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A turbine in which a turbine wheel is mounted in a housing between an inlet and an outlet. Rotatably mounted vanes are located in the inlet and coupled by linkages to an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes so as to control the angular orientation of the vanes relative to the housing

A turbine in which a turbine wheel is mounted in a housing between an inlet and an outlet. Rotatably mounted vanes are located in the inlet and coupled by linkages to an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes so as to control the angular orientation of the vanes relative to the housing inlet. Each vane is coupled to the actuator by a flexible link, the ends of the link being secured to the vanes and actuator in a manner which prevents relative movement between the link ends and the vane or the actuator. Flexing of the links thus accommodates the rotation of the vanes which results from actuator displacements.

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1. A radial inflow turbine comprising a turbine wheel, a housing in which the wheel is mounted between an inlet and an outlet defined by the housing, a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted in the inlet, an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes and is coupled to each vane such that dis

1. A radial inflow turbine comprising a turbine wheel, a housing in which the wheel is mounted between an inlet and an outlet defined by the housing, a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted in the inlet, an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes and is coupled to each vane such that displacement of the actuator causes the vanes to pivot, wherein each vane is coupled to the actuator by a respective flexible link, each flexible link coupling a single vane to the actuator and being arranged such that said actuator displacement causes the links to flex to pivot the vanes, wherein each link has a first end and a second end, said first end secured to the respective vane to prevent relative movement between the respective vane and said first end and said second end is secured to said actuator to prevent relative movement between said actuator and said second end. 2. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein each of said links extending substantially circumferentially relative to said actuator, and further wherein the turbine is a turbocharger turbine. 3. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein each end of said link is substantially axially aligned with said actuator, and wherein said radial inflow turbine is a turbocharger turbine. 4. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the link ends are secured by rivets. 5. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the link ends are inserted into and secured within slots. 6. A turbine according to any preceding claim, wherein each vane is supported on an axle connected to a crank, each vane crank being coupled to a respective link. 7. A turbine according to claim 6, wherein the actuator is defined by a ring extending around the housing adjacent to the vanes outside the inlet, the links extending between the actuator ring and the vane cranks. 8. A turbine according to claim 5, wherein each vane is supported on an axle and each link is directly coupled to a respective vane axle. 9. A turbine according to claim 8, wherein each link is generally L shaped. 10. A turbine according to claim 9, wherein each flexible link rotates in a direction lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the respective vane. 11. A turbocharger turbine comprising a turbine wheel, a housing in which the wheel is mounted between an inlet and an outlet defined by the housing, a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted in the inlet, an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes and is coupled to each vane such that displacement of the actuator causes the vanes to pivot, each vane being coupled to the actuator by a respective flexible link arranged such that said actuator displacement causes the links to flex to pivot the vanes, wherein each link has one end secured to the respective vane in a manner which prevents relative movement between the vane and said one end and an other end secured to the actuator in a manner which prevents relative movement between the actuator and said other end. 12. A turbine comprising a turbine wheel, a housing in which the wheel is mounted between an inlet and an outlet defined by the housing, a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted in the inlet, an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes and is coupled to each vane such that displacement of the actuator causes the vanes to pivot, wherein said actuator is pivotal about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said turbine, wherein each vane is coupled to the actuator by a respective flexible link, each flexible link coupling a single vane to the actuator and being arranged such that actuator displacement causes the links to flex. 13. A turbine according to claim 12, wherein each link has an end secured to the respective vane in manner which prevents relative movement between the vane and the end secured to the vane. 14. A turbine according to claim 13, wherein each link has an end secured to the actuator in a manner which prevents relative movement between the actuator and the l ink end secured to the actuator. 15. A turbine according to claim 14, wherein the link ends are secured by rivets. 16. A turbine according to claim 14, wherein the link ends are inserted into and secured within slots. 17. A turbine according to claim 16, wherein each vane is supported on an axle and each link is directly coupled to a respective vane axle. 18. A turbine according to claim 17, wherein each link is generally L shaped. 19. A turbine according to claim 18, wherein each flexible link rotates in a direction lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the respective vane. 20. A turbine according to any preceding claim, wherein each vane is supported on an axle connected to a crank, each vane crank being coupled to a respective link. 21. A turbine according to claim 20, wherein the actuator is defined by a ring extending around the housing adjacent to the vanes outside the inlet, the links extending between the actuator ring and the vane cranks. 22. A turbocharger turbine comprising a turbine wheel, a housing in which the wheel is mounted between an inlet and an outlet defined by the housing, a plurality of vanes rotatably mounted in the inlet, an actuator which is displaceable relative to the vanes and is coupled to each vane such that displacement of the actuator causes the vanes to pivot, wherein said actuator is pivotal about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said turbine, each vane being coupled to the actuator by a respective flexible link arranged such that said actuator displacement causes the links to flex to pivot the vanes, wherein each link has one end secured to the respective vane in a manner which prevents relative movement between the vane and said one end and an other end secured to the actuator in a manner which prevents relative movement between the actuator and said other end, and further wherein each of said links extending substantially circumferentialy relative to said actuator and axially aligned with said actuator.