Patent ID: 7144215
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: F01D,F05B,F05D

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a turbine rotor blade, said method comprising: casting a turbine rotor blade including a dovetail, a platform having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a cast-in plenum defined between the outer surface and the inner surface, an airfoil, and at least one channel having an exit positioned in flow communication with the cast-in plenum and an entrance positioned in a dovetail lower surface, wherein the at least one channel extends from the entrance to the cast-in plenum to enable cooling air to flow directly from the entrance into the cast-in plenum; and forming a plurality of openings extending between the cast-in plenum and at least one of the platform inner surface and the platform outer surface, such that the at least one channel facilitates channeling cooling air through the plurality of openings to an exterior surface of the platform.