Patent ID: 7140065

Claim:
A machine that performs surface preparation of a pipeline by stripping coating therefrom, comprising: a vacuum shroud having: a main wall that surrounds a longitudinally-extending section of the pipeline, the main wall having a plurality of equidistantly and circumferentially spaced apart nozzle openings; end walls apertured to receive the pipeline; a vacuum opening; and an ultra high pressure water nozzle positioned within each of the nozzle openings; a carrier assembly for causing the vacuum shroud to travel along the pipeline in a predetermined direction; an oscillating means for oscillating the vacuum shroud in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction as the vacuum shroud travels along the pipeline; a vacuum hose having a leading end connected to the vacuum opening and a trailing end adapted to be connected to a remote source of negative pressure; and a filter trap for collecting debris stripped from the pipeline, the filter trap disposed between the vacuum opening and the remote source of negative pressure whereby the debris is collected within the filter trap and is not discharged into the atmosphere.