Abstract A blade operative in a fluid environment and, therefore subject to vibration, has inertially-responsive weights movably mounted therein to impact on blade surfaces during vibration to dissipate the vibration energy. In a first embodiment, the invention comprises a pair of inertially-responsive weights mounted to either ends of a shaft for relatively slidable movement within a cross-section of the blade. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a pair of inertially-responsive weights are coupled to opposite ends of a resilient shaft which is disposed through the cross-section of the blade, and the weights swing about an arc to impact on blade surfaces to dissipate the vibration energy.
A vibration-suppressed blade comprising: a blade; and vibration-suppressive means coupled to only said blade, reactively operative in response to vibration of said blade to dissipate said vibration; wherein said vibration-suppressive means includes a plurality of weights and resilient means coupling said weights together; said blade comprises an airfoil; said airfoil has a borehole formed therethrough; said borehole having enlarged recesses formed thereabout at either ends thereof; said coupling means comprise a resilient shaft; said weights are coupled to each end of said shaft; said shaft is securely held in said Borehole at the aerodynamic center of said airfoil; and said weights describe an arc about said center, during blade vibration, and impact with blade surfacing to suppress blade vibration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A vibration-suppressed blade comprising: a blade; and vibration-suppressive means coupled to only said blade, reactively operative in response to vibration of said blade to dissipate said vibration; wherein said vibration-suppressive means includes a plurality of weights and resilient means coupling said weights together; said blade comprises an airfoil; said airfoil has a borehole formed therethrough; said borehole having enlarged recesses formed thereabout at either ends thereof; said coupling means comprise a resilient shaft; said weights are coupled to each end of said shaft; said shaft is securely held in said Borehole at the aerodynamic center of said airfoil; and said weights describe an arc about said center, during blade vibration, and impact with blade surfacing to suppress blade vibration.