THERMALLY COMPLIANT GROMMET ASSEMBLY

A thermally compliant grommet assembly 101 for a combustor includes first 80;82 and second 76;78 shells spaced apart from one another and a grommet 201 having a tubular portion 126 projecting into a hole 120 in the second 76;78 shell and defining a bore 132 in fluid communication through the first 80;82 and second 76;78 shells. The grommet 102 further has an oblong flange portion 128 extending circumferentially around and projecting outward from the tubular portion 126. The oblong flange portion 128 is located between and is in sealing contact with the first 80;82 and second 76;78 shells. At least one of the first 80;82 and second 76;78 shells is constructed and arranged to move between cold and hot states and generally along a thermal displacement path (162). The oblong flange portion 128 is generally elongated along the path (162) to maintain sealing contact with at least one of the shells as the shells move between the hot and cold states.