Patent ID: 8894370

Claim:
A retention system for use in assembling a turbine stator blade dovetail in an axially-oriented, mating dovetail slot provided in a circumferentially-extending retaining ring secured within a circumferentially-extending slot in a casing, the retention system comprising: a first retention slot formed in the blade dovetail; a second circumferentially-extending retention slot formed in the circumferentially-extending retaining ring substantially transverse to said dovetail slot, said second circumferentially-extending retention slot in open communication with said first retention slot, wherein the first retention slot is positioned such that it is radially aligned with said second circumferentially-extending retention slot when the turbine blade dovetail is assembled in the mating dovetail slot; and a circumferentially-extending locking member having a cross-sectional shape substantially corresponding to said second circumferentially-extending retention slot disposed in said second circumferentially-extending retention slot radially between said retaining ring and said casing, and projecting radially into said first retention slot, wherein said circumferentially-extending locking member is interference fitted in said first retention slot and said second circumferentially-extending retention slot, with clearance between said circumferentially-extending locking member and an outer surface of said circumferentially-extending retaining ring.