Variable geometry swirler

Claim 1

A variable swirler assembly for controlling air swirl into the inlet of a combustor having fuel supplied thereto by a pump operative in accordance with turbine engine operation comprising an open ended tubular member having one end thereof for connection to the inlet of a combustor, said tubular member having a wall with a plurality of inflow passages therethrough to direct an air swirl into the combustor inlet, a variable geometry element supported on the outer periphery of said tubular member in overlying relationship with said inflow passages to control air flow therethrough, a nozzle directed through the opposite end of said tubular member including an inboard peripheral surface and an outboard stem portion, an actuator supported on said nozzle between said inboard peripheral surface and said outboard stem portion, said actuator including a first wall portion fixedly secured to said stem, a second movable portion on said actuator, means for connecting said movable wall portion to said sleeve for rotating it with respect to said inflow passages, said nozzle having a fuel passage therein, said pump increasing fuel flow through said passage in accordance with engine operation, means forming a variable volume chamber in said actuator including a port for receiving fuel from said fuel passage to produce relative movement between said first portion and said movable portion to shift said variable geometry element with respect to said inflow passages to produce an incresed amount of air swirl into said inlet in accordance with increases in fuel flow through said nozzle thereby to improve mixture of air and increasing quantities of fuel flow to the combustor during engine operation.