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 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.