Variable stator vane with separate guide disk

Claim 1

A variable vane assembly for a gas turbine engine having a generally annular casing defining an inner surface comprising: a) a vane having: i) an airfoil portion having an airfoil shaped cross-sectional configuration, the airfoil portion defining an end; ii) a strip member formed integrally with the airfoil portion and located on the end of the airfoil portion, the strip member having a generally parallelepiped configuration with opposite sides extending generally parallel to the chord of the airfoil portion; and, iii) a control rod extending from the end of the vane, the control rod defining a pivot axis; b) a generally circular disk member located on the vane defining an opening to accommodate passage of the control rod therethrough and defining a generally diametrically extending groove adapted to accept the generally parallelepiped strip member of the vane therein such that pivotal movement of the vane about the pivot axis causes pivotal movement of the disk member, wherein the length of the strip member is substantially equal to a diameter of the disk member; c) an opening defined by the engine casing to pivotally accept the control rod; and, d) a recess defined by the engine casing generally aligned with the opening to pivotally accept the disk member.