will result in gear and bearing life that meets system level requirements furthermore the use of ceramic cylindrical rolling elements allows the planet gears 18 to have a degree of freedom in the axial direction simplifying the design the ceramic rolling elements are anticipated to provide at least a doubling.