Patent ID: 7681403

Claim:
In a combustor section, a forward sleeve disposed to substantially encircle a leading end of an impingement sleeve, the impingement sleeve being comprised of first and second impingement sleeve parts abutted along a longitudinal junction thereof; and a retainer member disposed to overlie at least a portion of said longitudinal junction, said retainer member being welded to at least one of said forward sleeve and said impingement sleeve, said retainer member having first and second axial end edges and first and second side edges, said side edges being disposed generally in parallel with said longitudinal junction and said axial end edges being disposed substantially transverse to said longitudinal junction, wherein at least one of said axial end edges of said retainer member has a cutout defined therein so that the axial end edge is comprised of two linear portions, each of which is substantially transverse to said longitudinal junction, and said cutout extending between the two linear portions, the cutout being configured to include curved portions extending directly from each said linear portion, said retainer member being disposed and welded so that said cutout generally overlies said longitudinal junction.