IP Library Granted Patent US 12,729,628
Granted Patent B2
US 12,729,628 · App. 19/282,728 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Damping system for an integrally bladed rotor

Inventors: Lucas O. McCaslin (Middletown, CT); Stephen B. Bonarrigo (Farmington, CT)
Assignee: RTX Corporation
F01D5/26F01D5/021F05D2260/96
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,729,628
App. No.
19/282,728
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrally bladed disk is provided that includes a disk and a plurality of rotor blades. The disk has an outer radial hub and is configured for rotation around a rotational axis. Each rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades has an airfoil that extends chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extends spanwise between a base end and a blade tip. Each rotor blade includes a damper pocket, a damper body, and a plug. The damper pocket extends into the airfoil from the base end and has a first tapered configuration. The damper body is disposed within the damper pocket, and has a second tapered configuration. The second tapered configuration of the damper body mates with the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket. The plug is disposed to retain the damper body within the damper pocket.

Claims (44)

1 . An integrally bladed disk, comprising:

a disk having an outer radial hub, the disk configured for rotation around a rotational axis;

a plurality of rotor blades, each having an airfoil, the airfoil extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending spanwise between a base end and a blade tip;

wherein each said rotor blade includes:

a damper pocket extending into the airfoil from the base end, the damper pocket having a first tapered configuration;

a damper body disposed within the damper pocket, wherein the damper body has a second tapered configuration, wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body mates with the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket; and

a plug disposed to retain the damper body within the damper pocket;

wherein the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket (DP) includes a DP top side surface and a single DP side surface that extends circumferentially and extends spanwise from the base end to the DP top side surface, and converges in a direction from the base end to the DP top side surface;

wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body (DB) includes a DB top side surface, a DB bottom side surface, and a single DB side surface that extends circumferentially and extends between the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface, and converges in a direction from the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface; and

wherein the damper pocket and the damper body are disposable in an engaged configuration in which the DB top side surface is spaced apart from the DP top side surface.

2 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 1 , wherein the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket is a first truncated cone, and the second tapered configuration of the damper body is a second truncated cone, and in the engaged configuration, the single DB side surface is in contact with the single DP side surface.

3 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 2 , wherein the damper body is a unitary body.

4 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 2 , wherein the damper body includes a plurality of components that collectively form the damper body.

5 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of components that collectively form the damper body includes a first damper body component and a second damper body component, and the second damper body component nests within the first damper body component.

6 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 1 , wherein each said rotor blade includes a weld collar affixed to the base end of the airfoil, and the weld collar includes a weld collar aperture that is aligned with the damper pocket and configured to receive the damper body.

7 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 6 , wherein the plug for each said rotor blade is affixed to the weld collar.

8 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 7 , wherein each said rotor blade is affixed to the outer radial hub of the disk at the weld collar.

9 . The integrally bladed disk of claim 1 , wherein the damper body comprises a shape memory alloy.

10 . A rotor blade portion of an integrally bladed disk, comprising:

an airfoil extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending spanwise between a base end and a blade tip;

a damper pocket (DP) extending into the airfoil from the base end to a DP top side surface, the damper pocket having a first tapered configuration;

a damper body (DB) disposed within the damper pocket, wherein the damper body includes a second tapered configuration and a DB top side surface, wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body mates with the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket;

a weld collar affixed to the base end of the airfoil, the weld collar including a weld collar aperture that is aligned with the damper pocket and configured to receive the damper body; and

a plug disposed within the weld collar aperture and affixed to the weld collar;

wherein the damper pocket and the damper body are disposable in an engaged configuration in which the DB top side surface is spaced apart from the DP top side surface.

11 . The rotor blade portion of claim 10 , wherein

the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket (DP) includes a first DP side surface and a second DP side surface, and the first DP side surface and the second DP side surface converge toward one another; and

the second tapered configuration of the damper body (DB) includes a first DB side surface and a second DB side surface, and the first DB side surface and the second DB side surface converge toward one another.

12 . The rotor blade portion of claim 11 , wherein

the DP top side surface extends between the first DP side surface and the second DP side surface, and the DB top side surface extends between the first DB side surface and the second DB side surface; and

in the engaged configuration the first DP side surface is in contact with the first DB side surface and the second DP side surface is in contact with the second DB side surface.

13 . The rotor blade portion of claim 10 , wherein

the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket (DP) includes a single DP side surface that extends circumferentially and extends spanwise from the base end to the DP top side surface, and converges in a direction from the base end to the DP top side surface; and

wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body (DB) includes a DB bottom side surface and a single DB side surface that extends circumferentially and extends between the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface, and converges in a direction from the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface.

14 . The rotor blade portion of claim 10 , wherein the damper body comprises a shape memory alloy.

15 . An integrally bladed disk, comprising:

a disk having an outer radial hub extending circumferentially about a rotational axis; and

a plurality of rotor blades, each of the plurality of rotor blades having an airfoil, the airfoil extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the airfoil extending spanwise between a base end and a blade tip, and each of the plurality of rotor blades comprising

a damper pocket extending into the airfoil from the base end, the damper pocket provided with a first tapered configuration;

a damper body disposed within the damper pocket, the damper body provided with a second tapered configuration, wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body mates with the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket; and

a plug securing the damper body within the damper pocket;

wherein the first tapered configuration of the damper pocket (DP) includes a DP top side surface and a single DP side surface that extends circumferentially and extends spanwise from the base end to the DP top side surface, and converges in a direction from the base end to the DP top side surface; and

wherein the second tapered configuration of the damper body (DB) includes a DB top side surface, a DB bottom side surface, and a single DB side surface that extends circumferentially and extends between the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface, and converges in a direction from the DB bottom side surface to the DB top side surface; and

wherein the damper pocket and the damper body are disposable in an engaged configuration wherein the DB top side surface is spaced apart from the DP top side surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: MCCASLIN, LUCAS O.; BONARRIGO, STEPHEN B.
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071860/0105 →
Continuity (2)
Division 18400695 · Dec 29, 2023
Related Publication 20250354497A1 · Nov 20, 2025
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