Patent ID: 7534089

Claim:
A turbine airfoil, comprising: a generally elongated hollow airfoil formed from an outer wall, and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, an outer endwall at a first end, an inner endwall at a second end opposite the first end; at least one leading edge cooling chamber extending generally spanwise along the leading edge of the generally elongated hollow airfoil; a cooling system in the outer wall of the hollow airfoil, comprising: at least one suction side serpentine cooling chamber comprising first and second suction side legs generally aligned with each other and positioned generally spanwise in the outer wall forming the suction side, wherein a first suction side leg receives cooling fluids from a cooling fluid supply source and a second suction side leg of the suction side serpentine cooling chamber is positioned between the first suction side leg and the leading edge of the generally elongated airfoil; and at least one pressure side serpentine cooling chamber comprising first and second pressure side legs generally aligned with each other and positioned generally spanwise in the outer wall forming the pressure side, wherein a first pressure side leg receives cooling fluids from a cooling fluid supply source and a second pressure side leg of the pressure side serpentine cooling chamber is positioned between the first pressure side leg and the leading edge of the generally elongated airfoil; at least one vortex forming orifice in the outer wall that places the suction side serpentine cooling chamber in communication with the at least one leading edge cooling chamber such that at least one vortex may form in the at least one leading edge cooling chamber when cooling fluids flow from the suction side serpentine cooling chamber into the at least one leading edge cooling chamber, and further comprising at least one vortex forming orifice in the outer wall that places the pressure side serpentine cooling chamber in communication with the at least one leading edge cooling chamber such that at least one vortex may form in the at least one leading edge cooling chamber when cooling fluids flow from the pressure side serpentine cooling chamber into the at least one leading edge cooling chamber.