Bucket vibration damper system

• US 7,731,482 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Vehr, James William, Chiurato, Anthony Aaron, Collier, Matthew Durham, Liotta, Gary Charles, Lagrange, Benjamin Arnette, Good, Randall Richard, DeLong, Jon Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US11/423,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 415/119, 415/139, 416/93.R, 416/190, 416/192, 416/193.A, 416/219.R, 416/500, 416/248
• US Class Current: 416/190
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/22 Blade-to-blade connections, e.g. for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/80 Platforms for stationary or moving blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/70 Shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 416/50 Vibration damping features

Abstract

A damping system for a turbine bucket. The damping system includes a damper pocket with a variable tangential depth and a damper pin positional within the damper pocket.

Claims

1. A damping system for a turbine bucket, comprising:

an airfoil;

a damper pocket positioned about the airfoil;

the damper pocket extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge;

the damper pocket comprising a variable tangential depth in a direction perpendicular to a length of the airfoil that is greatest at the leading edge and the trailing edge and least about the high C point of the airfoil; and

a damper pin positioned within the damper pocket.

2. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the bucket comprises a convex side and wherein the damper pocket is positioned on the convex side.

3. The damping pocket of claim 1, wherein the bucket comprises a concave side and wherein the bucket comprises an undercut on the concave side.

4. The damping system of claim 3, wherein the undercut comprises an angled surface.

5. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the bucket comprises a pair of supports positioned about the damper pocket.

6. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the damper pocket comprises a pocket angled surface and wherein the damper pin comprises a pin angled surface.

7. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the damper pocket is machined into the bucket.

8. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the damper pocket is cast into the bucket.

9. The damping system of claim 8, wherein the damper pocket comprises a pair of enclosures.

10. The damping system of claim 1, wherein the damper pin comprises a pair of bosses.