Patent ID: 7967554

Claim:
A centrifugal particle separator assembly configured to be coupled between a compressor and turbine blades within a gas turbine, the turbine blades configured to rotate around an axis, the centrifugal particle separator assembly comprising: a particle separator structure having a side facing the axis, the side including a plurality of pocket dividers defining a plurality of pockets, the particle separator structure further defining an entrance cavity for receiving compressed air; and an inner flowpath coupling having a side opposed to the axis that is positioned adjacent the particle separator structure to define an airflow path having an entrance communicating with the entrance cavity and an exit, wherein the diameter of the airflow path decreases from the entrance to the exit; wherein a centrifugal force created by the centrifugal particle separator assembly rotating around the axis and the decreasing diameter of the airflow path forces at least a portion of the particles to collect within the plurality of pockets and the remaining compressed air is provided to cool the turbine blades.