Patent ID: 8485785

Claim:
A turbine airfoil support system, comprising: a rotor assembly formed from at least one disk steeple extending radially outward from a rotational axis of the rotor assembly, wherein the at least one disk steeple includes a plurality of lateral serrations extending laterally from the at least one disk steeple to retain a generally elongated, turbine airfoil in position; the generally elongated, hollow airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip section at a first end, a root coupled to the airfoil at an end generally opposite the first end for supporting the airfoil and for coupling the airfoil to the at least one disk steeple, and a platform extending generally orthogonally from the generally elongated, hollow airfoil at the intersection between the root and the leading edge; a radial biasing spring positioned between a radially outermost point of the at least one disk steeple and a radially inner surface of the platform; wherein the radial biasing spring is formed from a first flat member with a disk steeple engaging surface, a second flat member with a blade platform engaging surface, and a bent biasing section extending from the first flat member to the second flat member and biasing the first and second flat members away from each other and into contact with the platform and the at least one disk steeple, wherein an end of the first flat member opposite the biasing section is axially aligned with an end of the second flat member; and a stress reducing member extending from the end of the second flat member toward the end of the first flat member such that the stress reducing member extends generally orthogonally to the second flat member and terminates in close proximity to the first flat member such that centrifugal forces developed during steady state operation of the turbine engine causes the stress reducing member to contact the first flat member in close proximity to an end of the first flat member and allow only limited movement, thereby enabling the radial biasing spring to retain its shape and not be subjected to undue stress.