Jet wet suit cover system for gaspath cleaning

Abstract

A water sealed chemically resistant cover seals the body of a turbojet or turbofan engine. Sealed connections to hoses lead to a water and cleaning fluid input hose to transmit cleaning fluids and water from a cleaning pump into the jet engine and one or more runoff output hoses to transmit runoff fluids from the engine to a filtering system, which filters the runoff fluid of toxic chemicals and pumps the filtered runoff fluid into disposable containers for environmentally safe disposal, or to a 55 gallon drum without the filtration system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to covers for turbojet engines and turbofan engines and in particular to a complete wet suit cover for enveloping a turbojet engine or turbofan engine during gaspath cleaning operations and connecting hoses to a filtering system or drum creating an enclosed gaspath cleaning system to eliminate spillage of toxic runoff from the gaspath cleaning operation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Many different factors are involved in maintaining efficient and clean running gas turbine engines. Some of these factors involve preventive maintenance and some involve non-preventive maintenance practices which basically could be summarized in unscheduled removals and installations.

[0005] Periodical gaspath cleaning is one of the preventive maintenance practices which is strongly recommended to minimize compressor and turbine contamination. There are documented cases of one-time compressor wash improvements in TSFC (Total Specific Fuel Consumption) and EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) of 0.85% and 8 degrees C respectively ; however, experience indicates that gaspath cleaning before the contamination becomes set is more beneficial.

[0006] One operator reports a fleet TSFC improvement of 1.0% utilizing engine gaspath cleanings every three months.

[0007] The recommended gaspath cleaning interval is 1000 to 1200 hours commencing after a heavy maintenance.

[0008] Most engine manufacturers estimate a reduction of 1.0% TSFC and 10 degrees C EGT over a 6000 hour period with regular gaspath cleaning. Using this procedure, there may be no significant improvements noted after each wash since the interval selected was one which would ease contaminant removal rather than one which would result in a noticeable increase in TSFC and EGT prior to wash.

[0009] An additional benefit of gaspath cleaning washes is the effect of reducing turbine sulphidation. Engine manufacturers' tests have shown that gaspath cleaning washes remove water soluble substances applied to the turbine.

[0010] A large domestic operator using gaspath cleaning washes at 100 to 150 hour intervals with expanded repair limits has been successful in reducing turbine blade scrap rate due to sulphidation damage at 6200 hours from 100% to less than 5%.

[0011] It should be noted that gaspath cleaning for sulphidation reduction requires much shorter time intervals between washes than those used for compressor cleaning. The problem with the cleaning of gas turbine engines is that the chemical spray and toxic particulates removed from gas turbine engines are hazardous waste and should not be dumped into a normal drainage system.

[0012] Different operators do it differently. Some operators use a hose to spray the solution into the intake side of the engine and some operators use a J hook which is inserted from the tail pipe through the bypass core and then positioned right in front of the 3rd stage compressor and then stream sprayed rearward. Some even use an adapter that goes from the ignitor plug hole inside of the engine and spray the solution in.

[0013] What is needed is a legal affordable system that works with all cleaning methods for turbojet and turbofan engines to catch the runoff and preventing spillage of the runoff that provides a legal and ecological way for airlines to clean their engines on a regular basis and filter the toxic runoff to dispose of it properly and not spoil the environment or risk being fined for pollution.

[0014] While some efforts have been made in this direction they fall short of a completely enclosing a system for use in the full range of turbojet and turbofan engines for regular gaspath cleaning maintenance.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,217, issued May 4, 1999 to Testman, provides an engine wash recovery system which uses a partial covering (Apron type) over a turbo propeller engine and not a turbojet or turbofan engine to prevent spillage of the cleaning liquid run through the engine at slow speed with a collector for the liquid. It includes a small drain hose from a low point in the engine and a larger hose from the engine exhaust duct. It does not completely enclose the engine and would not work with current turbojet or turbofan engines.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,903, issued Sep. 3, 1957 to Davies, shows a protective transparent cover for a jet engine for shipping the engine to protect the engine, prevent spillage of oils and fuels, allow the engine to be viewed, and provide sealable openings for a lift device to access the engine. This device has no means of interconnecting to a cleaning and filtering system.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,980, issued Mar. 7, 1972 to Peterson, claims a lightweight jet engine cowl cover to protect a jet engine from dust and contaminants while the jet is on the ground with an opening to allow workmen to enter the engine and the use of a translucent sheet to admit light. Again, no provision is made for use during a gaspath cleaning maintenance operation.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,321, issued Sep. 1, 1992 to Jackson, describes a folding protective cover for turbo-engines to cover the air inlet and exhaust ducts while the plane is on the ground with handles and the use of lightweight material to assist in the installation and removal of the cover, which folds up into a compact size for carrying and storing. Again, no provision is made for use during a gaspath cleaning maintenance operation. A universally applied and completely enclosed system for covering and enclosing a turbojet or turbofan engine and interconnecting to a filtration system is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a completely enclosed system for covering a turbojet and/or turbofan engine and interconnecting with hoses to a 55 gallon drum or a filtration system to eliminate spillage and dumping of toxic runoff from turbojet and turbofan jet engines cleaning and provide an economical and ecological and legal means for airlines to dispose of runoff from engines.

[0020] A related object of the present invention is to provide an enclosed system for legally cleaning turbojet and turbofan engines on a regular basis at any desired time for more frequent cleanings, creating greater fuel efficiency to save on fuel costs and to prolong the life of the engines by saving in engine replacement costs.

[0021] In brief the present invention is for a jacket or wet suit completely encasing a turbojet or turbofan engine and a filtration system or a drum or 55 gallon barrel interconnected by hoses creating a jet engine cleaning system that confines the spraying, filtering and collecting of chemical spray and toxic runoff to a confined system. After filtering out the toxic chemicals the waste may then be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner without violating any regulations and without harming the environment.

[0022] The jacket or wet suit may be sold separately to be used without a filtration system or sold together with a complete system including the portable filtration system and interconnecting hoses for a completely closed system.

[0023] The present invention would be compatible with approximately more than 50 different turbojet and/or turbofan engines worldwide for a global solution with an environmentally safe system for gas turbine engine maintenance.

[0024] A primary advantage of the present invention is that the legal and inexpensive system for cleaning turbojet and turbofan engines will enable more frequent cleaning of the engines and the related savings in fuel efficiency and a longer engine life, as well as money saved by the airlines in not having to pay fines for violating the EPA codes and regulations.

[0025] Another major advantage of the present invention is the beneficial effect on the environment by preventing the dumping of toxic chemicals into the drainage system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the total jet engine enclosure in place around the jet engine with connecting hoses to a pump and filtering system and to a spray pump forspraying liquids into the engine;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the total jet engine enclosure in place around the jet engine.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0029] In FIG. 1, a waterproof jet engine cover for use in cleaning jet engines comprises a waterproof cover 20 capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine 50 to seal off all drainage from the jet engine. The cover 20 has a sealed waterproof connection to at least one drainage hose, preferably two including one bottom drainage hose 21 with a bottom sealed connection 23 to catch bottom runoff fluids and an exhaust drainage hose 22 with an exhaust sealed connection 24 and a sealed elbow bend 25 to catch exhaust runoff fluids for draining the runoff fluids into a filtering system, such as a portable processing system 30 (FS-55 manufactured by Fabco Industries) used in cleaning the jet engine and the matter removed from the jet engine in cleaning, including toxic chemicals and particulates and deposits containing cyanide, lead, and copper as well as other chemicals from the cleaning fluid. This portable filtering system 30 comprises a pump, and filters on a cart with a base 38, side rails 37, wheels 31 and handle 32.

[0030] Another sealed waterproof connection 43 receives water and cleaning fluids from a water and cleaner input hose 41 for inputting water and cleaners used in cleaning jet engines from a water and cleaning agent pumping system 40, which is also portable and easily transported between engines and between planes.

[0031] The cover 20 has a form and structure and material strength capable of retaining its integrity as a seal around the body of the jet engine 50 while the jet engine is turned over and cleaning materials and water sprayed into the engine and the cover is capable of resisting damage from the water, the cleaning materials and the matter removed from the jet engine so that the cover can be reused in jet engine cleaning operations. The cover 20 has a form and structure capable of fitting over a wide range of types of jet engines. The cover 20 is fabricated of a rubberized fabric capable of resisting chemicals and impermeable to fluids.

[0032] In FIG. 2, a front portion of the cover may further comprise an opening 19 to admit air into the jet engine for turning over the engine in the gaspath cleaning process. The front opening 19 has an elasticized rim 18 around the opening to seal the remainder of the cover tightly around the body of the jet engine. The elasticized rim 18 preferably comprises a bungee cord loop sewn into the cover material around the perimeter of the rim.

[0033] The sealed waterproof connections 23, 24, and 43 comprise funnel-shaped rubber boots adapted for connection to the hoses 21, 22, and 41.

[0034] The cover may be a separate unit provided to be used with an existing filtering device and water/cleaning fluid pumping device or may be provided as a system which includes the wet suit and the filtering system, and even the pumping sytem for water and cleaning substances.

[0035] In FIG. 1 a system, for cleaning a jet engine in an enclosed environment with fluids sealed in, comprises a waterproof cover 20 as described above capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine 50 to seal of all drainage from the jet engine, a collecting barrel 34 or drum for the runoff and/or a filtering system 30 comprising a pumping means and a filtering means capable of receiving runoff fluids used in cleaning a jet engine from preferably two drainage hoses 21 and 22 from the cover and capable of filtering the runoff fluids to remove toxic elements and make the fluid environmentally safe for disposal, and a cleaning fluid pumping system 40 comprising a water and cleaning material pump capable of pumping water and cleaning materials into the at least one water and cleaner input hose 41 and into a jet engine for the purpose of cleaning the jet engine.

[0036] In use a method for cleaning jet engines using a system for cleaning a jet engine in an enclosed environment with fluids sealed in comprises:

[0037] a first step of covering a jet engine 50 with a waterproof cover 20 capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine to seal of all drainage from the jet engine, the cover having sealed waterproof connections 23 and 24 to preferably two drainage hoses 21 and 22 for draining fluids into a filtering system used in cleaning the jet engine and the matter removed from the jet engine in cleaning and a sealed waterproof connection 43 to at least one water and cleaner input hose 41 for inputting water and cleaners used in cleaning jet engines, the cover having a form and structure and material strength capable of retaining its integrity as a seal around the body of the jet engine while the jet engine is turned over and cleaning materials and water sprayed into the engine and capable of resisting damage from the water, the cleaning materials and the matter removed from the jet engine so that the cover can be reused in jet engine cleaning operations and the cover having a form and structure capable of fitting over a wide range of types of jet engines;

[0038] a second step of pumping water and cleaning materials into the at least one water and cleaner input hose 41 and into a jet engine for the purpose of cleaning the jet engine using a cleaning fluid pumping system 40 comprising a water and cleaning material pump;

[0039] a third step of collecting and filtering runoff fluids used in cleaning a jet engine by using a filtering system 30 comprising a pumping means and a filtering means capable of receiving runoff fluids used in cleaning a jet engine from the drainage hoses 21 and 22 and capable of filtering the runoff fluids to remove toxic elements and make the fluid environmentally safe for disposal; a final step of pumping the runoff fluids into at least one container for disposal using a means for pumping filtered runoff fluids 30.

[0040] The method normally in the second step further comprises turning over the jet engine during the cleaning and admitting air into the jet engine by means of a front portion of the cover further comprising an opening 19 to admit air into the jet engine for turning over the engine in the cleaning process, the front opening having an elasticized rim 18 around the opening to seal the remainder of the cover tightly around the body of the jet engine.

[0041] It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A waterproof jet engine cover for use in cleaning the inside of turbojet and turbofan engines, the cover comprising:

a waterproof cover capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine to seal off all drainage from the jet engine, the cover having a sealed waterproof connection to at least one drainage hose for draining fluids into a fluid collection means for environmentally safe disposal of the drainage and a sealed waterproof connection to at least one water and cleaner input hose for inputting water and cleaners used in cleaning jet engines, the cover having a form and structure and material strength capable of retaining its integrity as a seal around the body of the jet engine while the engine is turned over and cleaning materials and water sprayed into the engine and capable of resisting damage from the water, the cleaning materials and the matter removed from the jet engine so that the cover can be reused in jet engine cleaning operations and the cover having a form and structure capable of fitting over a wide range of types of turbojet and turbofan engines.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fluid collection means comprises a filtering system used in cleaning the inside of jet engines and filtering the drainage removed from the jet engine in cleaning.

3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fluid collection means comprises sealed container for fluids which may be transported to dispose of the drainage in an environmentally safe manner.

4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is fabricated of a rubberized fabric capable of resisting chemicals and impermeable to fluids.

5. The cover of claim 1 wherein a front portion of the cover further comprises an opening to admit air into the jet engine for turning over the engine in the cleaning process, the front opening having an elasticized rim around the opening to seal the remainder of the cover tightly around the body of the jet engine

6. The cover of claim 5 wherein the elasticized rim comprises a bungee cord sewn into the cover material around the perimeter of the rim

7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the sealed waterproof connections comprise funnel-shaped rubber boots adapted for connection to the at least one drainage hose and the at least one water and cleaner input hose.

8. A system for cleaning the inside of turbojet and turbofan engines in an enclosed environment with fluids sealed in, the system comprising:

a waterproof cover capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine to seal of all drainage from the jet engine, the cover having a sealed waterproof connection to at least one drainage hose for draining fluids and a sealed waterproof connection to at least one water and cleaner input hose for inputting water and cleaners used in cleaning jet engines, the cover having a form and structure and material strength capable of retaining its integrity as a seal around the body of the jet engine while the jet engine is turned over and cleaning materials and water sprayed into the engine and capable of resisting damage from the water, the cleaning materials and the matter removed from the jet engine so that the cover can be reused in jet engine cleaning operations and the cover having a form and structure capable of fitting over a wide range of types of turbojet and/or turbofan engines;

a fluid collection means capable of receiving the drainage from the at least one drainage hose for environmentally safe disposal of the drainage;

cleaning fluid pumping system comprising a water and cleaning material pump capable of pumping water and cleaning materials into the at least one water and cleaner input hose and into a jet engine for the purpose of cleaning the jet engine.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the means of collecting fluid comprises a filtering means capable of receiving the drainage used in cleaning the inside of a jet engine from the at least one drainage hose and capable of filtering the drainage to remove toxic elements and make the drainage environmentally safe for disposal.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the means of collecting fluid comprises a sealed container capable of receiving, storing, and transporting the drainage for proper disposal of the drainage.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the cover is fabricated of a rubberized fabric capable of resisting chemicals and impermeable to fluids.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein a front portion of the cover further comprises an opening to admit air into the jet engine for turning over the engine in the cleaning process, the front opening having an elasticized rim around the opening to seal the remainder of the cover tightly around the body of the jet engine.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the elasticized rim comprises a bungee cord sewn into the cover material around the perimeter of the rim.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the sealed waterproof connections comprise funnel-shaped rubber boots adapted for connection to the at least one drainage hose and the at least one water and cleaner input hose.

15. A method for cleaning the inside of turbojet and turbofan engines using a system for cleaning the inside of turbojet and turbofan engines in an enclosed environment with fluids sealed in, the method comprising:

a first step of covering a jet engine with a waterproof cover capable of enclosing a body of a jet engine to seal of all drainage from the jet engine, the cover having a sealed waterproof connection to at least one drainage hose for receiving the drainage and a sealed waterproof connection to at least one water and cleaner input hose for inputting water and cleaners used in cleaning the inside of jet engines, the cover having a form and structure and material strength capable of retaining its integrity as a seal around the body of the jet engine while the jet engine is turned over and cleaning materials and water sprayed into the engine and capable of resisting damage from the water, the cleaning materials and the matter removed from the jet engine so that the cover can be reused in jet engine cleaning operations and the cover having a form and structure capable of fitting over a wide range of types of jet engines;

a second step of pumping water and cleaning materials into the at least one water and cleaner input hose and into a jet engine for the purpose of cleaning the jet engine using a cleaning fluid pumping system comprising a water and cleaning material pump;

a third step of collecting the drainage from the at least one drainage hose in and filtering runoff fluids used in cleaning a jet engine by using a filtering system comprising a pumping means and a filtering means capable of receiving runoff fluids used in cleaning a jet engine from the at least one drainage hose and capable of filtering the runoff fluids to remove toxic elements and make the fluid environmentally safe for disposal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein step 3 comprises receiving the drainage in a filtering means capable of receiving the drainage used in cleaning the inside of a jet engine from the at least one drainage hose and capable of filtering the drainage to remove toxic elements and make the drainage environmentally safe for disposal.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein step 3 comprises receiving the drainage from the at least one drainage hose in a sealed container capable of receiving, storing, and transporting the drainage for environmentally safe disposal of the drainage

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second step further comprises turning over the jet engine during the cleaning and admitting air into the jet engine by means of a front portion of the cover further comprising an opening to admit air into the jet engine for turning over the engine in the cleaning process, the front opening having an elasticized rim around the opening to seal the remainder of the cover tightly around the body of the jet engine.