Removably attachable snubber assembly

A rotor assembly comprising:

• a disc comprising a plurality of elongated channels provided therein and spaced along a disc periphery;
• a plurality of turbine blade airfoils, each comprising 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 each turbine blade airfoil is installed in each of the elongated channels on the disc;
• at least one snubber attachment platform integrally formed onto the outer surface of each turbine blade airfoil,
• wherein the at least one snubber attachment platform comprises an interlocking mechanism;
• and
• a plurality of snubbers each comprising a first end, a second end, a trailing edge, a leading edge, a snubber length, and a snubber width,
• wherein each snubber is removably attachable to at least one snubber attachment platform through insertion between adjacent airfoils by sliding in a direction from the leading edge towards the trailing edge of the airfoils,
• wherein each snubber comprises a removable attachment mechanism on at least one of the first end and the second end,
• wherein each removable attachment mechanism on each snubber connects with the interlocking mechanism on each of the at least one snubber attachment platform, the interlocking mechanism constructed to provide a contact surface for the snubber and a clearance gap for operational blade movement.

A method for attaching snubbers 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,
• wherein at least one snubber attachment platform is integrally formed onto the outer surface of each turbine blade airfoil,
• wherein the at least one snubber attachment platform comprises an interlocking mechanism;
• and
• removably attaching a plurality of snubbers through insertion between adjacent airfoils by sliding in a direction from the leading edge towards the trailing edge of the airfoils, each snubber removably attached into each of the at least one snubber attachment platforms, each snubber comprising a first end, a second end, a trailing edge, a leading edge, a snubber length, and a snubber width,
• wherein each snubber comprises a removable attachment mechanism on at least one of the first end and the second end,
• wherein each removable attachment mechanism on each snubber connects with the interlocking mechanism on each of the at least one snubber attachment platform, the interlocking mechanism constructed to provide a contact surface for the snubber and a clearance gap for operational blade movement.