Detachable receptacle and stripping apparatus for stripping lagging

A detachable bag (13) and shroud (12) which combine to form a stripping apparatus (11) for stripping and collecting fibrous cladding material (27) from a pipe (25). The shroud (12) is adapted to be detachably and sealingly secured to the pipe (25) and the bag (13) is likewise secured to the shroud (12). The bag (13) includes a fastening means (20) to attach an inner envelope (16) thereof to the bottom opening (19b) of the shroud and an outer cover (17) which can be sealingly attached to the outerside of the shroud (12) enclosing the envelope (16) and fastening means (20). The envelope (16) and shroud (12) are each provided with "Velcro" closure strips (21) along their respective inner faces adjacent the fastening means (20) to enable the envelope (16) and shroud (12) to be sealingly closed independently of the other either side of the fastening means (20) to prevent external exposure to the contents of either during attachment and detachment of the bag from the shroud.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to stripping 
apparatus particularly adapted for stripping fibrous cladding material 
from a body. 
In recent times there has been a growing awareness amongst the public about 
the dangers involved with the handling of fibrous materials, particularly 
in the light of the numerous respiratory problems afflicting persons who 
have worked in an environment containing fibrous materials. This has been 
highlighted particularly in view of the problems in handling fibrous 
asbestos material and the relatively high incidence of persons working 
with the same contracting asbestosis. Unfortunately fibrous materials 
hazardous to health, such as fibrous asbestos material have been used 
extensively in the building industry in the past as cladding the lagging 
materials. As a result of increasing public pressure, it has been 
necessary for the authorities to insist upon the removal or the 
melioriation of these materials in areas that pose a possible hazard to 
the health of persons therein. Consequently, eleborate provisions and 
regulations have been enforced to control the removal or melioriation of 
these materials, so as to minimise the risk to persons effecting these 
operations. As a result, the use of protective apparatus in the form of 
flexible bags covering a body bearing fibrous material and/or protective 
clothing in the form of face masks and the like have become mandatory 
accessories to workmen involved with these operations. 
To assist in removing lagging materials from pipes and the like, a 
detachable bag which sealingly encompasses a section of the pipe has been 
marketed for several years under the trade mark "Asbebag" in various 
countries of the world including Australia. This bag is formed with a pair 
of specially shaped flaps at its open end which are placed about a 
longitudinal portion of the pipe from opposite sides thereof so as to form 
a circumscribing sleeve portion about the pipe. A fastening arrangement 
provided on the meeting edges of the flaps can then be operated to secure 
the bag to the pipe. The opposite ends of the so formed sleeve portion can 
then be tied to sealingly engage the bag with the pipe. The bag is also 
formed with a pair of arm portions which extend inwardly of the bag and 
which terminate with gloves so that an operator can insert his hands and 
perform manipulations within the interior of the bag for work on the pipe 
whilst maintaining isolation between the interior of the bag and the 
operator's hands. Thus fibrous material can be stripped from the pipe and 
collected within bag without risking exposure to the stripped fibrous 
material. 
Under the health regulations in Australia it is only practical to use the 
bag once, whereupon becoming full, it must be removed from the pipe and 
disposed of without allowing the stripped fibrous material to escape from 
the bag and come into contact with the operator. Accordingly, it is 
usually necessary to use several bags to completely strip a pipe covered 
in lagging. Unfortunately, due to the special shape of the bags, 
manufacturing costs of the bags are exhorbitant and hence costs in 
completing a stripping operation can be excessive. 
Objects of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to 
provide a receptacle for use with a stripping apparatus for stripping 
fibrous cladding material from an elongate body to enable stripped fibrous 
cladding material to be collected and be disposed of without requiring the 
removal and disposal of the entire stripping apparatus. It is a preferred 
object of the invention to provide a receptacle for use with a stripping 
apparatus for stripping fibrous cladding material from an elongate body to 
enable stripped fibrous cladding material to be collected, which can be 
detached from a striping means secured to the body, in a manner such that 
the collected fibrous material can be maintained in isolation from the 
operator and the surrounding environment at all times. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
detachable receptacle for attachment to a protective stripping means used 
for stripping fibrous cladding material from an elongate body, said 
receptacle being adapted to collect said stripped material and comprising: 
a flexible envelope of substantially impermeable material having an 
opening to allow for the deposition of said cladding material therein; 
fastening means to integrally connect the receptacle to a corresponding 
opening provided on said stripping means when it is secured to said body 
enabling communication between the envelope and stripping apparatus 
interior via said openings; envelope closure means provided on said 
envelope and disposed apart from said fastening means to close the 
envelope opening and substantially seal the contents of the envelope 
during attachment or detachment to said apparatus independently of said 
fastening means; and an outer cover to enclose said envelope so as to 
facilitate containment of the envelope therein when sealed. 
Preferably, the peripheral edge of the outer cover encompassing said 
envelope is capable of being releasably and sealingly engaged to the 
outerside of the stipping means. 
The envelope closure means preferably comprises envelope closure strips 
attached to opposing inner faces of the envelope whereby the strips are 
adapted to interlock with each other when pressed together. 
The envelope is preferably provided with a depending flap means to cover 
said envelope closure means from contacting cladding material during 
passage of the material through the envelope opening when the receptacle 
is attached to the stripping means. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a stripping apparatus for stipping fibrous cladding material from 
an elongate body, comprising: 
a stripping means adapted to be detachably and sealingly secured at one end 
to the longitudinal portion of said body, the stripping means being formed 
of flexible material and having means whereby an operator can insert his 
hand and perform manipulations within the interior of the stripping means 
for work on said body whilst maintaining isolation between the interior of 
said stripping means and the operator's hands, and a stripping means 
opening at the other end through which stripped cladding material may pass 
for collection; and 
a detachable receptacle for collecting said cladding material stripped from 
the body comprising: a flexible envelope of substantially impermeable 
material having an opening to allow for the deposition of said cladding 
material therein; fastening means to integrally connect the receptacle to 
said stripping means opening enabling communication between the envelope 
and stripping apparatus interior via said openings; envelope closure means 
provided on said envelope and disposed apart from said fastening means to 
close the envelope opening and substantially seal the contents of the 
envelope during attachment or detachment to said apparatus independently 
of said fastening means; and an outer cover to enclose said envelope so as 
to facilitate containment of the envelope therein when sealed. 
Preferably, the stripping means is provided with stripping closure means 
disposed apart from said fastening means to close the stripping means 
opening and substantially seal the same during attachment or detachment of 
said receptacle. 
The closure means preferably comprises stripping closure strips attached to 
opposing inner faces of said stripping means, whereby the strips are 
adapted to interlock with each other when pressed togther. 
The openings are preferably normally biased open by the provision of a 
stiffening stay means formed within a said opening. 
The stripping apparatus is preferably provided with depending flap meanas 
to cover said closure means from contacting cladding material during 
passage of the same to the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The embodiment is directed towards a stripping apparatus which is 
specifically shaped for stripping fibrous cladding material in the form of 
lagging from a pipe. 
A stripping apparatus 11 essentially comprises a stripping means 12 and a 
detachable receptacle 13. 
The receptacle 13 is constructed from flexible, impermeable material, which 
is preferably a transparent, plastics material such as polythene, and has 
all seams fully welded. The receptacle is in the form of a bag and 
consists of an envelope 16 encompassed with an outer cover 17. The 
envelope is attached to the outer cover by means of a welded seam 18 
disposed along the bottom of the receptacle only, thereby facilitating 
relative independent manipulation of the envelope with respect to the 
outer cover and vice versa. 
The envelope 16 has an envelope opening 19a at its upper end which in turn 
is provided with a fastener 20a which forms part of a fastening means in 
the form of a sliding clasp fastener 20. The envelope is also provided 
with an envelope closure means which comprises a pair of envelope closure 
strips 21 attached to the opposing inner faces of the envelope and 
disposed apart from the fastener 20a. The closure strips are preferably 
co-operating parts of the type known under the trade mark "Velcro", which 
are adapted to interlock with each other when pressed together. 
A pair of depending flap means 22 are provided on the inner face of the 
envelope immediately above the envelope closure strips 21 to cover and 
protect the same from cladding material which may impinge thereupon during 
passage through the envelope opening. The outer cover 17 is constructed to 
closely conform to the shape and size of the envelope therein. In 
addition, the sides of the receptacle may be gusseted to enable both the 
envelope and outer cover to be opened sufficiently for attachment to the 
stripping means 12 and to maximise the size of the envelope opening 19a 
for the passage of stripped cladding material therethrough. 
The stripping means 12 is formed of flexible, impermeable material which is 
preferably a transparent plastics material such as heaby duty P.V.C. The 
top of the stripping means is provided with a pair of side flaps 23 
located at opposite sides thereof which co-extend to form a pendent 
working portion 24. The flaps are shaped to form a sleeve portion at the 
top of the stripping means which approximately conforms to the size of the 
pipe 25 to which the stripping means is attached. Provided along the top 
terminating edge of each flap is a co-operating component of a sliding 
clasp fastener 26 which enables the stripping means to be detachably and 
sealingly secured to a portion of a pipe so that the flaps effectively 
wrap around the outer extremity of the pipe circumscribing the fibrous 
lagging material 27 therein one flap is longer than the other to enable 
the fastener to be displaced to one side of the pipe for ease of 
fastening. 
The stripping means is also provided with a pair of quick release 
tightening straps 14 for sealingly fastening the stripping means opposite 
the arm portions 28 so that an operator may locate various tools therein 
to facilitate the stripping operation. Located above the pouch and formed 
integrally with the stripping means, is a nozzle 34 to which a hose may be 
attched and fluid, preferably water, injected into the interior of the 
shroud and receptacle to facilitate cleaning the inside thereof from 
extraneous cladding material. Like with the receptacle, the stripping 
means is provided with gussets 15 along the sides of the working portion 
24, to allow widening of the same, thereby facilitating the stripping 
operation. 
Now describing the method of using the stripping apparatus, the detachable 
receptacle 13 is attached to the bottom of the stripping means 12 by 
conjoining the respective fasteners 20a, 20b and operating the clasp 
fastener to connect the respective openings 19 of the receptacle and 
stripping means. The closure means are separated and covered with the 
respective depending flap means so that the stripping apparatus defines an 
internal chamber. 
To sealingly close the interconnection between the bottom of the stripping 
means and the receptacle, the peripheral edge 35 of the outer cover 17 is 
disposed proximate the joined fasteners 20 and is attached to the outer 
side thereof by reinforcing tape to completely seal the joint. 
The top flaps of the stripping means, which are separated, are then placed 
about the sides of the pipe and lagging, and closed thereabout by means of 
the sliding clasp fastener 26 to form the circumscribing sleeve portion 
about the pipe. The quick release tightening straps 14 are then tightened 
about the lateral arms 23 to sealingly so formed sleeve portion about the 
pipe. 
The pendent working portion 24 forms a working station for an operator to 
strip lagging from the pipe by having a pair of arm portions 28 with 
gloves at the ends thereof extending inwardly towards the interior of the 
shroud through which an operator can insert his hands and perform 
manipulations therein for work on the pipe whilst maintaining isolation 
between the interior of the stripping means and the operator's hands. 
The bottom of the stripping means forms a stripping means opening 19b which 
is provided with a fastener 20b which forms the other part of the 
fastening means in the form of the clasp sliding fastener 20. The bottom 
of the stripping means defining the opening 19b is hemmed to define a 
pocket 29 in which is inserted a stiffening stay means 30, which consists 
of a flexible nylon oval hoop, to bias the stripping means opening 19b 
towards the open position. 
Disposed apart from the stripping means fastener 20b is a stripping closure 
means which consists of a pair of stripping means closure strips 31 
attached to the respective opposing inner faces of the stripping means. As 
with the receptacle closure strips 21, the stripping means closure strips 
31 are the co-operating parts of the type known under the trade mark 
"Velcro" and are adapted to interlock with each other when pressing 
together, thereby sealing the interior of the stripping means. Similarly, 
a pair of depending flap means 32 are attached to the inner faces of the 
stripping means above the respective stripping means closure strips to 
cover and protect the same from cladding material which may contact and 
impinge thereupon, during passage of the stripped material into the 
receptacle. 
A pouch 33 is attached to the inner surface of the stripping means opposite 
the arm portions 28 so that an operator may locate various tools therein 
to facilitate the stripping operation. Located above the pouch and formed 
integrally with the stripping means, is a nozzle 34 to which a hose may be 
attached and fluid, preferably water, injected into the interior of the 
stripping means and receptacle to facilitate cleaning the inside thereof 
from extraneous cladding material. Like with the receptacle, the stripping 
means, is provided with gussets 15 along the sides of the working portion 
24, to allow widening of the same, thereby facilitating the stripping 
operation. 
Now describing the method of using the stripping apparatus, the detachable 
receptacle 13 is attached to the bottom of the stripping means 12 by 
conjoining the respective fasteners 20a, 20b and operating the clasp 
fastener to connect the respective openings 19 of the receptacle and 
stripping means. The closure means are separated and covered with the 
respective depending flap means 32 so that the stripping apparatus defines 
an internal chamber. 
To sealingly close the interconnection between the bottom of the stripping 
means and the receptacle, the peripheral edge 35 of the outer cover 17 is 
disposed proximate the joined fasteners 20 and is attached to the outer 
side thereof by reinforcing tape 110 to completely seal the joint. 
The top flaps of the stripping means, which are separated, are then placed 
about the sides of the pipe and lagging, and closed thereabout by means of 
the sliding clasp fastener 26 to form the circumscribing sleeve portion 
about the pipe. The quick release tightening straps 14 are then tightened 
about the lateral arms 23 to sealingly engage the sleeve portion of the 
stripping means to the pipe. At this point the operator may insert his 
hands within the arm portions 28 into the gloves and commence stripping 
the lagging from the pipe. Stripped lagging material may then fall within 
the stripping apparatus and be deposited within the envelope of the 
detachable receptacle. 
To remove the detachable receptacle 13 from the stripping means 12 the 
operator can firstly wash the interior of the stripping means and 
receptacle by attaching a hose to the nozzle 34 and wetting down 
extraneous fibrous material therein. Subsequently, the depending flaps in 
the receptacle can then be lifted and the co-operating envelope closure 
strips pressed together, sealing the contents of the envelope from the 
stripping means. This operation can then be repeated with the stripping 
means closure strips sealing the contents of the stripping means from the 
region surrounding the interconnected fasteners. The reinforcing tape can 
then be removed from the joint interconnnecting the receptacle to the 
stripping means, and the clasp fastener 20 released, detaching the 
receptacle from the stripping means. Subsequently, the sealed envelope may 
be folded within the outer cover 17 and tie wire applied about the 
peripheral edge of the outer cover enclosing the sealed envelope therein. 
At this point a used receptacle may be disposed of and a new receptacle 
attached to the stripping means by reapplying the clasp fastener 20 and 
reinforcing the joint by locating the peripheral edge of the outer cover 
proximate the joint and sealing with reinforcing tape. The respective 
closure stirps may then be separated and covered by the depending flaps 
allowing the operator to continue with the stripping operation. 
In this manner, the same stripping means may be used repeatedly on a 
section of pipe without necessitating replacement thereof thus a number of 
disposable detachable receptacles can be used with the same stripping 
means, improving the efficiency and minimizing costs in completing a 
stripping operation. 
It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention is not 
limited to the scope of the specific embodiment herein described. 
Particularly, the invention is not limited to stripping lagging from 
pipes, but it may be embodied in different configurations so that it can 
be used to strip fibrous cladding material from other types of bodies 
bearing the same.