Patent ID: 7874403

Claim:
A lubrication system for lubricating a joining mechanism for reciprocably joining two structural elements including: a) a first structural element having a pin housing bore mounting a selectably extendable pin, wherein the pin has a first cylindrical segment and a second cylindrical segment with the second cylindrical segment having a frustroconical portion; b) a second structural element having a pin socket bore for selectively engaging a portion of the second cylindrical segment of the pin, wherein the pin socket bore has a frustroconical segment that is comateable with the frustroconical portion of the second cylindrical segment of the pin; c) a sealed first bearing annulus formed between the first pin segment and the pin housing bore, wherein the sealed first bearing annulus has a first set of coplanar arcuate lubricant distribution grooves at a first sealed end of the first bearing annulus and a first continuous annular lubricant collection groove at a second sealed end of the first bearing annulus; d) a sealed second bearing annulus formed between the selectively engagable portion of the second cylindrical segment of the pin and the pin socket bore whenever the frustroconical portion of the second cylindrical segment of the pin is comated with the frustroconical segment of the pin socket bore, wherein the sealed second bearing annulus has a second set of coplanar arcuate lubricant distribution grooves at a first sealed end of the second bearing annulus and a second continuous annular lubricant collection groove at a second sealed end of the second bearing annulus; and e) a lubricant circulation system for continuously circulating lubricant through the sealed first and second bearing annuli.