Patent ID: 7134286

Claim:
A gas turbine combustor floating collar assembly for receiving a fuel nozzle swirler body, the combustor having a nozzle opening defined in a dome thereof, the swirler body having an abutment shoulder extending therearound, the assembly comprising: a mounting arrangement including a mounting flange spaced apart from the dome and circumscribing the opening, the flange fixedly bonded to the dome, and a cap spaced apart in an axial direction relative to the combustor from the mounting flange, the cap fixedly bonded to the mounting flange; and a floating collar slidably trapped between the mounting flange and the cap such that relative axial movement is substantially restrained but relative radial movement is permitted, the collar having a central aperture alignable with the dome opening and adapted for axial sliding engagement with the nozzle body, wherein the floating collar cannot be released from the mounting arrangement and the mounting arrangement cannot be released from the combustor without damaging at least one of the combustor, the mounting arrangement and the floating collar.