# US 10,767,504 B2 · Flexible damper for turbine blades > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,504 B2 - Document ID: US10767504B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/066,700 - Filed: 2016-01-12 - Published: 2019-01-17 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-12 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Nicholas F. Martin, Jr.; David J. Wiebe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767504B2 ## CPC - F01D 11/006: {Sealing the gap between rotor blades or blades and rotor} - F01D 5/22: Blade-to-blade connections, {e.g. for damping vibrations} - F01D 5/3007: {of axial insertion type} - F05D 2230/51: in a modular way, e.g. using several identical or complementary parts or features - 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 flexible damper (24) for turbine blades (10) includes a plurality of segments (32) positioned together in a substantially linear pattern, each segment (32) having a first side (46), a second side (48), a top side (50), a bottom side (52), a length (56), a width (54), and a thickness (58). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible damper for turbine blades comprising: a plurality of segments positioned together in a substantially linear pattern, each segment comprising a first side, a second side generally opposite the first side, a top side, a bottom side, a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein each segment comprises an extended portion and a cutout portion along the bottom side, wherein the extended portion of one segment of the plurality of segments overlaps the cutout portion of another segment of the plurality of segments next to the one segment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible damper according to claim 1, wherein a clearance gap exists between adjacent segments of the plurality of segments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible damper according to claim 1, wherein the extended portion comprises a radial pin connector, and the cutout portion comprises a radial loose fit hole, wherein the radial pin connector of the one segment removably engages with the radial loose fit hole of the another segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible damper according to claim 1, wherein each segment comprises an axial pin connector on the first side and an axial loose fit hole along the second side, wherein the axial pin connector of one segment the of the plurality of segments engages with the axial loose fit hole of another segment of the plurality of segments next to the one segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flexible damper according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments is connected by at least one embedded wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flexible damper according to claim 1, wherein cross sectional dimensions of the plurality of segments vary at different locations along the length of the damper. ### Claim 7 A rotor assembly comprising: a disc comprising a plurality of elongated channels provided therein and spaced along a disc periphery and a plurality of disc posts, each disc post positioned between each channel; a plurality of turbine blades, each turbine blade comprising an airfoil having a trailing edge and a leading edge joined by a pressure side and a suction side to provide an outer surface extending from a platform in a radial direction to a tip, wherein each turbine blade airfoil is installed in each of the elongated channels on the disc; and a plurality of flexible dampers each comprising a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a first side, a second side generally opposite the first side, a top side, a bottom side, a length, a width, and a thickness; wherein each damper is removably placed into a slot in between adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, and wherein each segment comprises an extended portion and a cutout portion along the bottom side, wherein the extended portion of one segment of the plurality of segments overlaps the cutout portion of another segment of the plurality of segments next to the one segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rotor assembly according to claim 7, wherein a clearance gap exists between adjacent segments of the plurality of segments. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The rotor assembly according to claim 7, wherein the extended portion comprises a radial pin connector, and the cutout portion comprises a radial loose fit hole, wherein the radial pin connector of the one segment removably engages with the radial loose fit hole of the another segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The rotor assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the segments comprises an axial pin connector on the first side and an axial loose fit hole along the second side, wherein the axial pin connector of one segment of the plurality of segments engages with the axial loose fit hole of another segment of the plurality of segments next to the one segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The rotor assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of segments is connected by at least one embedded wire. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The rotor assembly according to claim 7, wherein cross sectional dimensions of the plurality of segments vary at different locations along the length of the damper. ### Claim 13 A method for attaching dampers to a rotor assembly comprising: installing a plurality of turbine blades onto a disc comprising a plurality of elongated channels provided therein and spaced along a disc periphery, wherein the plurality of turbine blades each comprise an airfoil, a trailing edge and a leading edge joined by a pressure side and a suction side to provide an outer surface extending in a radial direction to a tip, wherein the plurality of turbine blades are installed in each of the elongated channels on the disc, removably attaching the dampers, each damper comprising a plurality of segments, each segment comprising a first side, a second side generally opposite the first side, a top side, a bottom side, a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein each segment comprises an extended portion and a cutout portion along the bottom side, wherein the extended portion of one segment of the plurality of segments overlaps the cutout portion of another segment of the plurality of segments next to the one segment.