Auxiliary Cleaning System for Gas Turbine Engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017239692-A1
Application number	US-201615047737-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an auxiliary cleaning system for cleaning a gas turbine engine. The auxiliary cleaning system includes an external motoring source mechanically coupled to one or more engine shafts of the gas turbine engine. Thus, the external motoring source is configured to turn the one or more shafts. The auxiliary cleaning system also includes a cleaning apparatus configured to implement a cleaning procedure on the gas turbine engine while the external motoring source is turning the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An auxiliary cleaning system for cleaning a gas turbine engine, the motoring system comprising:
an external motoring source mechanically coupled to one or more engine shafts of the gas turbine engine, the external motoring source being configured to turn the one or more shafts; and a cleaning apparatus configured to implement a cleaning procedure on the gas turbine engine while the external motoring source is turning the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine.

2 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the external motoring source is installed into at least one of a starter of a gearbox of the gas turbine engine or a hand cranking port of the gas turbine engine.

3 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the external motoring source comprises at least one of a crank, a hydraulic motor, an air-driven motor, a water-driven motor, or a gas-powered motor.

4 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the external motoring source is not connected to the gas turbine engine when the gas turbine engine is operating in a normal operating mode.

5 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid delivery apparatus configured to introduce a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the gas turbine engine.

6 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning liquid further comprises a cleaning detergent.

7 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 5 , wherein the fluid delivery apparatus comprises at least one nozzle.

8 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine engine comprises an aircraft engine.

9 . The auxiliary cleaning system of claim 8 , wherein the aircraft engine is installed on an aircraft during the cleaning procedure.

10 . A method for cleaning a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
mechanically coupling an external motoring source to one or more engine shafts of the gas turbine engine, the external motoring source being configured to turn the one or more shafts; turning, via the external motoring source, the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine; and implementing, via a cleaning apparatus, a cleaning procedure on the gas turbine engine while the shafts are turning.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising installing the external motoring source into at least one of a starter of a gearbox of the gas turbine engine or a hand cranking port of the gas turbine engine.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the external motoring source comprises at least one of a crank, a hydraulic motor, an air-driven motor, a water-driven motor, or a gas-powered motor.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising disconnecting the external motoring source from the gas turbine engine when the gas turbine engine is operating in a normal operating mode.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising delivering, via a fluid delivery apparatus of the cleaning apparatus, a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the gas turbine engine.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling a duration of the cleaning procedure.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the gas turbine engine comprises an aircraft engine, wherein the aircraft engine is installed on an aircraft during the cleaning procedure.

17 . A gas turbine engine assembly, the gas turbine engine assembly comprising:
a gas turbine engine having one or more engine shafts; an external motoring source mechanically coupled to the one or more engine shafts, the external motoring source being configured to turn the one or more shafts; and a cleaning apparatus configured to implement a cleaning procedure on the gas turbine engine while the external motoring source is turning the one or more shafts of the gas turbine engine.

18 . The gas turbine engine assembly of claim 17 , wherein the external motoring source is installed into at least one of a starter of a gearbox of the gas turbine engine or a hand cranking port of the gas turbine engine.

19 . The gas turbine engine assembly of claim 17 , wherein the external motoring source comprises at least one of a crank, a hydraulic motor, an air-driven motor, a water-driven motor, or a gas-powered motor.

20 . The gas turbine engine assembly of claim 17 , wherein the external motoring source is not connected to the gas turbine engine when the gas turbine engine is operating in a normal operating mode.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Diwinsky David Scott

Classifications

• B08B9/00

  Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto · CPC title

• F02C3/04

  having a turbine driving a compressor (power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16) · CPC title

• F05D2230/72

  Maintenance · CPC title

• F05D2260/607

  Preventing clogging or obstruction of flow paths by dirt, dust, or foreign particles · CPC title

• F01D25/34

  Turning or inching gear · CPC title