Abstract: A method of determining a service interval for an actuator of a landing gear assembly is suitable for used with a landing gear assembly in which the actuator positions the landing gear assembly between a stowed position and a deployed position. The method includes the steps of determining an actuator travel value for a time interval and increasing a total actuator accumulated travel value by the actuator travel value for the time interval. The method further includes the step of comparing the total actuator accumulated travel value to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A pin for a pinned joint includes a hollow body with a first and second end caps coupled to first and second ends, respectively. The body and the end caps at least partially define a cavity within the body, wherein at least one aperture extends through the hollow body. A main piston is slidably disposed within the cavity and divides the cavity into a first chamber proximate to the first end and a second chamber proximate to the second end and fluidly isolated from an environment around the body. A lubricant is disposed within the first chamber. The main piston moves toward the first end of the body when a pressure in the second chamber is greater than a pressure of the environment. Movement of the main piston toward the first end of the body discharges lubricant through the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A drive system includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft that is operably coupled to a lead screw by a transmission that converts rotary output of the motor into linear translation of the lead screw. The drive system further includes a position sensor configured to sense a position of the lead screw. A method for determining a backlash of the drive system includes the steps of sensing an initial position and driving the lead screw in a first direction to a calculated second position by controlling the motor to rotate the output shaft an amount that corresponds to a distance between the initial position and the calculated second position. The method further includes the steps of sensing an actual second position of the lead screw; and determining a backlash value according to a difference between the calculated second position and the actual second position.

Abstract: A method of determining a service interval for an actuator of a landing gear assembly is suitable for used with a landing gear assembly in which the actuator positions the landing gear assembly between a stowed position and a deployed position. The method includes the steps of determining an actuator travel value for a time interval and increasing a total actuator accumulated travel value by the actuator travel value for the time interval. The method further includes the step of comparing the total actuator accumulated travel value to a predetermined value.