Patent ID: 8015706

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine combustor having a liner and a dome with an opening therein adapted to receive a fuel nozzle therethrough, the method comprising the steps of: providing an annular sheet metal blank; bending the blank towards a first direction extending along a central axis of the annular metal blank to define a floating collar having an axial extending annular collar portion, an annular flange portion extending radially from the collar portion and a continuously smooth rounded transition portion between the collar and flange portions, the continuously smooth rounded transition portion defining a radius of curvature, the annular collar portion extending axially from the flange portion towards the first direction; providing a mounting arrangement of the dome having a mounting flange and a cap axially spaced apart, the mounting flange being fixed to an exterior of the dome adjacent the opening; and engaging the floating collar to the mounting arrangement such that the annular flange portion is trapped between opposed surfaces of the mounting flange and the cap, the mounting flange and the cap being sufficiently spaced apart to permit radial sliding motion of the floating collar therebetween, the floating collar being engaged such the collar portion extends within or is in alignment with the opening and the first direction extends through the opening toward an interior of the liner.