Patent ID: 8376695

Claim:
A vane ring assembly, comprising: a lower vane ring ( 20 ); an upper vane ring ( 30 ); one or more guide vanes ( 80 ) pivotably mounted at least partially between said lower and upper vane rings; one or more fasteners for fastening said upper vane ring relative to said lower vane ring; at least one spacer ( 50 ) positioned between said lower and upper vane rings ( 20 , 30 ) for maintaining a distance between said lower and upper vane rings ( 20 , 30 ), wherein said spacer is a stepped spacer with a spacer body section ( 56 ) with a spacer outer diameter, and with first and second ends ( 52 , 54 ) having outer diameters smaller than said spacer body section ( 56 ) outer diameter, and wherein at least said first and second ends ( 52 , 54 ) of said spacer ( 50 ) are seated in first and second counter bores ( 22 , 32 ) formed in said lower and upper vane rings ( 20 , 30 ).