3D-Printed Aircraft Bushing With Stress-Aware Lubrication Passages

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for creating lubrication channels in landing gear components, such as drilling, lead to stress concentration regions, potential fatigue failures, increased manufacturing time and cost, and limited geometrical flexibility, necessitating improved lubrication channel configurations and methods.

Innovation Solution

The use of additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create lubrication passageways and grease fittings within bushings, allowing for customized designs, reduced stress concentrations, and flexible placement of lubrication channels, eliminating the need for drilling and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drilling is used to create lubrication channels, then lubrication can be provided to joints, but stress concentration regions and fatigue failure points are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefatigue resistanceVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drilling process with an additive manufacturing process to create lubrication channels. Instead of removing material through drilling, the channels are built layer-by-layer during the manufacturing of the bushing, eliminating stress concentration and fatigue failure points while maintaining the lubrication function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the manufacturing parameter from subtractive (drilling) to additive (3D printing). This fundamental parameter change allows the lubrication channels to be created without inducing stress concentrations, thereby improving fatigue resistance while maintaining lubrication delivery capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If drilling is used to create lubrication channels, then lubrication pathways can be formed, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing timeVSAvoidchannel formation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the creation of the bushing structure with the creation of lubrication channels into a single additive manufacturing process. The channels are formed simultaneously with the bushing body, eliminating separate drilling operations and reducing both manufacturing time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubrication channels are created during the initial additive manufacturing process rather than as a subsequent operation. This preliminary action integrates channel formation into the base manufacturing step, eliminating the need for separate drilling operations and reducing overall manufacturing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If drilling is used to create lubrication channels, then lubrication can be delivered, but channel locations and geometries are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel geometry flexibilityVSAvoidaccessibility to drilling machines

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drilling system with an additive manufacturing system that is not constrained by tool access. The 3D printing process can create channels in any location and with any geometry within the build volume, providing complete design freedom for lubrication pathway configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional drilling (requiring tool access from a specific direction) to three-dimensional additive manufacturing. This allows lubrication channels to be created in complex three-dimensional paths and locations that would be inaccessible to drilling machines, greatly enhancing geometric flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12253112B23D printed bushing with printed grease passages and lube fittings incorporated

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 GOODRICH CORP

AI summary

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