US Patent 7665968 Cooled rotor blade

A rotor blade is provided that includes a root and a hollow airfoil. The hollow airfoil has a cavity defined by a suction side wall, a pressure side wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base, and a tip. An internal passage configuration is disposed within the cavity. The configuration includes a passage disposed adjacent the leading edge, and an axially extending passage disposed adjacent the tip. The first passage is connected to the second passage. The second passage includes an opening disposed at the trailing edge of the airfoil. A conduit is disposed within the root that is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the leading edge passage, wherein the conduit provides the primary path into the leading edge passage.