Patent ID: 7665968

Claim:
A rotor blade, comprising: a root; a hollow airfoil having 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 disposed within the cavity, which configuration includes a first passage disposed contiguous with the leading edge, extending along the leading edge, a second passage adjacent the first passage and separated from the first passage by a rib, and an axially extending third passage disposed adjacent the tip, wherein the first passage is connected to the third passage, and wherein the third passage includes an opening disposed at the trailing edge of the airfoil, and the second passage is connected to the third passage by an orifice disposed in a rib separating the second passage and the third passage; and a conduit disposed within the root that is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the first passage and second passage, wherein the conduit provides the primary path into the first passage and second passage.