Forward sleeve retainer plate and method

A gas turbine combustor section comprising:

• a transition piece including a transition piece body and an impingement sleeve disposed in surrounding relation thereto, said impingement sleeve comprising at least first and second impingement parts abutting along a split seam;
• a combustion piece comprised of a combustion liner and a flow sleeve disposed in surrounding relation thereto;
• and
• a retainer member disposed to overlie at least a portion of a length of said split seam, said retainer member being welded to said impingement sleeve, said retainer member having first and second axial end edges and first and second side edges, said side edges being disposed generally in parallel with said split seam and said axial end edges being disposed substantially transverse to said split seam, and wherein at least one of said axial end edges of said retainer member has a cutout denned therein so that the axial end edge is comprised of two linear portions, each of which is substantially transverse to said longitudinal junction, and said cutout extending between the two linear portions, the cutout being configured to include curved portions extending directly from each said linear portion, said retainer member being disposed so that said cutout generally overlies said split seam.

In a combustor section, a forward sleeve disposed to substantially encircle a leading end of an impingement sleeve, the impingement sleeve being comprised of first and second impingement sleeve parts abutted along a longitudinal junction thereof;

• and a retainer member disposed to overlie at least a portion of said longitudinal junction, said retainer member being welded to at least one of said forward sleeve and said impingement sleeve, said retainer member having first and second axial end edges and first and second side edges, said side edges being disposed generally in parallel with said longitudinal junction and said axial end edges being disposed substantially transverse to said longitudinal junction,
• wherein at least one of said axial end edges of said retainer member has a cutout defined therein, said retainer member being disposed and welded so that said cutout generally overlies said longitudinal junction,
• wherein said cutout is substantially continuously curved from said axial end edge of said retainer member to a base of said cutout, and
• wherein said base of said cutout is substantially parallel to said axial end edge.