Abstract: Swivel dovetail connections, such as a tangential entry, straight axial entry or curved axial entry dovetails, for connecting a blade and a rotor wheel in a turbomachine are disclosed. A modified shape of dovetail contact surfaces creates a swivel dovetail connection between blades and rotor wheels, and allows limited motion of blades relative to wheels, while still maintaining the structural connection between blades and wheels. The swivel dovetail connection is achieved by providing concave or convex dovetail contact surfaces between a rotor wheel and a blade such that the contact surfaces lie along a common substantially toroidal arc, an axially extending, substantially cylindrical arc, or a substantially frusto-conical arc.

Abstract: Swivel dovetail connections, such as a tangential entry, straight axial entry or curved axial entry dovetails, for connecting a blade and a rotor wheel in a turbomachine are disclosed. A modified shape of dovetail contact surfaces creates a swivel dovetail connection between blades and rotor wheels, and allows limited motion of blades relative to wheels, while still maintaining the structural connection between blades and wheels. The swivel dovetail connection is achieved by providing concave or convex dovetail contact surfaces between a rotor wheel and a blade such that the contact surfaces lie along a common substantially toroidal arc, an axially extending, substantially cylindrical arc, or a substantially frusto-conical arc.

Abstract: A blade includes a body including an airfoil section, a root at an end of the body for coupling the blade to a hub, a first mid-span structure portion extending from the body, and a second mid-span structure portion extending from the body. The first and second mid-span structure portions extend from the body in an asymmetrical manner. A structure includes a bladed wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending from a hub, and a set of mid-span structures coupling adjacent blades of the plurality of circumferentially spaced blades. The set of mid-span structures are positioned in a non-uniform radial position arrangement.