Variable stator vane assembly with magnetic actuation rotor for gas turbine engines

A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, the vane assembly comprising

• a first plurality of vanes configured to each rotate about a first vane pitch axis, and
• a first actuator assembly including a first annular ring coupled to the first plurality of vanes, a first magnet arranged on the first annular ring, a second magnet arranged on the first annular ring radially inward and spaced apart from the first magnet, and a first stator spaced apart from the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the first stator is arranged radially between the first magnet and the second magnet,
• wherein the first annular ring is configured to rotate at least one first vane of the first plurality of vanes about the corresponding first vane pitch axis in response to rotation of the first annular ring about the central axis, and
• wherein the first stator is configured to create a magnetic field which causes annular movement of the first annular ring via interaction with the first magnet, wherein a current is selectively applied to the first stator such that the first stator is configured to incrementally rotate the first magnet and the first annular ring about the central axis in both a first circumferential direction and a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction, and wherein the at least one first vane is configured to be incrementally rotated about the first vane pitch axis to distinct rotational positions via the incremental rotation of the first annular ring.

A method, comprising

• providing a first plurality of vanes extending radially outward relative to a central axis of a gas turbine engine, each vane configured to rotate about a first vane pitch axis that extends radially relative to the central axis,
• providing a first actuator assembly including a first annular ring, a first magnet, and a first stator,
• arranging the first annular ring radially outward of the first plurality of vanes, the first annular ring including a hollow outer housing defining an interior cavity of the first annular ring,
• coupling the first annular ring to at least one first vane of the first plurality of vanes,
• arranging the first magnet on within the interior cavity of the first annular ring, and
• arranging the first stator outside of the hollow outer housing of the annular ring and in spaced apart relation to the first magnet, the first stator configured to electromagnetically interact with the first magnet, wherein the first annular ring is configured to rotate the at least one first vane about the corresponding first vane pitch axis in response to rotation of the first annular ring about the central axis and the first stator is configured to selectively rotate the first magnet and first annular ring about the central axis,
• wherein the first stator is configured to create a magnetic field which causes annular movement of the first annular ring via interaction with the first magnet.