This invention relates generally to apparatus for handling material and more particularly, though not exclusively, material of a particulate or fibrous nature which may or may not be potentially hazardous to handle.. For example, the present invention may find applications for cleaning up asbestos and like materials. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for handling materials which reduces the potential dangers encountered during, for example, a cleaning up operation. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for handling material comprising a main housing having a chamber therein, said chamber comprising a plurality of zones including a liquid reservoir zone and a pre-filtering zone having a filter therein, ■ inlet means operatively connectible to a work head through which material can be delivered to the inlet means and into chamber, means for developing an air flow through the apparatus so that material can be drawn via the work head into the chamber, the apparatus being arranged so that it can operate in a plurality of selected modes of operation including a first mode of operation in which the inlet means is adapted to deliver material to said pre-filtering zone before liquid is transferred to the liquid reservoir zone through the filter and in another mode of operation the inlet means delivers material directly to the liquid reservoir zone and material is discharged from a delivery inlet which, in use, is disposed below the surface of liquid in the liquid reservoir so that air is bubbled through the liquid and thereby cleaned before passing from the chamber. Preferably the apparatus includes liquid delivery means for delivering liquid to the work head or to a region between the inlet means and the work head so that the material being drawn into the work head is mixed with water before passing to the inlet.

Preferably the pre-filtering zone is disposed above the liquid reservoir zone and spray means is provided in the pre-filtering zone to wet down any material entering the pre-filtering zone via the inlet means. In addition to this, the spray means tends to wash down the surfaces of the inner walls of the pre-filtering zone ensuring that they ^" remain free of material. The apparatus may further include a removable transfer tube which in the operative position has one end operatively connected to the inlet means with the other end defining the aforementioned delivery inlet. Control means may be provided for controlling the level of liquid in the liquid reservoir zone so that at selected levels the liquid therein can be discharged from the liquid reservoir zone. The apparatus may further include an auxiliary liquid inlet to the liquid reservoir zone with auxiliary control means for controlling the flow of liquid through the auxiliary liquid inlet. The first mentioned control means and auxiliary control means may be adapted to co-operate so that a continuous flushing operation of liquid within said liquid reservoir zone can be achieved. In operation as the water level in the liquid reservoir zone rises the first mentioned control means activates a pump to pump water out of zone. As the level falls the auxiliary control means is activated replenishing clean water into the reservoir zone. The apparatus may further include shut-off means for shutting down the apparatus when the liquid in the liquid reservoir zone exceeds a predetermined level. The apparatus may further include an air transfer passage in the pre-filtering zone for directing air through the pre-filtering zone. The transfer passage may be disposed in a region away from the filter such that material including liquid entering the pre- iltering zone is precipitated onto the filter as a result of the air expanding upon entering the pre-filtering zone from the inlet means.

Preferably the means for developing an air flow through the apparatus is in the form of a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is adapted to draw air and material including liquid through the work head into the chamber where the air passes onto the pump where a final filtering of the air is carried out. In operation, the means for developing an air flow is operated and material can be sucked up via a connecting hose or like conduit from the work head with liquid being injected into the hose or work head. The delivery tube acts as a scrubbing tube since the a vortex effect is .created with the material spinning at high speed in this portion wetting heavy particle dust and material and also microscopic dust is attracted to the water particles by mutual attraction and physical collision. In the first mode of operation, this mixture is passed via the delivery means into the pre-filtering zone where the air is allowed to expand and thus reduce the velocity of the mixture. The material at this point is separated either by pulling the gas and water through the pre-filtering zone or by precipitation across the filter. The pre-filtering zone is kept in a totally wet condition by one or more spray heads to keep the material collected wet. This prevents secondary dust omissions when the unit is serviced or cleaned. The air continues onto the means for developing an air flow where a further filtering action takes place before it passes to atmosphere. Contaminated water can be automatically pumped out of the reservoir zone for further treatment. In the second mode of operation, the transfer tube operatively connects the inlet to the liquid reservoir zone via the delivery inlet at a position below the level of the liquid. By connecting an auxiliary water supply to the reservoir, contaminated air may be drawn through the water. The height of the water is preferably controlled by a ball valve and by interaction of both a water input valve and the discharge pump a continuous flushing may be set up. Waste water may be filtered or disposed of in any suitable manner.

Whilst ball or float valves are referred to above as the preferred form of control means it will be appreciated that control could be effected by electronic sensors. A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation showing the apparatus being operated in one mode of operation; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of a work head according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus generally indicated at 1 comprises a main housing 3 having a chamber 5 therein which includes a pre-filtering zone 4 and a liquid reservoir zone 6. An inlet 8 is provided which is operatively connected to a work head 10 via a flexible hose 14. As shown in Figure 1, two inlets 8 are provided enabling more than one work head to be used or the work heads can be set up so that the apparatus is ready for use in either the first or second mode of operation. The work head 10 as shown in Figure 4 includes an aperture 11 through which the material is sucked into a tubular body 12 and on to the inlet 8 via flexible hose or conduit 14. There is further provided liquid delivery inlet 16 which delivers liquid to the work head or to a region of the hose or conduit 14 before the inlet 8. This has the effect that the liquid entering through head 16 is vortexed at high speed as it passes along hose or conduit 14 which results in the wetting of heavy particle dust and material and further microscopic dust is attracted to the liquid particles by mutual attraction and physical collison. The pre-filtering zone 4 has a filter element 20 therein and a spray head 23 for wetting down the material delivered to this zone via inlet 8. The filter element 20

may be in the form of a bag which collects the material but permits the water to pass through. When the bag is full it can be disposed of. The filter element 20 rests on a grate. In the first mode of operation where material from work head 10 enters the pre-filtering zone 4 the air expands thereby reducing its velocity. As best seen in Figure 3 air passes ^* through transfer passage 13 into reservoir zone 6 and onto vacuum pump 25. By this arrangement, liquid and material is precipitated onto filter 20 where the material is collected and the liquid passes into reservoir zone 6. The air is discharged in a region away from the filter 20 and .as such an unnecessary pressure build up in the zone 4 is avoided as the filter 20 becomes clogged. The liquid passing into the liquid reservoir zone 6 is discharged at selected intervals. The vacuum pump 25 causes the material to be drawn from the work head into the apparatus. The spray head 23 includes an inlet .24 which is operatively connectible to a liquid source under pressure such as mains water. Valve 42 controls the flow of liquid to the spray head 23 from the liquid source. The spray head 23 includes a horizontal conduit 43 having spray outlets disposed along its length in spaced relation. The outlets are arranged to provide a spray pattern which extends over the pre-filtering zone 4 so that the spray falls towards the bottom of the zone 4. The spray head 23 further includes an auxiliary liquid feed 25 for feeding liquid to the reservoir 6. This feed 25 has a main control valve 41 and a control valve 27 in the form of a float valve. A further valved outlet 40 is capable of having a hose attached thereto. The float valve 27 maintains the water level inside the reservoir if required when in the air/water filtration mode as shown in Figure 3. In this mode, a transfer tube 29 having a delivery inlet 30 transfers the material being drawn via the inlet 8 to a point below the level of liquid in the reservoir. The apparatus further includes a pump 33 which when the water level in the reservoir rises, the automatic float 34 actuates the motor pumping the water out to a drainage

filtration station. Thus float 34 and float 27 can be arranged to co-operate so as to enable a continuous flushing of the liquid within the liquid reservoir 6. A drainage cock 31 is provided in the liquid storage vessel to enable easy drainage when cleaning. An auxiliary vacuum pump can be fitted to nozzle 39 to provide additional ^* power. The apparatus of the present invention has many applications and may, for example, be used with a shower base which has a side outlet to which the hose to the inlet can be operatively connected. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.