Self retaining blade damper

• US 6,171,058 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Stec, Philip F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryznic, John E.
• Application Number:
  US09/283,429
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 416/193.A, 416/248, 416/500
• US Class Current: 416/193.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/22 Blade-to-blade connections, e.g. for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 416/50 Vibration damping features

Abstract

A turbine blade damper in the form of a sheet metal body includes a concave notch along one edge thereof, and a projecting side tab along an opposite edge thereof.

Claims

1. A turbine blade damper comprising a sheet metal body having a concave notch along a first edge, and a side tab projecting outwardly along an opposite second edge.

2. A damper according to claim 1 wherein said body includes a longitudinal axis, said notch extends along said longitudinal axis, and said side tab extends generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

3. A damper according to claim 2 wherein said body includes a pair of end tabs disposed at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis, said notch is disposed intermediate therebetween, and said side tab adjoins one of said end tabs.

4. A damper according to claim 3 wherein said body further comprises a pair of said side tabs spaced longitudinally apart along said second edge to define a second concave notch opposite to said first notch.

5. A damper according to claim 4 wherein said side tab pair are disposed opposite to said first notch, with said second notch being narrower than said first notch.

6. A damper according to claim 4 wherein said first and second notches define a neck of minimum width therebetween.

7. A damper according to claim 6 wherein said neck extends perpendicular to said longitudinal axis outwardly to said first and second notches with a greater width portion at said second notch than at said first notch.

8. A damper according to claim 4 wherein said end tabs are recessed in part along perimeters thereof between said first notch and said side tabs.

9. A damper according to claim 8 wherein said end tabs are recessed more adjacent said first notch than adjacent said side tabs.

10. A damper according to claim 4 wherein said body is symmetrical across said neck from end-to-end along said longitudinal axis, and nonsymmetrical side-to-side across said longitudinal axis.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a pair of adjoining turbine blades mounted in a disk, with each blade having an airfoil, platform, dovetail, and a pocket defined between adjacent shanks inboard of said platforms; and

a damper disposed in said pocket, and comprising a sheet metal body having a concave notch along a first edge, and a side tab projecting outwardly along an opposite second edge.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

said disk includes an axial axis; and

said damper body includes a longitudinal axis, said notch extends along said longitudinal axis, and said side tab extends generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and generally circumferentially around said disk.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein:

said shanks include pairs of lugs extending circumferentially outwardly therefrom; and

said damper body includes a pair of end tabs disposed at opposite ends of said longitudinal axis, said notch is disposed intermediate therebetween, and said side tab adjoins one of said end tabs, with said end tabs being radially trapped between said lugs and said platforms.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

each of said airfoils includes circumferentially opposite concave and convex sides, with each of said shanks having a convex bulge below said platforms inboard of said airfoil convex sides; and

said damper body further comprises a pair of said side tabs spaced longitudinally apart along said second edge to define a second concave notch opposite to said first notch, and said first concave notch is complementary with said convex bulge.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein:

each of said blade platforms includes a radially inwardly extending rib adjoining a base of one of said lugs for axially abutting one of said side tabs to restrain movement therepast; and

said side tab pair are disposed opposite to said first notch, with said second notch being narrower than said first notch.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said first and second notches define a neck of minimum width therebetween.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said neck extends perpendicular to said longitudinal axis outwardly to said first and second notches, with a greater width portion at said second notch than at said first notch.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:

said end tabs are laterally sized to abut respective portions of said blade shanks at said lugs to circumferentially retain said damper therebetween; and

said end tabs are recessed in part along perimeters thereof between said notch and said side tabs.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said end tabs are recessed more adjacent said first notch than adjacent said side tabs.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said damper body is symmetrical across said neck from end-to-end along said longitudinal axis, and nonsymmetrical side-to-side across said longitudinal axis.