Patent Description:
Typical aircraft propulsion systems include one or more gas turbine engines. For certain propulsion systems, the gas turbine engines generally include a fan and a core arranged in flow communication with one another. Additionally, the core of the gas turbine engine generally includes, in serial flow order, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. In operation, air is provided from the fan to an inlet of the compressor section where one or more axial compressors progressively compress the air until it reaches the combustion section. Fuel is mixed with the compressed air and burned within the combustion section to provide combustion gases. The combustion gases are routed from the combustion section to the turbine section. The flow of combustion gasses through the turbine section drives the turbine section and is then routed through the exhaust section, e.g., to atmosphere.

During operation, a substantial amount of air is ingested by such gas turbine engines. However, such air may contain foreign particles. A majority of the foreign particles will follow a gas path through the engine and exit with the exhaust gases. However, at least certain of these particles may stick to certain components within the gas turbine engine's gas path, potentially changing aerodynamic properties of the engine and reducing engine performance.

In order to remove such foreign particles from within the gas path of the gas turbine engine, water or other liquids may be directed towards an inlet of the gas turbine engine, while the core engine is cranked using, e.g., a starter motor. Such movement may enhance the wash results by mechanical engagement between the water and components. Additionally, such rotation may also urge the water through the engine and out the exhaust section.

<CIT> relates to a method, a device, and an arrangement for carrying out the method for cleaning gas turbine engines by means of water ice of different hardness and structure and/or cryogenic water ice, or by means of mixtures of water ice, being injected into the jet engine for cleaning In particular it discloses a system and a method for cleaning a gas turbine engine, the system comprising a head unit comprising fluid lines for spraying a fluid into the gas turbine engine and a base assembly operably connected to the head unit.

<CIT> relates to a device and method for cleaning the core engine of a jet engine. <CIT> relates to an engine wash apparatus including a manifold to secure to a nose cone of an engine, a feeder pipe connecting the manifold to deliver wash liquid to the manifold, a plurality of nozzles connected to direct the wash liquid into the engine, a hood connected to the manifold to connect a slot on the nose cone, and a guide connected to the feeder to align the manifold relative to the engine. <CIT> relates to a wash apparatus including a harness assembly comprising a coupling device, a coupling device for connecting one or more fluid supply lines to one or more fluid delivery lines, one or more fluid delivery lines removably attached at one end to the coupling device's first portion and positioned for delivering washing fluid directly into the gas turbine engine core as the engine is cranked, one or more supply lines removably attached to the coupling device's second portion for supplying washing fluid to the harness assembly and remaining in a static position relative to the rotating fluid delivery lines, one or more harness rings attached to the one or more fluid delivery lines for spacing, stabilizing, and positioning the fluid delivery lines relative to the fan blades, and a connector for removably attaching the harness assembly directly onto the fan hub. <CIT> relates to an apparatus for cleaning a jet engine including a supply device configured to make cleaning medium available, a nozzle device configured to introduce cleaning medium into the jet engine, and a line connection between the supply device and the nozzle device. <CIT> relates to an apparatus for cleaning the core engine of a gas turbine.

However, it can be difficult to direct the wash liquid into the core engine through the fan when the fan is operating. Accordingly, a wash system capable of more efficiently spraying wash liquid into the core engine despite a rotation of the fan would be useful.

The invention is defined by a water wash system in accordance with claim <NUM> and a method for washing a gas turbine engine in accordance with claim <NUM>.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a water wash system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a fan and a front hub rotatable with the fan. The water wash system includes a head unit having a mounting structure and one or more wash fluid lines for spraying a wash fluid into the gas turbine engine. The mounting structure defines an inner friction surface for contacting the front hub of the gas turbine engine. The water wash system additionally includes a base assembly operably connected to the head unit, the base assembly configured to press the head unit towards the front hub to fix the inner friction surface against the front hub.

In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method for washing a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a fan and a front hub rotatable with the fan. The method includes positioning a head unit of a water wash system adjacent to the front hub of the gas turbine engine. The method also includes pressing the head unit onto the front hub of the gas turbine engine with a base assembly of the water wash system to fix an inner friction surface of the head unit against the front hub of the gas turbine engine.

The terms "forward" and "aft" refer to relative positions within a gas turbine engine, with forward referring to a position closer to an engine inlet and aft referring to a position closer to an engine nozzle or exhaust.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein identical numerals indicate the same elements throughout the figures, <FIG> provides a wash water system for a gas turbine engine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For the embodiment depicted, the gas turbine engine with which the wash water system is operable is configured as a turbofan jet engine, herein referred to as "turbofan <NUM>. " As shown in <FIG>, the exemplary turbofan <NUM> defines an axial direction A1 (extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline <NUM> provided for reference), a radial direction R1, and a circumferential direction C1 (extending about the axial direction A1; not shown). As will be appreciated, however, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the gas turbine engine may be configured in any other suitable manner. For example, aspects of the present disclosure may instead be utilized with any other suitable turbofan engine, turboprop engine, etc..

In general, the turbofan <NUM> includes a fan section <NUM> and a core turbine engine <NUM> disposed downstream from the fan section <NUM>. The exemplary core turbine engine <NUM> depicted generally includes a substantially tubular outer casing <NUM> that defines an annular inlet <NUM>. The outer casing <NUM> encases, in serial flow relationship, a compressor section including a second, booster or low pressure (LP) compressor <NUM> and a first, high pressure (HP) compressor <NUM>; a combustion section <NUM>; a turbine section including a first, high pressure (HP) turbine <NUM> and a second, low pressure (LP) turbine <NUM>; and a jet exhaust nozzle section <NUM>. The compressor section, combustion section <NUM>, and turbine section together define a core air flowpath <NUM> extending from the annular inlet <NUM> through the LP compressor <NUM>, HP compressor <NUM>, combustion section <NUM>, HP turbine section <NUM>, LP turbine section <NUM> and jet nozzle exhaust section <NUM>. A first, high pressure (HP) shaft or spool <NUM> drivingly connects the HP turbine <NUM> to the HP compressor <NUM>. A second, low pressure (LP) shaft or spool <NUM> drivingly connects the LP turbine <NUM> to the LP compressor <NUM>.

For the embodiment depicted, the fan section <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> having a plurality of fan blades <NUM> coupled to a disk <NUM> in a spaced apart manner. As depicted, the fan blades <NUM> extend outwardly from disk <NUM> generally along the radial direction R1. In certain exemplary aspects, the fan <NUM> may be a variable pitch fan, such that each of the plurality of fan blades <NUM> are rotatable relative to the disk <NUM> about a pitch axis, by virtue of the plurality of fan blades <NUM> being operatively coupled to an actuation member.

Referring still to the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>, the disk <NUM> is covered by rotatable front hub <NUM> aerodynamically contoured to promote an airflow through the plurality of fan blades <NUM>. Additionally, the exemplary fan section <NUM> includes an annular fan casing or outer nacelle <NUM> that circumferentially surrounds the fan <NUM> and/or at least a portion of the core turbine engine <NUM>. The nacelle <NUM> is supported relative to the core turbine engine <NUM> by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced outlet guide vanes <NUM>. A downstream section <NUM> of the nacelle <NUM> extends over an outer portion of the core turbine engine <NUM> so as to define a bypass airflow passage <NUM> therebetween.

Moreover, the fan blades <NUM>, disk <NUM>, and front hub <NUM> are together rotatable about the longitudinal axis <NUM> directly by the LP spool <NUM>. Accordingly, for the embodiment depicted, the turbofan engine <NUM> may be referred to as a "direct drive" turbofan engine. However, in other embodiments, the turbofan engine <NUM> may additionally include a reduction gearbox for driving the fan <NUM> at a reduced rotational speed relative to the LP spool <NUM>.

Referring now particularly to the water wash system <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, the water wash system <NUM> is configured to provide a flow of wash fluid into the core turbine engine <NUM> to remove particles which may have accumulated during operation of the turbofan engine <NUM>. The wash fluid may be any suitable combination of water, detergent, foam, or any other fluid capable of washing or otherwise removing particles from within the gas turbine engine. Accordingly, although referred to as a "water wash system", in the embodiments described herein, the system <NUM> may utilize any suitable wash fluid.

The exemplary water wash system <NUM> generally includes a head unit <NUM> and a base assembly <NUM>. As will be described in greater detail below, the head unit <NUM> generally includes a mounting structure <NUM> and one or more wash fluid lines <NUM> for spraying a wash fluid into the turbofan engine <NUM>. Additionally, the base assembly <NUM> is operably connected to the head unit <NUM> and configured to press the head unit <NUM> towards the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine (e.g., the turbofan engine <NUM>).

More specifically, referring now also to <FIG>, providing a close-up, cross-sectional view of a portion of the water wash system <NUM> of <FIG>, the head unit <NUM> comprises a rotary connector <NUM>. For the embodiment depicted, the rotary connector <NUM> generally includes a fixed member <NUM> and a spinning member <NUM>. The fixed member <NUM> is attached to the base assembly <NUM>, as described more fully below, to allow the head unit <NUM> to rotate relative to the base assembly <NUM>. More specifically, as will be described in greater detail below, the head unit <NUM> is configured to be fixed to the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine during operation of the water wash system <NUM>, such that the head unit <NUM> rotates at the same angular velocity as the front hub <NUM> during operation of the water wash system <NUM>. Notably, for the embodiment depicted, the spinning member <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the fixed member <NUM> by virtue of a bearing assembly <NUM>. The bearing assembly <NUM> may be, e.g., a ball bearing assembly, or any other suitable bearing assembly.

As is also depicted, for the embodiment depicted, the rotary connector <NUM> defines an inlet <NUM> for receiving a pressurized wash fluid and an outlet <NUM>. More specifically, rotary connector <NUM> is configured for connection to a supply fluid line <NUM> of the water wash system <NUM> at the inlet <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the supply fluid line <NUM> is fluidly connected to a pressurized fluid source <NUM> of the water wash system <NUM>. Moreover, for the embodiment depicted, the outlet <NUM> is fluidly connected to the one or more wash fluid lines <NUM> of the head unit <NUM> for providing the pressurized wash fluid to the one or more wash fluid lines <NUM> of the head unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the rotary connector <NUM> is configured to receive pressurized wash fluid from a fixed frame of reference and supply such pressurized wash fluid to a rotating frame of reference.

Additionally, the exemplary base assembly <NUM> depicted generally includes a stand <NUM> and a press unit <NUM>. The stand <NUM> generally provides support for the press unit <NUM>, and the press unit <NUM> provides the head unit <NUM> with an amount of force during operation of the water wash system <NUM>. More particularly, the press unit <NUM> defines a longitudinal direction L2 and a circumferential direction C2 (i.e., a direction extending about the longitudinal direction L2; see <FIG>). As will be appreciated from, e.g., the description below, the press unit <NUM> is configured to provide the head unit <NUM> an amount of force along the longitudinal direction L2 towards the front hub <NUM> of the turbofan engine <NUM>.

For the embodiment depicted, the press unit <NUM> generally includes a housing <NUM> extending along the longitudinal direction L2 and defining an opening <NUM>, the opening <NUM> also extending along the longitudinal direction L2. The press unit <NUM> further includes a rod <NUM> extending between a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The rod <NUM> is slidably received (along the longitudinal direction L2) within the opening <NUM>, such that the first end <NUM> of the rod <NUM> is positioned completely within the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The press unit <NUM> further includes an elastic member <NUM> positioned within the opening <NUM> for providing a force to the rod <NUM>. More particularly, for the embodiment depicted, the elastic member <NUM> is configured as a spring.

The exemplary press unit <NUM> depicted is further provided with a means for adjusting an amount of force supplied by the press unit <NUM> to the head unit <NUM>. For the embodiment depicted, the means for adjusting the amount of pressure includes an adjustment bolt <NUM> extending through the housing <NUM> and into the opening <NUM> defined by the housing <NUM>. A distal end <NUM> of the adjustment bolt <NUM> is operable with the elastic member <NUM> (i.e., the spring), such that the elastic member <NUM> extends between the distal end <NUM> of the adjustment bolt <NUM> and the first end <NUM> of the rod <NUM> (and to the head unit <NUM>). A head <NUM> of the adjustment bolt <NUM> may be rotated to increase or decrease the amount of compression force on the elastic member <NUM>, and thus amount of force applied to the rod <NUM>. Accordingly, as will be appreciated, the adjustment bolt <NUM> is, for the embodiment depicted, threadably received through the housing <NUM>.

Notably, in other exemplary embodiments, any other suitable means for adjusting an amount of pressure supplied by the press unit <NUM> to the head unit <NUM> may be provided. For example, in other embodiments, the press unit <NUM> may not include the elastic member <NUM>, and instead, the adjustment bolt may extend directly to the rod <NUM>.

Referring still to <FIG> and <FIG>, for the embodiment depicted, the base assembly <NUM> is operably connected to the head unit <NUM> through the rod <NUM>. More specifically, the second end <NUM> of the rod <NUM> is rigidly attached to the fixed member <NUM> of the rotary connector <NUM> of the head unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the second end <NUM> of the rod <NUM> may be permanently attached to the fixed member <NUM> of the rotary connector <NUM>, e.g., by welding or by being formed integrally. Alternatively, however, in other embodiments, the second end <NUM> of the rod <NUM> may be removably attached to the fixed member <NUM> of the rotary connector <NUM> using a reversible attachment configuration (e.g., a screw connection).

Referring back particularly to <FIG>, for the embodiment depicted, the stand <NUM> of the base assembly <NUM> is configured to interact with a surrounding terrain <NUM> (e.g., a water wash car/cart, a runway, or other ground structure on which an airplane with which the turbofan engine <NUM> operates is positioned). More particularly, the stand <NUM> includes a support portion <NUM> for contacting the surrounding terrain <NUM> and an adjustable shaft <NUM> extending between the support portion <NUM> and the press unit <NUM>. For the embodiment depicted, the adjustable shaft <NUM> is a telescoping shaft in which at least a portion may be nested within a remaining portion. However, in other embodiments, the adjustable shaft <NUM> may be any other suitable configuration allowing for adjustments to made to adjust an effective height of the press unit <NUM> (i.e., an effective distance along a vertical direction of the press unit <NUM> relative to the surrounding terrain <NUM>).

Additionally, referring particularly to the head unit <NUM> of the exemplary water wash system <NUM>, the mounting structure <NUM> defines an inner friction surface <NUM> for contacting the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine, as is depicted in <FIG>. More specifically, the mounting structure <NUM> includes a mounting pad <NUM> defining the inner friction surface <NUM>. The mounting pad <NUM> is formed of a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. For example, in at least certain embodiments, the mounting pad <NUM> may be formed of a material having a coefficient of friction greater than about <NUM>. More specifically, in certain exemplary embodiments the mounting pad <NUM> may be formed of a material having a coefficient of friction greater than about <NUM>. For example, in at least certain exemplary embodiments, the mounting pad <NUM> may be formed of a material including at least one of rubber or silicone components. However, in other embodiments, the mounting pad <NUM> may be formed of any other suitable material having a desired coefficient of friction.

Further, for the embodiment depicted, the mounting pad <NUM>, or more specifically, the inner friction surface <NUM>, defines a shape configured to match a shape of the front hub <NUM>. For the embodiment depicted, such a shape is a frustoconical shape. With such a configuration, the mounting pad <NUM> may have a relatively large amount of surface area contact with the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine.

Accordingly, when configured in accordance with one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein, when the base assembly <NUM> presses the head unit <NUM> towards the front hub <NUM>, the inner friction surface <NUM> is fixed against the front hub <NUM>. More specifically, a head unit <NUM> of the water wash system <NUM> configured in accordance with one or more the above embodiments may allow the head unit <NUM> of the water wash system <NUM> to effectively be mounted to the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine without requiring any bolts, straps, or other mechanical attachment devices. Instead, the head unit <NUM> of the exemplary water wash system <NUM> may be mounted to the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine solely using friction.

It should be appreciated, that although for the embodiment depicted, the mounting structure <NUM> is depicted as simply including the mounting pad <NUM>, in other embodiments, any other suitable structure may be included with the mounting structure <NUM>. For example, in certain embodiments, the head unit <NUM> may include one or more rigid frame members with the mounting structure <NUM>, or the mounting pad <NUM> may include a substantially rigid outer layer and an inner layer defining the inner friction surface <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the plurality of wash fluid lines <NUM> may be configured as substantially rigid wash fluid lines <NUM> to provide the necessary rigidity to the head unit <NUM>. In still other embodiments, the wash fluid lines <NUM> may be configured as substantially rigid wash fluid lines, and in addition, the mounting structure <NUM> may provide substantially rigid support members providing additional support for the wash fluid lines <NUM>.

Referring still to <FIG>, and now also to <FIG>, providing an isolated, front view of the exemplary head unit <NUM> attached to the front hub <NUM> of the turbofan engine <NUM>, the exemplary head unit <NUM> is configured to rotate with the fan <NUM> of the turbofan engine <NUM> during wash operations to effectively provide wash fluid to the core turbine engine <NUM>. For the embodiment depicted, the head unit <NUM> defines a longitudinal direction L2, radial direction R2, and a circumferential direction C2. The longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions L2, R2, C2 of the head unit <NUM> may be aligned with the longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions L2, R2, C2 of the base assembly <NUM> described above.

As previously discussed, the exemplary head unit <NUM> includes one or more wash fluid lines <NUM> for spraying a wash fluid into the turbofan engine <NUM>. Specifically, for the embodiment depicted, the one or more wash fluid lines <NUM> includes at least three wash fluid lines <NUM> spaced along the circumferential direction C2. For the embodiment depicted, each of the three wash fluid lines <NUM> are spaced substantially evenly along the circumferential direction C2. Additionally, the three wash fluid lines <NUM> each include a nozzle <NUM> at a distal end oriented to spray a wash fluid through adjacent fan blades <NUM>. It should be appreciated, that as used herein, terms of approximation, such as "about" or "substantially," refer to being within a <NUM>% margin of error. Moreover, although for the embodiment depicted each of the plurality of wash fluid lines <NUM> do not extend through adjacent fan blades <NUM>, in other embodiments, one or more of the plurality of wash fluid lines <NUM> may extend at least partially between adjacent fan blades <NUM>, or through adjacent fan blades <NUM>.

Furthermore, as discussed above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when mounted, the head unit <NUM> is fixed to the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine, such that the head unit <NUM> rotates at the same angular velocity as the hub <NUM> during washing operations. Further, as the hub <NUM> is rotatable with the fan <NUM>, mounting the head unit <NUM> to the hub <NUM> may allow the plurality of wash fluid lines <NUM> to spray wash fluid substantially continuously through adjacent fan blades <NUM>, such that the head unit <NUM> may substantially continuously and directly spray the wash fluid into the core turbine engine <NUM> during operation of the water wash system <NUM>. Notably, during such operation of the water wash system <NUM>, the fan <NUM> and other components of the gas turbine engine may be rotated by, e.g., a starter motor (not shown), such that without an ability to substantially continuously spray the wash fluid through adjacent fan blades <NUM> of the fan <NUM>, the wash fluid would less efficiently reach the core turbine engine <NUM>, and instead may be dispersed through, e.g., the bypass airflow passage <NUM> of the turbofan engine <NUM>.

It should be appreciated, however, that the exemplary water wash system <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG> is provided by way of example only. In other exemplary embodiments, the water wash system <NUM> may have any other suitable configuration. For example, in other embodiments the head unit <NUM> may include any other suitable number of wash fluid lines <NUM>, the rotary connector <NUM> of the head unit <NUM> may be configured in any other suitable manner, and/or the inner friction surface <NUM>/mounting pad <NUM> may have any other suitable shape for being fixed to the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine.

Further, in still other embodiments, the stand <NUM> of the base assembly <NUM> may be configured in any other suitable manner. For example, referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, a water wash system <NUM> including a base assembly <NUM> having a stand <NUM> in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. The exemplary water wash system <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> may in other respects be configured in substantially the same manner as exemplary water wash system <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>.

For example, the exemplary water wash system <NUM> generally includes a head unit <NUM> having a mounting structure <NUM> defining an inner friction surface <NUM> for contacting the front hub <NUM> of the gas turbine engine. In addition, the head unit <NUM> includes one or more wash fluid lines <NUM>. Additionally, the water wash system <NUM> includes a base assembly <NUM> operably connected to the head unit <NUM> and configured to press the head unit <NUM> towards the hub <NUM> to fix the inner friction surface <NUM> of the mounting structure <NUM> against the front hub <NUM>. Moreover, the base assembly <NUM> includes a stand <NUM> and a press unit <NUM>, wherein the press unit <NUM> provides the head unit <NUM> an amount of force during operation.

However, for the embodiment depicted, the stand <NUM> is not configured to interact with a surrounding terrain <NUM>. Instead, the stand <NUM> includes a plurality of adjustable tension rods <NUM>. Each of the plurality of adjustable tension rods <NUM> defines a distal end <NUM> (relative to a housing <NUM> of the press unit <NUM>), with a friction pad <NUM> located at the distal end <NUM>. Each of the friction pads <NUM> are configured for contacting an interior surface <NUM> of an outer nacelle <NUM> of the turbofan engine <NUM>. Additionally, each of the tension rods <NUM> are extendable along a length (e.g., along the radial direction R2), such that the tension rods <NUM> may press their respective friction pads <NUM> against the interior surface <NUM> of the outer nacelle <NUM> and fix itself (and the press unit <NUM>) in position.

Referring particularly to <FIG>, the exemplary tension rods <NUM> are spaced substantially equally along a circumferential direction C2. More specifically, the exemplary stand <NUM> depicted includes four tension rods <NUM>, with each tension rod <NUM> spaced approximately ninety degrees (<NUM>°) apart from an adjacent tension rod <NUM>. It should be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments, the exemplary stand <NUM> may include any other suitable number of tension rods <NUM>. For example, in other embodiments, the stand <NUM> may include two tension rods <NUM>, three tension rods <NUM>, or any other suitable number of tension rods <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a method (<NUM>) for washing a gas turbine engine in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is provided. The gas turbine engine may include a fan and a front hub rotatable with the fan. Additionally, the exemplary method (<NUM>) may utilize a water wash system configured in accordance with one or more of the exemplary embodiments described above with reference to <FIG>.

The exemplary method (<NUM>) generally includes at (<NUM>) positioning a head unit of the water wash system adjacent to the front hub of the gas turbine engine. In at least certain exemplary aspects, positioning the head unit of the water wash system adjacent to the front hub at (<NUM>) may include adjusting a height of a base assembly of the water wash system (see, e.g., the embodiment of <FIG> and <FIG>). Alternatively, however, in other exemplary aspects, positioning the head unit of the water wash system adjacent to the front hub at (<NUM>) may include fixing the base assembly in position using a plurality of tension rods. The plurality of tension rods may be pressed against an inside surface of an outer nacelle of the gas turbine engine being washed (see, e.g., the embodiment of <FIG> and <FIG>).

Referring still to <FIG>, the exemplary method (<NUM>) additionally includes at (<NUM>) pressing the head unit onto the front hub of the gas turbine engine with a base assembly of the water wash system to fix the inner friction surface of the head unit against the front hub of the gas turbine engine. As discussed above, the inner friction surface (and a mounting pad defining the inner friction surface) may define a minimum contact surface area and may be formed of a material having a minimum coefficient of friction, such that when pressed against the front hub, friction prevents any substantial relative movement between the head unit and the front hub of the gas turbine engine.

Moreover, as is also depicted for the exemplary aspect of <FIG>, the exemplary method (<NUM>) includes at (<NUM>) providing a flow of pressurized wash fluid through a rotary connector of the head unit to one or more wash fluid lines of the head unit. Additionally, at (<NUM>), the exemplary method (<NUM>) includes spraying, with one or more wash fluid lines of the head unit, wash fluid through adjacent fan blades of the fan of the gas turbine engine into a core turbine engine of the gas turbine engine. Notably, in at least certain exemplary aspects, spraying at (<NUM>) may include substantially continuously spraying a wash fluid through adjacent fan blades of the gas turbine engine into the core turbine engine of the gas turbine engine.

A method in accordance with an exemplary aspect of <FIG> may provide for a more efficient cleaning washing of the gas turbine engine, by providing a more continuous, uninterrupted flow of wash fluid into the core turbine engine during washing operations. Additionally, a method in accordance with an exemplary aspect of <FIG> may allow for an easier and quicker set up by not requiring any mechanical fasteners between the head unit and the front hub of the gas turbine engine.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
A water wash system (<NUM>) for a gas turbine engine (<NUM>) comprising a fan (<NUM>) and a front hub (<NUM>) rotatable with the fan (<NUM>), the water wash system (<NUM>) comprising:
a head unit (<NUM>) comprising a mounting structure (<NUM>) and one or more wash fluid lines (<NUM>) for spraying a wash fluid into the gas turbine engine (<NUM>), the mounting structure (<NUM>) defining an inner friction surface (<NUM>) for contacting the front hub (<NUM>) of the gas turbine engine (<NUM>); and
a base assembly (<NUM>) operably connected to the head unit (<NUM>), the base assembly (<NUM>) configured to press the head unit (<NUM>) towards the front hub (<NUM>) to fix the inner friction surface (<NUM>) against the front hub (<NUM>),
wherein the head unit (<NUM>) comprises a rotary connector (<NUM>), wherein the rotary connector (<NUM>) comprises a fixed member (<NUM>) and a spinning member (<NUM>), wherein the spinning member (<NUM>) is fixed to the mounting structure (<NUM>) and wherein the fixed member (<NUM>) is attached to the base assembly (<NUM>) to allow the head unit (<NUM>) to rotate relative to the base assembly (<NUM>).