Scalable high pressure compressor variable vane acuation arm

Abstract

A variable vane arm has a hook portion comprising a radially inner leg connected to a radially outer leg by an arcuate connection, and an actuation lever extending from the hook portion. The hook portion and actuation lever are formed from a singular piece of material.

1 . A variable vane arm, comprising:
 a hook portion for attaching the vane arm to the outer trunnion of a vane, comprising a radially inner leg connected to a radially outer leg by an arcuate connection; and   an actuation lever extending from the hook portion, the actuation lever containing an aperture for the reception of a fastener to connect the actuation lever to an actuation mechanism;   wherein the hook portion and actuation lever are formed from a singular piece of material.   
     
     
         2 . The variable vane arm of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a bend between the hook portion and actuation lever. 
 
     
     
         3 . The variable vane arm of  claim 1  wherein the radially inner leg contains a first aperture and the radially outer leg contain a second aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The variable vane arm of  claim 3  wherein the first and second apertures are collinear. 
     
     
         5 . The variable vane arm of  claim 4  wherein the first aperture contains different dimensions that the second aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The variable vane arm of  claim 3  wherein the first aperture and the second aperture each contain different dimensions a radially inner surface than a radially outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The variable vane arm of  claim 3  wherein the radially inner leg contains a cut out portion adjacent one edge. 
     
     
         8 . The variable vane arm of  claim 3  wherein the radially outer leg contains a third aperture between the second aperture and the arcuate support. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 cutting a blank from a sheet of material;   bending the blank in a first position to create a vane arm having a hook portion with two generally parallel legs, and an actuation lever extending from the hook portion;   providing a fixture designed to be placed between the two generally parallel legs to support the vane arm during additional fabrication;   machining a first aperture through a first generally parallel leg; and   machining a second aperture through the second generally parallel leg, the first aperture and the second aperture being collinear about an axis.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 fabricating a cut out adjacent an edge of the first generally parallel leg. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 bending the vane arm in a second position. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 fabricating an aperture in the blank adjacent an end opposite of the hook portion. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 connecting a vane to the vane arm. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 connecting the vane arm to a sync ring. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 rotating the vane arm about a radial axis by moving the sync ring with an actuation system.