Patent ID: 7445677

Claim:
A apparatus for cleaning a gas turbine engine, said engine including an engine inlet portion having a fan hub and an array of fan blades connected to and extending radially outward from said fan hub, the apparatus comprising: a mobile harness assembly adapted for injecting washing fluid between fan blades and directly into the gas turbine engine's core while the engine is being cranked, the harness assembly comprising: a coupling device for connecting one or more fluid supply lines to one or more fluid delivery lines, said coupling device comprising a first portion configured for rotating with the fan hub about the hub's central axis as the engine is cranked, and a second portion configured to remain static relative to said first portion; 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, said fluid delivery lines rotating with the fan hub about the hub's central axis as the engine is cranked; one or more fluid supply lines removably attached to the coupling device's second portion for supplying washing fluid to the harness assembly, said fluid supply lines 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.