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A swirler arrangement for a mixing assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, where the swirler arrangement has a centerline axis therethrough, including: a swirler housing including an outer radial wall and an upstream wall; a first plurality of vanes incorporated into the outer radial wall, where

A swirler arrangement for a mixing assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, where the swirler arrangement has a centerline axis therethrough, including: a swirler housing including an outer radial wall and an upstream wall; a first plurality of vanes incorporated into the outer radial wall, wherein the first plurality of vanes are oriented at a first angle with respect to an axis through the outer radial wall; and, a second plurality of vanes incorporated into the outer radial wall, wherein the second plurality of vanes are oriented at a second angle with respect to the through the outer radial wall. A first type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a first configuration and a second type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a second configuration so that air flowing through the swirler arrangement is swirled in a desirable manner. The axis through the outer radial wall may be oriented either substantially radially to the centerline axis or at an acute angle to the centerline axis.

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What is claimed is: 1. A swirler arrangement for a mixing assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, said swirler arrangement having a centerline axis therethrough, comprising: (a) a swirler housing including an outer radial wall and an upstream wall; (b) a first plurality of vanes incorperated in

What is claimed is: 1. A swirler arrangement for a mixing assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor, said swirler arrangement having a centerline axis therethrough, comprising: (a) a swirler housing including an outer radial wall and an upstream wall; (b) a first plurality of vanes incorperated into said outer radial wall, wherein said first plurality of vanes are oriented at a first angle with respect to an axis through said outer radial wall; and, (c) a second plurality of vanes incorporated into said outer radial wall, wherein said second plurality of vanes are oriented at a second angle with respect to said axis through said outer radial wall different from said first angle; wherein a first type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a first configuration converging from an upstream end to a downstream end and a second type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes having a second configuration diverging from an upstream end to a downstream end so that air flowing through said swirler arrangement is swirled in a desirable manner. 2. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of said first plurality of vanes is oriented at a angle of approximately 20-70° with respect to said axis. 3. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of said second plurality of vanes is oriental at an angle of approximately 20-70° with respect to said axis. 4. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first and second types of passages have a non-uniform width from an upstream end to a downstream end. 5. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of vanes and said second plurality of vanes alternate circumferentially around said swirler housing. 6. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first and second plurality of vanes alternate circumferentially around at least a portion of said swirler housing. 7. The swirler arrangement of claim 6, further comprising a third plurality of vanes incorporated into said outer radial wall and oriented at a third angle with respect to said axis, wherein a third type of passage is defined between adjacent vanes having a third configuration. 8. The swirler arrangement of claim 7, wherein said third passages have a substantially constant width from an upstream end to a downstream end. 9. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein said axis through said outer radial wall is oriented substantially radially to said centerline axis. 10. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, wherein said axis through said outer radial wall is oriented at an acute angle to said centerline axis. 11. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vanes incorporated in said upstream wall of said swirler housing. 12. The swirler arrangement of claim 11, wherein an axis through said upstream wall is oriented substantially parallel to said centerline axis. 13. The swirler arrangement of claim 12, further comprising: (a) a first plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall, wherein said first plurality of vanes are oriented at a first angle with respect to said axis through said upstream wall; and, (b) a second plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall, wherein said second plurality of vanes are oriented at a second angle with respect to said axis through said upstream wall; wherein a first type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes of said upstream wall having a first configuration and a second type of passage is defined between adjacent first and second vanes of said upstream wall having a second configuration so that air flowing through said swirler arrangement is swirled in a desirable manner. 14. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein each of said first plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall is oriented at an angle of approximately 20-70° with respect to said axis through said upstream wall. 15. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein each of said second plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall is oriented at an angle of approximately 20-70° with respect to said axis through said upstream wall. 16. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein said first and second types of passages have a non-uniform width from an upstream end to a downstream end of said upstream wall. 17. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein said first type of passage converges from an upstream end to a downstream end of said upstream wall. 18. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein said second type of passage diverges from an upstream end to a downstream end of said upstream wall. 19. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein said first plurality of vanes and said second plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall alternate circumferentially therearound. 20. The swirler arrangement of claim 13, wherein said first and second plurality of vanes alternate circumferentially around at least part of said upstream wall. 21. The swirler arrangement of claim 20, further comprising a third plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall oriented at a third angle with respect to said axis through said upstream wall, wherein a third type of passage is defined between adjacent vanes having a third configuration. 22. The swirler arrangement of claim 21, wherein said third passages have a substantially constant width from an upstream end to a downstream end of said upstream wall. 23. The swirler arrangement of claim 11, said plurality of vanes incorporated into said upstream wall being configured so that substantially uniform passages are defined between adjacent vanes. 24. The swirler arrangement of claim 1, said first and second plurality of vases being incorporated into said outer radial wall of said swirler housing being positioned within a first specified plane through said outer radial wall. 25. The swirler arrangement of claim 24, further comprising a third plurality of vanes being incorporated into said outer radial wall, wherein said third plurality of vanes are positioned within a second specified plane through said outer radial wall and oriented at a first angle with respect to said axis through said outer radial wall. 26. The swirler arrangement of claim 25, wherein substantially uniform passages are defined between adjacent vanes of said third plurality of vanes. 27. The swirler arrangement of claim 24, further comprising: (a) a third plurality of vanes being incorporated into said outer radial wall, wherein said third plurality of vanes are positioned within a second specified plane through said outer radial wall and oriented at a first angle with respect to said axis through said outer radial wall; and, (b) a fourth plurality of vanes being incorporated into said outer radial wall, wherein said fourth plurality of vanes are positioned within said second specified plane through said outer radial wall and oriented at a second angle with respect to said axis through said outer radial wall; wherein a first type of passage is defined between adjacent third and fourth vanes having a first configuration and a second type of passage is defined between adjacent third and fourth vanes having a second configuration so that air flowing through said swirler arrangement is swirled in a desirable manner.