Abstract: An improvement in the inner tip support of variable inlet guide vanes in an axial flow compressor. Each of the guide vanes is rotatably mounted on a spindle at its radially outer end so that it can pivot between an open and a closed position. The improvement comprises a bushing disposed in the casing radially inward of each of said guide vanes, and a button on the end of each of said guide vanes contained within and forming clearances with the bushing walls, the button being eccentrically offset with respect to the guide vane spindle by a preselected amount and in a preselected direction to cause the button to provide restraining force on the vane inner ends when the vanes are in an open position.

Abstract: A dovetail of a rotor blade is preferentially remove to thereby modify the support given to the root of a rotor blade. The modified support changes the vibrational characteristics of the rotor blade for reducing the tendency toward crack initiation. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more damping masses are fitted into the dovetail slot within the removed portion of the dovetail. The damping masses are loaded outward against the base of the rotor blade by centrifugal force and frictionally damp some of the vibrational energy of the rotor blade.