# US 10,480,569 B2 · Hybrid lined trunnion bearing for aircraft landing gear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,569 B2 - Document ID: US10480569B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/007,404 - Filed: 2018-06-13 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-15 - Assignees: Schaublin SA - Applicants: Schaublin SA - Inventors: Maxime Merg; Dave Coombe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480569B2 ## CPC - F16C 17/102: {with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure} - F16C 11/0666: {Sealing means between the socket and the inner member shaft} - F16C 11/068: {Special features relating to lubrication} - F16C 23/045: {for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings} - F16C 33/102: {with grease as lubricant} - F16C 33/1065: {Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid} - F16C 33/109: {Lubricant compositions or properties, e.g. viscosity} - F16C 33/125: {Details of bearing layers, i.e. the lining} - F16C 33/74: of sliding-contact bearings - F16C 11/045: {with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02)} - F16C 2326/43: Aeroplanes; Helicopters - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A trunnion bearing includes an inner ring having exterior and interior surfaces; and an outer ring having interior and exterior surfaces. A portion of the inner ring is disposed in the outer ring. A lubricious liner is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The trunnion bearing includes a bushing disposed in the inner ring. The bushing has a lubricant reservoir formed therein to dispense a lubricant therefrom. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trunnion bearing comprising: an inner ring having a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, the first exterior surface having a spherical contour; an outer ring having a second interior surface and a second exterior surface, the second interior surface having a spherical contour; the inner ring being disposed at least partially in the outer ring; a lubricious liner being disposed between the first exterior surface of the inner ring and the second interior surface of the outer ring; and a bushing having a third exterior surface and a third interior surface, the third exterior surface having a contour complementary to that of the first interior surface of the inner ring, the third exterior surface engaging the first interior surface, the third interior surface being substantially cylindrical and having a least one first lubricant reservoir formed therein, the at least one first lubricant reservoir being configured to dispense a first lubricant therefrom; at least one recess in the lubricious liner, the at least one recess being configured as a second lubricant reservoir for dispensing a second lubricant between the lubricious liner and the first exterior surface of the inner ring; at least one seal that is in sealing engagement with the inner ring and the outer ring; and wherein the first lubricant is different from the second lubricant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the lubricious liner is secured to the second interior surface of the outer ring and the lubricious liner is in sliding engagement with the first exterior surface of the inner ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the at least one first lubricant reservoir comprises at least one groove formed in the third interior surface of the bushing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The trunnion bearing of claim 3, wherein the at least one groove is of a spiral configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, further comprising a wiper ring disposed in the third interior surface of the bushing, the wiper ring being configured to seal a first lubricant between the third interior surface and a shaft rotatingly mounted in the bushing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the inner ring is a split ring having at least two axial splits creating at least a first inner ring segment and a second inner ring segment that are abutted against one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the inner ring is manufactured from a titanium alloy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the outer ring is manufactured from a titanium alloy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the bushing is manufactured from a copper based alloy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner ring is coated with a titanium nitride material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The trunnion bearing of claim 10, wherein the titanium nitride material is applied via a physical vapor deposition process. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the inner ring is secured to the bushing via at least one of swaging, staking, pinning, thermal fitting and interference press fitting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the second lubricant comprises a silicone grease. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is an O-ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The trunnion bearing of claim 1, further comprising a circumferential groove formed in the second interior surface of the outer ring and wherein the lubricious liner is secured in the groove thereby forming the at least one recess in the lubricious liner.