Patent ID: 8596071

Claim:
A method for assembling a gas turbine engine combustor, said method comprising: providing a heat shield defined by a perimeter, the perimeter including a radially inner edge, an opposing radially outer edge, a first axial edge, an opposing second axial edge, and an opening that extends from an upstream surface of the heat shield to a downstream surface of the heat shield, wherein said downstream surface extends arcuately and convexly from said opening to said perimeter and said perimeter is downstream of the opening; coupling an outer edge of the opening of the heat shield to a domeplate such that the perimeter of the heat shield is positioned a distance downstream from the outer edge of the opening, wherein the heat shield is sealingly coupled to the domeplate along at least one of the radially inner and radially outer edges of the perimeter; and coupling at least one mixer assembly to the domeplate such that a portion of the mixer assembly extends through the opening.