# US 10,309,224 B2 · Split ring spring dampers for gas turbine rotor assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,224 B2 - Document ID: US10309224B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/715,217 - Filed: 2015-05-18 - Published: 2016-02-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-29 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Mark E. Marler; Megan Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309224B2 ## CPC - F01D 5/10: Anti- vibration means {(specially adapted for radial flow machines or engines F01D5/04)} - F01D 5/26: Antivibration means not restricted to blade form or construction or to blade-to-blade connections {or to the use of particular materials} - F01D 25/04: Antivibration arrangements - F05D 2250/14: elliptical - F05D 2260/96: Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A spring damper includes a split ring body. The split ring body defines a center and a circular gap separating opposed first and second end portions of the split ring body. The first and second end portions are connected by a split ring body segment that is evenly spaced from the center. At least one of the first and second end portions is unevenly spaced from the center in relation to the segment that is evenly spaced with respect to the center. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spring damper for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising: a split ring body defining a center and a circular gap separating opposed first and second end portions of the split ring body, wherein the first and second end portions are located on a distal end of a respective one of a first and second segment, the first and second segments each being connected to each other by a segment of the split ring body that is evenly spaced from the center, wherein the segment extends along a substantially uniform offset distance along an arc spanning about 180 degrees to about 270 degrees, wherein at least one of the first and second end portions is unevenly spaced from the center in relation to the segment that is evenly spaced, wherein the spring damper has an unloaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions extend radially outward in relation to the evenly spaced segment and are separated by an unloaded gap width and wherein the spring damper has a statically-loaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions are spaced inwards in relation to the evenly spaced segment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein an end of the first end portion is spaced radially outward from the center in relation to the evenly spaced segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein ends of the first and second end portions are spaced radially outward from the center in relation to the evenly spaced segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the evenly spaced segment is offset from the center by a uniform radius. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the split ring body has an elliptical shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein ends of the end portions are separated by a statically loaded gap with a statically loaded gap width, the statically loaded gap width being less than the unloaded gap width. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring damper has a dynamically loaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions and evenly spaced segment are equidistantly spaced in relation to the center. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A damper as recited in claim 7, wherein the ends of the first and second end portions are separated by a dynamically loaded gap with a dynamically loaded gap width, the dynamically loaded gap width being greater than the statically loaded gap width. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A damper as recited in claim 8, wherein the dynamically loaded gap width is less than the unloaded gap width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second end portions transitions to a larger radius of curvature than the evenly spaced segment within a span of about 0 degrees to 180 degrees of the split ring body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the evenly spaced segment spans an arc of 270 degrees about the center. ### Claim 12 A gas turbine rotor stage, comprising: a disk; a disk cover connected to the disk; and a spring damper connected to the disk cover, including: a split ring body defining a center and a circular gap separating opposed first and second end portions of the split ring body, wherein the first and second end portions are located on a distal end of a respective one of a first and second segment, the first and second segments each being connected to each other by a segment of the split ring body that is evenly spaced from the center, wherein the segment extends along a substantially uniform offset distance along an arc spanning about 180 degrees to about 270 degrees, wherein the disk cover imposes sufficient preload on the spring damper such that the first and second end portion segments are spaced radially inward in relation to the evenly spaced segment, and wherein the spring damper has an unloaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions extend radially outward in relation to the evenly spaced segment and are separated by an unloaded gap width and wherein the spring damper has a statically-loaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions are spaced inwards in relation to the evenly spaced segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A stage as recited in claim 12, wherein ends of the end portions are aligned such that a tangentially imposed force of the split ring body causes the ends to contact one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A stage as recited in claim 12, wherein the evenly spaced segment has a circular shape. ### Claim 15 A gas turbine rotor stage, comprising: a disk; a disk cover connected to the disk; and a spring damper connected to the disk cover, including: a split ring body defining a center and a circular gap separating opposed first and second end portions of the split ring body, wherein the first and second end portions are located on a distal end of a respective one of a first and second segment, the first and second segments each being connected to each other by a segment of the split ring body that is evenly spaced from the center, wherein the segment extends along a substantially uniform offset distance along an arc spanning about 180 degrees to about 270 degrees, wherein the disk cover imposes sufficient preload on the spring damper such that the first and second end portion segments are evenly spaced from the center in relation to the evenly spaced segment, and wherein the spring damper has an unloaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions extend radially outward in relation to the evenly spaced segment and are separated by an unloaded gap width and wherein the spring damper has a statically-loaded configuration wherein ends of the first and second end portions are spaced inwards in relation to the evenly spaced segment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A stage as recited in claim 15, wherein the split ring body has a circular shape.