Tool-less clutch adjustment and removal for drain cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11499593-B2
Application number	US-201816214325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

Various clutch adjusting assemblies for incorporating in drain cleaning machines are described. The assemblies enable adjustment or setting of a clutch in a drain cleaning machine without the use of tools.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable clutch assembly ( 20 ) comprising:
a cylindrical sleeve ( 70 ) defining a hollow interior aligned with a longitudinal axis (A), wherein at least a portion of the hollow interior of the sleeve ( 70 ) includes a circumferential surface defining a threaded region ( 72 );
a plurality of positionable clutch members ( 40 A, 40 B) comprising at least one clutch member ( 40 A) defining a first engagement face ( 42 A) and an associated first ramp region ( 44 A), and at least one other clutch member ( 40 B) defining a second engagement face ( 42 B) and an associated second ramp region ( 44 B), wherein the first and second engagement faces ( 42 A, 42 B) are spaced apart;
a clutch cone ( 30 ) defining a cone face ( 32 ) oriented to operatively engage one of the first and second ramp regions ( 44 A, 44 B), for positioning one of the clutch members ( 40 A, 40 B) toward the other one of the clutch members ( 40 A, 40 B);
a cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) defining a hollow interior ( 56 ) aligned with the longitudinal axis (A), wherein an external circumferential surface portion of the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) defines a threaded region ( 58 ) having threads mating with the threaded region ( 72 ) of the cylindrical sleeve ( 70 ), wherein rotation of the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) in a first direction about the longitudinal axis (A) relative to the sleeve ( 70 ) causes the cone face ( 32 ) to be urged toward one of the first and second ramp regions ( 44 A, 44 B) for operatively positioning the first and second engagement faces ( 42 A, 42 B) of the clutch members ( 40 A, 40 B) together; and
a locking clamp ( 85 ) positionable between a free position at which the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (A) relative to the cylindrical sleeve ( 70 ) and a locked position at which the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) is not rotatable relative to the cylindrical sleeve ( 70 ),
wherein the locking clamp ( 85 ) includes a circumferential member ( 80 ) surrounding at least a portion of the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ), wherein the circumferential member ( 80 ) defines a first end ( 82 ) and a second end ( 84 ), and wherein the locking clamp ( 85 ) further includes a lever mechanism operatively connected to the circumferential member ( 80 ) for urging the first end ( 82 ) and the second end ( 84 ) together and causing the threaded region ( 72 ) of the sleeve ( 70 ) to frictionally engage the threaded region ( 58 ) of the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) at a preselected axial position when the locking clamp ( 85 ) is at the locked position.

2. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises an over-center lever ( 90 ).

3. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein further rotation of the cylindrical adjustment member ( 50 ) about the longitudinal axis (A) in the first direction, causes the cone face ( 32 ) to contact and slidingly engage the other of the first and second ramp regions ( 44 A, 44 B) for further positioning the first and second engagement faces ( 42 A, 42 B) of the clutch members ( 40 A, 40 B) closer together.

4. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein further rotation of the adjustment member ( 50 ) about the longitudinal axis (A) in the first direction, causes the cone face ( 32 ) to contact and slidingly engage both of the first and second ramp regions ( 44 A, 44 B) for causing the first and second engagement faces ( 42 A, 42 B) to be positioned to operatively contact a drain cleaning cable disposed therebetween.

5. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve ( 70 ) defines at least one circumferential slot ( 75 ) through a portion of the sleeve ( 70 ).

6. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sleeve ( 70 ) defines at least one axial slot ( 76 ) intersecting the at least one circumferential slot ( 75 ).

7. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one circumferential slot ( 75 ) extends along an arc ranging from about 90° to about 270°.

Assignees

• Ridge Tool Co

Inventors

• Skrjanc Robert
• Chartier Glen R
• Kruepke Scott
• Hamm James E
• Krondorfer Harald

Classifications

• F16D2023/123

  Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms · CPC title

• F16D13/62

  Clutch-bands; Clutch shoes; Clutch-drums (brake-bands, brake-shoes, brake-drums F16D65/00) · CPC title

• F16D23/12 Primary

  Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such (specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02) · CPC title

• B08B9/045

  the cleaning devices being rotated while moved {, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"}(B08B9/047 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16H1/16

  comprising worm and worm-wheel · CPC title