Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes: a hollow, airfoil-shaped turbine vane; and an arcuate first band disposed at a first end of the turbine vane, the first band having a flowpath face adjacent the turbine vane, and an opposed back face. The back face includes at least one open pocket, the at least one pocket defined in part by a bottom wall recessed from the back face, opposed ends of the bottom wall merging with the back face. The bottom wall is substantially free of interior corners.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes: a hollow, airfoil-shaped turbine vane; and an arcuate first band disposed at a first end of the turbine vane, the first band having a flowpath face adjacent the turbine vane, and an opposed back face. The back face includes at least one open pocket, the at least one pocket defined in part by a bottom wall recessed from the back face, opposed ends of the bottom wall merging with the back face. The bottom wall is substantially free of interior corners.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine. The method comprises providing a rotor assembly including a rotor shaft and a rotor disk that includes a radially outer rim, a radially inner hub, and an integral web extending therebetween, wherein the rotor assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending through the rotor shaft, and coupling a disk retainer including at least one discharge tube to the rotor disk wherein the discharge tube extends outwardly from the disk retainer for pumping the air to a higher pressure before discharging cooling fluid therefrom in a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis of rotation.