Attachment means

Claim 1

Attachment means for a liner that includes a generally cylindrically shaped shell and a plurality of axial and circumferential segmented panels mounted in parallel relationship but spaced to permit the flow of cooling air therebetween, including a post extending radially from the panel through an aperture formed in said shell extending beyond the surface of said shell, said post having a larger diameter portion extending a predetermined distance from said shell and a smaller diameter threaded portion adjacent said larger diameter portion, a self-locking nut adapted to be threaded to said threaded portion of said post to bottom the top surface of said larger diameter portion of said post, a flexible resilient wire cylindrically shaped bushing surrounding said larger diameter portion between said surface of said shell and said self-locking nut, said flexible resilient wire cylindrically shaped bushing being dimensioned so that it extends beyond the larger diameter portion in the unthreaded position so that displacement of said self-locking nut to secure said panel to said shell compresses said bushing a predetermined amount, said flexible resilient wire cylindrically shaped bushing having an upper face for receiving said self-locking nut and an under face for overlying a portion of said cylindrically shaped shell, whereby the panels are movable axially and circumferentially relative to said shell when expanded due to thermals and said bushing preloads said nut, and self-locking nut includes an upper slotted portion that forms fingers that applies a radial force to said post when in the threaded position.