Apparatus for assembling gas turbine engine combustors

Abstract

A method for assembling a gas turbine engine combustor facilitates reducing costs and time required for assembly. The combustor includes a spectacle plate, a plurality of swirlers, and a plurality of deflector plates. The method includes coupling an assembly fixture to at least one swirler, coupling the assembly fixture to the spectacle plate such that the swirler is maintained in alignment with respect to the spectacle plate during assembly of the combustor, and attaching the swirler to the spectacle plate.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . An assembly fixture for a gas turbine engine combustor including a spectacle plate, said assembly fixture removably coupled to the spectacle plate during assembly of the combustor for aligning at least one of a plurality of swirlers and a plurality of deflector plates for attachment to the spectacle plate.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 13  comprising a plurality of arms and an attachment mechanism, said fixture arms configured to receive a swirler therebetween, said attachment mechanism configured to removably couple said fixture to the spectacle plate such that said swirler aligned with respect to the spectacle plate.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 14  configured to uncouple from the spectacle plate after the swirler is secured in position to the spectacle plate.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 13  configured to align each respective deflector plate with respect to the spectacle plate such that each swirler attached to the spectacle is substantially concentrically aligned with respect to a center opening extending through each deflector plate.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 16  wherein each fixture comprises a clip configured to extend between a pair of circumferentially positioned deflector plates for aligning each deflector plate with respect to the spectacle plate.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 17  wherein each said assembly fixture is configured to uncouple from the spectacle plate after each respective pair of deflector plates is secured in position to the spectacle plate.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly fixture in accordance with  claim 17  wherein each said assembly fixture is configured to remain coupled to the spectacle plate while each respective pair of deflector plates is brazed to the spectacle plate.