Patent ID: 7140189

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 fixed to the exterior of the dome immediately adjacent the opening, and a cap spaced apart in an axial direction relative to the combustor from the mounting flange, the cap fixed to the mounting flange; and a sheet metal floating collar comprising an axial extending annular collar portion, an annular flange portion extending radially from the collar portion and a smooth transition portion between the collar and flange portions, the flange portion slidably trapped between the mounting flange and the cap to thereby substantially restrain relative axial movement of the collar relative to the mounting arrangement but permit relative radial movement, the collar portion of the collar having a central aperture adapted for axial sliding engagement with the nozzle body, the aperture being substantially aligned with the dome opening when trapped between the mounting flange and the cap.