Super telescoping cross-fire tube and method of assembling a combustor structure

Abstract

A super-telescoping cross-fire tube includes a cross-fire tube including a first portion and a second portion in mating engagement, the cross-fire tube extending from a first end region to a second end region for fluidly connecting a combustor chamber and an adjacent combustor chamber. Also included is an outer shield spaced radially outwardly and surrounding at least a portion of the cross-fire tube. Further included is a spring extending from proximate the first end region to the second end region and disposed between the cross-fire tube and the outer shield, wherein the cross-fire tube is telescopingly moveable between a first position and a second position.

1 . A super-telescoping cross-fire tube comprising:
 a cross-fire tube including a first portion and a second portion in mating engagement, the cross-fire tube extending from a first end region to a second end region for fluidly connecting a combustor chamber and an adjacent combustor chamber;   an outer shield spaced radially outwardly and surrounding at least a portion of the cross-fire tube; and   a spring extending from proximate the first end region to the second end region and disposed between the cross-fire tube and the outer shield, wherein the cross-fire tube is telescopingly moveable between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a first collar operably coupled to a combustor assembly component, the first collar including at least one anti-rotation component for engaging a corresponding anti-rotation surface proximate at least one of the first end region and the second end region of the cross-fire tube. 
     
     
         3 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation component comprises a non-planar geometry and the corresponding anti-rotation surface comprises a corresponding non-planar geometry. 
     
     
         4 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 2 , wherein the first collar is operably coupled to the combustor assembly component proximate the first end region, wherein the first collar comprises a plurality of cooling holes for cooling the first end region. 
     
     
         5 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 4 , further comprising a second collar operably coupled to an adjacent combustor assembly component proximate the second end region of the cross-fire tube. 
     
     
         6 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation component comprises a plurality of conical regions, wherein the corresponding anti-rotation surface comprises a plurality of corresponding conical regions. 
     
     
         7 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 2 , wherein the first collar is welded to the combustor assembly component. 
     
     
         8 . The super-telescoping cross-fire tube of  claim 2 , wherein the combustor assembly component comprises at least one of a combustor liner, a sleeve surrounding the combustor liner, and an air shield surrounding the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . A combustor structure for a gas turbine engine comprising:
 a combustor assembly and an adjacent combustor assembly, the combustor assembly comprising a combustor chamber, the adjacent combustor assembly comprising an adjacent combustor chamber;   a first collar operably coupled to the combustor assembly;   a cross-fire tube extending from a first end region disposed adjacent the first collar to a second end region disposed proximate the adjacent combustor assembly; and   a spring extending from proximate the first end region to the second end region and disposed between the cross-fire tube and an outer shield surrounding at least a portion of the cross-fire tube.   
     
     
         10 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-fire tube comprises a first portion and a second portion in mating engagement, the cross-fire tube telescopingly moveable between a first extended position and a second compressed position. 
     
     
         11 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first collar comprises at least one anti-rotation component for engaging a corresponding anti-rotation surface proximate the first end region. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor structure of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation component comprises a non-planar geometry and the corresponding anti-rotation surface comprises a corresponding non-planar geometry. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first collar comprises a plurality of cooling holes for cooling the first end region. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , further comprising a second collar operably coupled to the adjacent combustor assembly proximate the second end region of the cross-fire tube. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor structure of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one anti-rotation component comprises a plurality of conical regions, wherein the corresponding anti-rotation surface comprises a plurality of corresponding conical regions. 
     
     
         16 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first collar is welded to the combustor assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The combustor structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first collar is welded to at least one of a combustor liner, a sleeve surrounding the combustor liner, and an air shield surrounding the sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a combustor structure comprising:
 inserting a first portion of a cross-fire tube into a portion of a combustor assembly;   rotating the first portion of the cross-fire tube to align an anti-rotation surface of the first portion with a corresponding anti-rotation feature of a first collar operably coupled to the combustor assembly;   matably engaging a second portion of the cross-fire tube with the first portion, wherein a spring is positioned from the first portion to the second portion; and   compressing the cross-fire tube from a first position to a second position providing clearance for insertion of an adjacent combustor assembly into the combustor structure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising mechanically fastening the first portion to the combustor assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising extending the cross-fire tube to the first position subsequent to insertion of the adjacent combustor assembly.