Fuel swirler with anti-rotation features

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a combustor;
• a fuel nozzle configured to deliver fuel into the combustor;
• and
• a swirler assembly defining a longitudinal axis and coupled around a distal end of the fuel nozzle, the swirler assembly comprising:
• a swirler having a forward swirler surface, the forward swirler surface defining a guide plate recession and an annular wall portion circumferentially surrounding the guide plate recession;
• a guide plate coupled within the guide plate recession of the swirler and comprising a first axial void defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, through a portion of the guide plate, the guide plate being circumferentially surrounded by the annular wall portion of the forward swirler surface;
• a retaining ring coupled to the guide plate, the retaining ring comprising a second axial void being defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, into the retaining ring;
• and
• a retaining element defining an axial protrusion extending forward from the forward swirler surface,
• wherein the axial protrusion is coupled within the first axial void and the second axial void, and
• wherein the retaining element is configured to at least partially resist rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler.

A swirler assembly, comprising:

• a swirler having a forward swirler surface axially opposite an aft swirler surface, wherein the swirler comprises a guide plate recession defining a recess on the forward swirler surface and a retaining element extending in an axial direction from the forward swirler surface;
• a guide plate having a forward guide surface axially opposite an aft guide surface, wherein the guide plate is coupled within the guide plate recession of the swirler, and wherein the guide plate comprises a guide retaining recession defining a first void through the forward guide surface;
• and
• a retaining ring having a forward retaining surface axially opposite an aft retaining surface and a retaining ring recession defining a second void through the forward retaining surface, wherein the retaining ring is coupled to the guide plate,
• wherein the retaining element is at least partially inserted into the guide retaining recession and the retaining ring recession to create an interference in the swirler assembly that at least partially resists rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler.