General Electric Company
BLADES HAVING TIP POCKETS

Abstract:

A rotor blade for use in a turbine of a combustion turbine engine comprises an airfoil, which includes a concave pressure and a convex suction sidewall extending axially between corresponding leading and trailing edges and radially between base and outboard tip end. The rotor blade further including at least one mid-span shroud engages a corresponding mid-span shroud on at least one neighboring rotor blade. The airfoil includes an inboard region between the at least one mid-span shroud and base of the blade-and an outboard region between at least one mid-span shroud and outward tip. The outboard region includes at least two cavities extending from the outboard tip end inboard toward the at least one mid-span shroud; and inboard of the at least one mid-span shroud, the inboard region is substantially solid.