Fuel nozzle guide structure and retainer for a gas turbine engine

Claim 1

A fuel nozzle guide assembly disposed between a planar bulkhead and a fuel nozzle insertable through an opening in the bulkhead, comprising: a nozzle bushing disposed between the fuel nozzle and the bulkhead, the bushing fitting closely about the fuel nozzle and further defining an annular gap between the bushing and the bulkhead opening; a heat shield, secured to one end of the bushing and extending outward therefrom parallel to the bulkhead and terminating at an outer edge beyond the bulkhead opening; means, disposed between the heat shield and the bulkhead for spacing the heat shield from the bulkhead, the spacing means, bulkhead and heat shield further defining a plurality of flow paths for establishing fluid communication between the annular gap and the outer edge of the heat shield; and an annular retainer, disposed about the bushing opposite the heat shield with respect to the bulkhead and including a flat flange portion extending parallel to the bulkhead, the flat flange portion slidably contacting the bulkhead, the annular retainer further including an inner attachment ring closely fitting about and secured to the other end of the bushing, the retainer having a plurality of flow openings disposed therein adjacent the annular gap for admitting a flowing stream of cooling air directly into the gap.