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A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes is disclosed. The variable vane assembly may generally include a synchronizing ring and a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring. The variable vane assembly may also include a plurality of lever arms, with

A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes is disclosed. The variable vane assembly may generally include a synchronizing ring and a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring. The variable vane assembly may also include a plurality of lever arms, with each lever arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of each lever arm may be attached to one of the vanes. Additionally, a plurality of rotational attachment devices may be configured to rotatably couple the second end of each lever arm to one of the attachment studs so as to define a rotational interface therebetween. Further, each of the attachments studs may be rigidly attached to one of the rotational attachment devices at the rotational interface such that there is substantially no relative radial and circumferential sliding motion between the synchronizing ring and the plurality of lever arms during rotation of the synchronizing ring.

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1. A compressor for a gas turbine, the compressor comprising: a casing;a plurality of vanes partially disposed within the easing, each of the plurality of vanes including a stem segment extending through the casing; anda variable vane assembly, comprising: a synchronizing ring;a plurality of attachm

1. A compressor for a gas turbine, the compressor comprising: a casing;a plurality of vanes partially disposed within the easing, each of the plurality of vanes including a stem segment extending through the casing; anda variable vane assembly, comprising: a synchronizing ring;a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring;a plurality of lever arms, each of the plurality of lever arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of lever arms being attached to the stem segment of one of the plurality of vanes; anda plurality of rotational attachment devices, each of the plurality of rotational attachment devices being configured to rotatably couple the second end of each of the plurality of lever arms to one of the plurality of attachment studs so as to define rotational interface therebetween,wherein each of the plurality of attachments studs is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of rotational attachment devices adjacent to the rotational interface such that there is substantially no relative radial and circumferential sliding motion between the synchronizing ring and the plurality of lever arms during rotation of the synchronizing ring,wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is coupled between the synchronizing ring and one of the plurality of vanes such that a weight of each vane is supported by one of the plurality of lever arms instead of the casing,wherein each of the plurality of attachment studs includes a middle segment and a shoulder segment, the shoulder segment including a radially outer face extending radially outwardly relative to the middle segment, each of the plurality of rotational attachment devices being supported against the radially outer face of one of the plurality of attachment studs. 2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of attachments studs is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of rotational attachment devices such that there is substantially no relative motion between the synchronizing ring and the rotational interface during rotation of the synchronizing ring. 3. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rotational attachment devices comprises a plurality of bearings, each of the plurality of bearings comprising an inner component and an outer component configured to rotate relative to the inner component. 4. The compressor of claim 3, wherein the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of attachment studs such that there is substantially no relative motion between the synchronizing ring and the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings during rotation of the synchronizing ring. 5. The compressor of claim 3, wherein the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of attachment studs using a threaded retaining device. 6. The compressor of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is cantilevered such that the synchronizing ring is at least partially suspended over the casing of the compressor. 7. A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes, the variable vane assembly comprising: a synchronizing ring;a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring, each of the plurality of attachment studs including a middle segment and a shoulder segment, the shoulder segment including a radially outer face extending radially outwardly relative to the middle segment;a plurality of lever arms, each of the plurality of lever arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of lever arms being attached to one of the plurality of vanes; anda plurality of rotational attachment devices, each of the plurality of rotational attachment devices being configured to rotatably couple the second end of each of the plurality of lever arms to the middle segment of one of the plurality of attachment studs so as to define a rotational interface therebetween, each of the plurality of rotational attachment devices being supported against the radially outer face of the shoulder segment of one of the plurality of attachment studs,wherein each of the plurality of attachment studs is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of rotational attachment devices adjacent to the rotational interface such that there is substantially no relative radial and circumferential sliding motion between the synchronizing ring and the plurality of lever arms during rotation of the synchronizing ring,wherein the shoulder segment is configured such that, when each of the plurality of lever arms is rotatably coupled to the middle segment of one of the plurality of attachment devices, a gap is defined between each lever arm and an adjacent surface of the synchronizing ring. 8. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of attachments studs is rigidly attached to one of the plurality of rotational attachment devices such that there is substantially no relative motion between the synchronizing ring and the rotational interface during rotation of the synchronizing ring. 9. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of rotational attachment devices comprises a plurality of bearings, each of the plurality of bearings comprising an inner component and an outer component configured to rotate relative to the inner component. 10. The variable vane assembly of claim 9, wherein the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings is rigidly attached to the middle segment of one of the plurality of attachment studs such that there is substantially no relative motion between the synchronizing ring and the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings during rotation of the synchronizing ring. 11. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is cantilevered such that the synchronizing ring is at least partially suspended over a casing of the compressor. 12. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is flexed radially outwardly between its first and second ends. 13. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms defines a tapered profile over at least a portion of its length. 14. The variable vane assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is coupled between the synchronizing ring and one of the plurality of vanes such that a weight of each vane is supported by one of the plurality of lever arms. 15. A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes, the variable vane assembly comprising: a synchronizing ring;a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring;a plurality of lever arms, each of the plurality of lever arms having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of lever arms being attached to one of the plurality of vanes; anda plurality of bearings, each of the plurality of bearings including an inner component and an outer component configured to rotate relative to the inner component, the outer component of each of the plurality of bearings being mounted to the second end of one of the plurality of lever arms,wherein each of the plurality of attachments studs is rigidly attached to the inner component of one of the plurality of bearings such that there is substantially no relative motion between the synchronizing ring and the inner component of each of the plurality of bearings during rotation of the synchronizing ring,wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is coupled between the synchronizing ring and one of the plurality of vanes such that a weight of each vane is supported by one of the plurality of lever arms,wherein each of the plurality of attachment studs includes a middle segment and a shoulder segment, the shoulder segment including a radially outer face extending radially outwardly relative to the middle segment, each of the plurality of rotational attachment devices being supported against the radially outer face of one of the plurality of attachment studs. 16. The variable vane assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is cantilevered such that the synchronizing ring is at least partially suspended over a casing of the compressor. 17. The variable vane assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of lever arms is flexed radially outwardly between its first and second ends. 18. The variable vane assembly of claim 15, wherein the shoulder segment is configured such that, when each of the plurality of lever arms is rotatably coupled to one of the plurality of attachment devices, a gap is defined between each lever arm and an adjacent surface of the synchronizing ring.