Air-filter apparatus in combination with a turbine engine

Claim 1

An air-filter apparatus in combination with a turbine engine having an air intake, wherein said air-filter apparatus comprises: an air filter formed as a continuous movable loop positioned transversely over the air intake of said turbine engine, said air filter being defined by a continuously formed belt-like blanket of fibrous material to filter foreign matter, and having a first outer layer and a second inner layer which continuously move in opposite directions from each other longitudinally; means for movably supporting said looped air filter, whereby said air filter moves longitudinally about said support means, said support means including rotatable support spindle guides and tension spindles; a first drive means positioned and arranged to drive said air filter; a pair of rotating brushes, each brush being positioned within respective looped ends of said air filter to engage said first and second layers thereof; brush-drive means attached to said brushes to rotate said brushes at a speed less or greater than the longitudinal movement of said air filter; means for applying a cleaning fluid to said air filter, which comprises a plurality of holes formed in said support spindle guides, to supply the cleaning fluid directly to said air filter and a reservoir having a pump interconnected to said support spindle guides, to provide cleaning fluid to said support rollers as said air filter moves thereon; a pair of vacuum systems, each being positioned on opposite sides of said turbine engine and having vacuum means for removing said foreign matter from said air filter, and said vacuum systems being connected to said air intake such that said air intake provides a vacuum source.