Combustor floating collar assembly

Abstract

A combustor floating collar assembly having a floating collar disposed about an opening in an outer surface of a combustor liner. The floating collar is displaceable relative to the outer surface. A retention plate is attached to the outer surface of the combustor liner and traps the floating collar between the outer surface and the retention plate. At least a portion of the retention plate engages the floating collar and biases it toward the outer surface.

1 . A combustor floating collar assembly, comprising:
 a floating collar disposed about an opening in an outer surface of a combustor liner, the floating collar being displaceable relative to the outer surface; and   a retention plate attached to the outer surface of the combustor liner, the retention plate trapping the floating collar between the outer surface and the retention plate, at least a portion of the retention plate engaging a portion of the floating collar and biasing the floating collar toward the outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retention plate includes a substantially planar middle portion extending radially outwardly to an attachment portion being attached to the outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 2 , wherein retention plate includes an inner biasing portion extending radially inwardly from the substantially planar middle portion, the inner biasing portion extending toward the outer surface and contacting the floating collar. 
     
     
         4 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said inner biasing portion of the retention plate contacting the floating collar is curved toward the outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment portion is curved toward the outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment portion of the retention plate is fixedly attached to the outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment portion of the retention plate is welded to the outer surface. 
     
     
         8 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the floating collar is positioned on an annular boss of the outer surface, the retention plate including a substantially planar middle portion extending radially outward to an attachment portion being attached to the boss. 
     
     
         9 . The floating collar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of the retention plate which engages the portion of the floating collar prevents displacement of the floating collar in a direction normal to the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . A gas turbine engine combustor, comprising:
 an annular combustion chamber defined by a combustor liner, the combustor liner having a plurality of openings therein extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the combustor liner;   a plurality of floating collars each disposed about one of the openings in the outer surface of the combustor liner, each floating collar being displaceable relative to the outer surface; and   a plurality of retention plates attached to the outer surface, each retention plate trapping a corresponding one of the floating collars between the outer surface and the retention plate, at least a portion of each retention plate engaging a portion of the floating collar and biasing the floating collar toward the outer surface.   
     
     
         11 . The combustor of  claim 10 , wherein each retention plate includes a substantially planar portion middle extending radially outwardly to an attachment portion being fixedly attached to the outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor of  claim 11 , wherein the retention plate includes an inner biasing portion extending radially inwardly from the substantially planar middle portion, the substantially planar middle portion and the inner biasing portion overlaying the floating collar, the inner biasing portion extending toward the outer surface and contacting the floating collar. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor of  claim 12 , wherein the inner biasing portion of the retention plate contacting the floating collar is curved toward the outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor of  claim 10 , wherein each floating collar is positioned on an annular boss of the outer surface, the corresponding retention plate including a substantially planar middle portion extending radially outwardly to an attachment portion being fixedly attached to the boss. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one igniter or at least one fuel nozzle, said nozzle or fuel nozzle being inserted through a corresponding one of the openings, and engaging a corresponding floating collar. 
     
     
         16 . A method for installing an annular floating collar about an opening in a liner of a gas turbine engine combustor, comprising:
 positioning the floating collar on an outer surface of the liner, the floating collar being displaceable with respect to the outer surface;   attaching a retention plate to the outer surface to trap the floating collar between the outer surface and the retention plate; and   biasing the floating collar toward the outer surface with at least a portion of the retention plate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein biasing the floating collar toward the outer surface includes compressive loading the floating collar with said portion of the retention plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein compressive loading the floating collar includes increasing a shear restraint of the floating collar in a plane of the outer surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein biasing the floating collar includes welding the retention plate to the outer surface to engage the floating collar with said portion of the retention plate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting a fuel nozzle or an igniter through the opening in the liner to engage the floating collar, and removing the fuel nozzle or the igniter from the opening while maintaining in place the floating collar and retention plate.