Abstract: A method of washing a gas turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of: providing a gas turbine engine, the engine having an intake and an exhaust, the exhaust having an inner surface and an outer surface; providing a system for washing gas turbine engines, the system including a containment structure; releasably securing the containment structure to the inner surface via a retaining ring; introducing a wash liquid into the intake; and collecting the wash liquid in the containment structure.

Abstract: A system for washing a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine having an inlet and an exhaust, the exhaust having an inner surface and an outer surface. The system comprises: a containment structure for capturing gaseous, liquid, and solid material emerging from the engine; a filtration system for separating the gaseous, liquid, and solid material; and a retaining ring for securing the containment structure to said exhaust; wherein the retaining ring is adjustable in at least one of size and shape so as to sealingly engage the inner surface of the exhaust.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a locking mechanism for releasably mounting a row of filter elements in sealing engagement within a filter assembly. The locking mechanism includes a pair of spaced longitudinal bars, substantially semicircular in cross section, which are pivotly mounted within the filter assembly below the lateral edges of mounting plates affixed to the upper ends of the filter elements such that a row of filter elements depend from and are slideably removeable along the longitudinal flat side of the spaced parallel bars. A locking handle is affixed to the outwardly extending ends of each of the parallel bars such that rotation of the handle causes the curvilinear surface of the parallel bars increasingly to bear against the underside of the mounting plate and urge said filter element upwardly into said sealing engagement with an interior portion of the filter assembly.