Patent ID: 6994518

Claim:
An apparatus for generating pre-whirl of supply air to an inlet ( 18 ) of a radial compressor ( 12 - 22 ) comprising: a housing ( 28 ) for said pre-whirl generating apparatus ( 26 ), said housing ( 28 ) being mounted adjacent to said inlet ( 18 ) of said compressor ( 12 - 22 ) and forming an intake channel ( 34 ) for supply air in communication with and leading to said inlet ( 18 ). a deformable air deflecting vane ( 46 ) positioned in said channel ( 34 ), said vane ( 46 ) having a leading edge ( 60 ) and a trailing edge ( 62 ), said leading edge ( 60 ) being fixed in said channel ( 34 ), and said trailing edge ( 62 ) being free to be deflected with respect to said channel ( 34 ) to deflect air passing through said channel ( 34 ); and means for selectively deflecting said trailing edge ( 62 ) of said vane ( 46 ) so that said vane ( 46 ) will deflect air passing through said channel ( 34 ) to generate a pre-whirl flow in either a positive, neutral, or negative direction at said inlet ( 18 ) of said compressor ( 12 - 22 ), wherein said means for deflecting said vane ( 46 ) is an annular ring ( 30 ) within said housing ( 28 ) arranged to rotate around said channel ( 34 ) in a plane perpendicular to the direction of said air passing through said channel ( 34 ), said ring ( 30 ) being in contact with said vane ( 46 ) to mechanically deflect said vane ( 46 ) either in a positive or negative pre-whirl direction in response to rotation of said ring ( 30 ) around said channel ( 34 ), wherein said ring ( 30 ) has at least two tabs extending radially inwardly to receive said vane ( 46 ) therebetween and to effect deflection of said vane ( 46 ) upon rotation of said ring ( 30 ).