3D Printed Bushing With Integrated Grease Passages for Low-Stress Lubrication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lubrication channels in landing gear components create stress concentration regions and potential fatigue failure points, and drilling these channels increases manufacturing time and cost while limiting channel locations and geometries.

Innovation Solution

The use of additive manufacturing to create 3D printed bushings with integrated lubrication passageways and grease fittings, allowing for customizable and complex channel designs that avoid high stress zones and eliminate the need for drilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lubrication channels are drilled through landing gear components, then lubrication flow path is provided, but stress concentration regions and fatigue failure points are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent integrityVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lubrication passageways are formed during the additive manufacturing process itself, before the component is subjected to service loads. This preliminary formation of channels avoids subsequent drilling operations that would create stress concentrations and potential fatigue failure points in the finished component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the manufacturing method from subtractive (drilling) to additive (3D printing), fundamentally altering how lubrication channels are created. This parameter change in the manufacturing process eliminates the creation of stress concentration regions while still providing the necessary lubrication flow paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If lubrication channels are drilled through landing gear components, then lubrication is provided to joints, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication provisionVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the formation of the bushing body and the lubrication passageways into a single additive manufacturing process step. This combining of operations eliminates the separate drilling step, thereby reducing manufacturing time and cost while ensuring proper lubrication provision to joints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubrication channels are created during the initial manufacturing process rather than as a subsequent operation. This preliminary action ensures lubrication capability is built-in from the start, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-manufacturing drilling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If lubrication channels are drilled through landing gear components, then lubrication flow path is created, but channel locations and geometries are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication flow pathVSAvoidchannel location flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the manufacturing approach from subtractive to additive, enabling complex channel geometries and locations that would be inaccessible or impossible to achieve with traditional drilling methods. This parameter change in manufacturing technology provides the flexibility to place channels exactly where needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Additive manufacturing enables the creation of lubrication channels in three-dimensional space with complex curvature and positioning that cannot be achieved with conventional drilling. This dimensional freedom allows channels to be located and shaped to optimize lubrication delivery to difficult-to-reach joints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional drilling methods are used to create lubrication channels, then channels are formed, but drilling errors may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel formationVSAvoiddrilling accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lubrication channels are formed during the additive manufacturing process with precise digital control, eliminating the possibility of drilling errors such as misalignment, wrong depth, or broken tools. The channels are created layer-by-layer according to precise 3D models, ensuring manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical drilling process with an additive manufacturing process that uses material deposition and layer-by-layer construction. This substitution eliminates the physical contact and mechanical forces associated with drilling, thereby preventing drilling errors while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4368502B13D printed bushing with printed grease passages and incorporated lube fittings

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 GOODRICH CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A

AI summary

A bushing (160) for use in an aircraft includes a hollow cylindrical shaft (170) having a first end (172) and a second end (174) opposite the first end, a radially outwardly extending flange (162) disposed at the first end of the hollow cylindrical shaft (172), an entry way (177) disposed along the radially outwardly extending flange (162), and a lubrication passageway (166) fluidly coupled to the entry way (177). The lubrication passageway (166) extends between the first end (172) and the second end (174).