Feed mechanism for a drain cleaner assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11905698-B2
Application number	US-202017052658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2020
Priority date	Apr 19, 2019
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A feed mechanism for use with a drain cleaner includes a frame configured to be coupled to the drain cleaner. The frame including a cable passage defining a cable axis. The feed mechanism includes a plurality of rollers including a translatable roller. Each roller defines a roller axis. The translatable roller is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The feed mechanism includes a mode selection member coupled to the frame and moveable between a first position in which each roller axis is parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to spin the cable about the cable axis, and a second position in which each roller axis is non-parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to move the cable in a first direction along the cable axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A feed mechanism for use with a drain cleaner, the feed mechanism configured to drive a cable of the drain cleaner, the feed mechanism comprising:
a frame configured to be coupled to the drain cleaner, the frame including a cable passage defining a cable axis;
a plurality of rollers including a translatable roller, each roller defining a roller axis, the translatable roller moveable between an engaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved toward the cable axis to engage the cable, and a disengaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved away from the cable axis to be spaced from the cable;
a mode selection member coupled to the frame and moveable between
a first position in which each roller axis is parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to spin the cable about the cable axis, and
a second position in which each roller axis is non-parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to move the cable in a first direction along the cable axis,

wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in the first position, the feed mechanism is operable to spin the cable about the cable axis,
wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in the second position, the feed mechanism is operable to move the cable in the first direction along the cable axis;
a lever configured to pivot between an active position, in which the translatable roller is in the engaged position, and an inactive position in which the translatable roller is in the disengaged position; and
a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve having a slot and containing a roller retainer that respectively holds one of the plurality of rollers, each roller retainer having a pin respectively extending through the slot of the sleeve containing the roller retainer, each roller retainer defining a retainer axis, and wherein the roller retainer holding the translatable roller is a translatable roller retainer;
wherein the mode selection member engages each of the pins, such that in response to movement of the mode selection member between the first and second positions, each pin is respectively rotated about its respective retainer axis within the slot through which the pin extends, such that each roller retainer is rotated about its respective retainer axis;
wherein at least one of the roller retainers that is not the translatable roller retainer includes a rounded bottom that engages a bottom of the sleeve in which the roller retainer is arranged.

2. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mode selection member is moveable to a third position in which each roller axis is non-parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to move the cable in a second direction along the cable axis that is opposite the first direction.

3. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mode selection member is rotatable about the cable axis between the first and second positions.

4. The feed mechanism of claim 3 , further comprising a mode selection lever, and wherein the mode selection member includes a first attachment point configured to removably receive the mode selection lever, such that when the mode selection member is on the first attachment point, the mode selection lever can be used to rotate the mode selection member between the first and second positions.

5. The feed mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the mode selection member includes a second attachment point configured to removably receive the mode selection lever, such that when the mode selection member is on the second attachment point, the mode selection lever can be used to rotate the mode selection member between the first and second positions.

6. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein when the lever pivots from the inactive position to the active position, the lever pivots toward the drain cleaner.

7. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the translatable roller retainer is translatable in its respective sleeve in response to movement of the lever between the active and inactive positions.

8. The feed mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the pin of the translatable roller retainer is coupled to the translatable roller retainer via a hinge joint, such that in response to the translatable roller retainer translating within its respective sleeve, the pin of the translatable roller retainer is able to pivot within the slot through which it extends.

9. The feed mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the pin of the translatable roller retainer is configured to rotate about the retainer axis of the translatable roller retainer along a first plane in response to the mode selection member moving between the first and second positions, and wherein the pin of the translatable roller retainer is configured to pivot along a second plane that is perpendicular to a first plane in response to the translatable roller retainer translating within its respective sleeve.

10. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sleeves and each of the plurality of roller retainers are formed of aluminum.

11. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a graphite based grease is respectively applied between each sleeve and the roller retainer that it contains.

12. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the each of the roller retainers is hard coat anodized.

13. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in the second position, the feed mechanism is operable to move the cable in the first direction along the cable axis at a maximum speed.

14. The feed mechanism of claim 13 , wherein when the translatable roller is in the engaged position and the mode selection member is in a position between the first and second positions, the feed mechanism is operable to move the cable in the first direction along the cable axis at a speed that is less than the maximum speed.

15. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the rounded bottom engages the bottom of the sleeve at a single point of contact.

16. The feed mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the single point of contact is intersected by a roller retainer axis that is defined by the roller retainer having the rounded bottom.

17. The feed mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the each of the rollers is selected from a group consisting of
a bushing with a bearing pressed into the bushing,
a pair of adjacent bearings, and
a bushing.

18. A feed mechanism for use with a drain cleaner, the feed mechanism configured to drive a cable of the drain cleaner, the feed mechanism comprising:
a frame configured to be coupled to the drain cleaner, the frame including a cable passage defining a cable axis;
a plurality of rollers including a translatable roller, each roller defining a roller axis, the translatable roller moveable between an engaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved toward the cable axis to engage the cable, and a disengaged position, in which the translatable roller is moved away from the cable axis to be spaced from the cable;
a mode selection member coupled to the frame and moveable between
a first position in which each roller axis is parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to spin the cable about the cable axis, and
a second position in which each roller axis is non-parallel to the cable axis and the plurality of rollers are configured to move the cable in a first direction along the cable axis,

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Reed Michael C
• Hilger Timothy J

Classifications

• E03F9/005 Primary

  Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods · 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