Containment apparatus for collecting fragments of foam insulation

A containment apparatus for collecting fragments of foam insulation from the fuselage of an aircraft, said apparatus comprising

• a containment chamber defining an internal volume, said containment chamber capable of receiving at least a portion of a dry ice blasting apparatus,
• a foam inlet defined by said containment chamber, said foam inlet shaped to conform to an insulated surface of an aerospace system,
• a vacuum port in fluid communication with said containment chamber for providing transport of foam between the internal volume of the containment chamber and a vacuum source,
• an air inlet formed by at least one portion of said containment chamber, and
• a nozzle of a dry ice blasting apparatus disposed within said containment chamber.

A method of removing and containing foam insulation from the surface of an aerospace structure, comprising:

• isolating the region of the structure from which insulation is to be removed by mating a containment chamber to the insulated surface;
• pulverizing the foam insulation from the insulated surface using a dry ice blast method;
• providing suction to the containment chamber via a vacuum port defined by the containment chamber;
• and,
• transporting the pulverized particles of insulation through the vacuum port to a collection container.