Vibration damper

Abstract

Vibration damping is important with regard to such components as hollow turbine blades in gas turbine engines. Traditionally damping has occurred through damping elements secured at the root or tip of such blades. Such damping is not optimised and results in potential problems with wear in operational life. By providing a tube of deformable material which can be located within a hollow cavity it is possible to provide an element which through friction engagement can absorb vibration energy and therefore damp such vibration. The tube incorporates a number of cuts and/or grooves in an appropriate pattern in order to define a deformation profile once the tube is expanded in location. The tube is secured in position internally upon an expandable element which is typically an inflatable device. Once in position the tube is retained in its expanded deformable profile and the engagement between the tube and the hollow cavity wall surface results in energy absorption through vibration episodes. It is also possible to provide a tube formed from a shape memory alloy which will expand of its own right in location to engage the hollow cavity wall surfaces for energy absorption during vibration episodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.