Drain cleaner fluid management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11826798-B2
Application number	US-202117345091-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2021
Priority date	Dec 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

Drain cleaning machines having various fluid management provisions are described. The various fluid management provisions serve to direct and collect fluid and debris carried with a drain cleaning cable undergoing retraction into the machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) comprising:
a frame ( 12 ) defining a face end ( 14 );
a clutch assembly ( 42 ) for engaging and imparting rotation to a drain cleaning cable;
a clutch enclosure ( 80 ) containing a hollow interior region ( 86 ) and defining at least one drain aperture ( 88 ), wherein the clutch enclosure ( 80 ) contains the clutch assembly ( 42 ) and is configured to collect liquid from the hollow interior region ( 86 ) and direct the collected liquid to the at least one drain aperture ( 88 ).

2. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the clutch enclosure ( 80 ) includes a first portion ( 82 ) and a second portion ( 84 ) configured to mate together and thereby define the hollow interior region ( 86 ).

3. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid reservoir ( 100 ) disposed adjacent the clutch enclosure ( 80 ), wherein the fluid reservoir ( 100 ) includes a liquid receiving interior.

4. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 3 , wherein the fluid reservoir ( 100 ) further includes a drain aperture ( 102 ).

5. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the fluid reservoir ( 100 ) further includes a drain plug ( 104 ) for selectively sealing the drain aperture ( 102 ) of the fluid reservoir ( 100 ).

6. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising: an assembly for extending and/or retracting the drain cleaning cable relative to the machine ( 10 ).

7. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cable entryway ( 16 ) defining a hollow interior region ( 18 ) through which a drain cleaning cable may pass, wherein the cable entryway ( 16 ) further defines
a distal end ( 20 ),
a proximal end ( 22 ),
a hollow interior ( 23 ), and
an interior wall ( 24 ) extending between the distal end ( 20 ) and the proximal end ( 22 ),
wherein the cable entryway ( 16 ) is oriented such that the distal end ( 20 ) of the cable entryway ( 16 ) is located along the face end ( 14 ) of the frame ( 12 ).

8. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the cable entryway ( 16 ) further defines at least one channel aperture ( 28 ) extending through a wall of the cable entryway ( 16 ).

9. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 7 , further including a drain passage ( 30 ) defining an entrance ( 32 ) located near the at least one channel aperture ( 28 ).

10. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 9 , wherein the drain passage ( 30 ) further defines an exit ( 34 ) located near the face end ( 14 ).

11. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 7 , further comprising: an adjustment shaft ( 50 ) disposed in the hollow interior ( 23 ), wherein the adjustment shaft ( 50 ) defines a distal end ( 54 ) and an opposite proximal end ( 52 ), and wherein the distal end ( 54 ) is located closer to the face end ( 14 ) of the frame than is the proximal end ( 52 ).

12. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the cable entryway ( 16 ) includes at least one polyolefin material.

13. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 11 , wherein the adjustment shaft ( 50 ) includes an outer face ( 51 ), and wherein a gap ( 60 ) extends between the outer face ( 51 ) and an inner face of the interior wall ( 24 ) of the cable entryway ( 16 ).

14. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 13 , wherein the gap ( 60 ) is annular shaped.

15. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 13 , further including a drain passage ( 30 ) defining an entrance ( 32 ) located near the at least one channel aperture ( 28 ).

16. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 11 , further comprising:
a bearing assembly ( 75 ) rotatably supporting the proximal end ( 52 ) of the adjustment shaft ( 50 ); and
at least one exit port ( 78 ) disposed alongside the bearing assembly ( 75 ) and configured for passing liquid through the at least one exit port ( 78 ).

17. The drain cleaning machine ( 10 ) of claim 11 , wherein the at least one exit port ( 78 ) is radially oriented relative to an axis (B) of the adjustment shaft ( 50 ).

Assignees

• Ridge Tool Co

Inventors

• Kruepke Scott
• Chartier Glen R
• Skrjanc Robert

Classifications

• B08B9/02 Primary

  Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes (apparatus for cleaning metal pipes by chemical methods C23G3/04) · CPC title

• E03F7/10 Primary

  Wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools · CPC title

• B08B9/045 Primary

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

• E03F7/106

  Accessories, e.g. hose support · CPC title

• E03F7/103

  with a tank featuring one or more partition walls · CPC title