Drain cleaning machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264469-B2
Application number	US-202318480590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2023
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A drain cleaning machine for moving a snake in a drain. The drain cleaning machine includes a housing, a motor configured to move the snake in the drain, a switch trigger configured to move between a first switch trigger position and a second switch trigger position, an actuating lever moveable between a deactivated position and an activated position, and a switch linkage configured to be moved by the actuating lever between a first switch linkage position and a second switch linkage position. In response to the actuating lever moving from the deactivated position to the activated position, the switch linkage is moved from the first switch linkage position to the second switch linkage position, and in response to the actuating lever moving from the activated position to the deactivated position, the switch linkage is moved from the second switch linkage position to the first switch linkage position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drain cleaning machine for moving a snake in a drain, the drain cleaning machine comprising:
a housing;
a snake passage in the housing and defining a snake axis;
a motor configured to move the snake in the drain when the snake is arranged along the snake axis and the motor is activated;
a switch trigger configured to move between a first switch trigger position, in which the motor is not activated, and a second switch trigger position, in which the motor is activated, the switch trigger biased to the first switch trigger position;
an actuating lever moveable between a deactivated position, in which the drain cleaning machine is configured to disengage the snake, and an activated position, in which the drain cleaning machine is configured to engage the snake to move the snake; and
a switch linkage configured to be moved by the actuating lever between a first switch linkage position, in which the switch trigger is moved to the first switch trigger position, and a second switch linkage position, in which the switch trigger is moved to the second switch trigger position;
wherein in response to the actuating lever moving from the deactivated position to the activated position, the switch linkage is moved from the first switch linkage position to the second switch linkage position, and in response to the actuating lever moving from the activated position to the deactivated position, the switch linkage is moved from the second switch linkage position to the first switch linkage position.

2. The drain cleaning machine of claim 1 , further comprising a plunger engaged against the switch trigger and a spring between the plunger and the switch linkage, the spring biasing the switch linkage toward the first position.

3. The drain cleaning machine of claim 2 , wherein the switch trigger, the switch linkage, the spring, and the plunger are arranged in a bracket in the housing.

4. The drain cleaning machine of claim 2 , wherein the plunger is moveable between a first plunger position, in which the switch trigger is in the first switch trigger position, and a second plunger position, in which the switch trigger is in the second switch trigger position.

5. The drain cleaning machine of claim 4 , further comprising:
a linkage member configured to be moved by the actuating lever when the actuating lever moves between the deactivated and activated positions; and
a push member coupling the linkage member to the switch linkage.

6. The drain cleaning machine of claim 5 , wherein the actuating lever is coupled to the linkage member via an arm, and wherein when the actuating lever moves to the activated position, the arm pivots, moving the linkage member toward the switch trigger.

7. The drain cleaning machine of claim 6 , wherein when the actuating lever moves to the activated position, the push member pushes the switch linkage to the second switch position, compressing the spring and pushing the plunger to the second plunger position, in which the plunger depresses the switch trigger, moving the switch trigger to the second switch trigger position.

8. The drain cleaning machine of claim 7 , wherein when the actuating lever moves to the deactivated position, the spring expands as the switch linkage moves back to the first switch linkage position, allowing the plunger to move away from the switch trigger and the switch trigger to move to the first switch trigger position.

9. The drain cleaning machine of claim 5 , wherein when the actuating lever moves between the deactivated and activated positions, the switch trigger travels less than or equal to 20% of a distance traveled by the linkage member.

10. The drain cleaning machine of claim 9 , wherein the linkage member moves 40 mm and the switch trigger moves 8 mm.

11. A drain cleaning machine for moving a snake in a drain, the drain cleaning machine comprising:
a housing;
a snake passage in the housing and defining a snake axis;
a motor configured to move the snake in the drain when the snake is arranged along the snake axis and the motor is activated;
a switch trigger configured to activate the motor when pressed;
an actuating lever moveable between a deactivated position and an activated position;
a switch linkage configured to be moved by the actuating lever toward the switch trigger;
a plunger configured to depress the switch trigger;
a spring seated against the plunger and configured to bias the switch linkage away from the plunger; and
wherein when the actuating lever moves to the activated position, the switch linkage is pushed toward the switch trigger, compressing the spring and pushing the plunger toward the switch trigger, causing the plunger to depress the switch trigger.

12. The drain cleaning machine of claim 11 , wherein the plunger is moveable between a first plunger position, in which the switch trigger is not pressed and a second plunger position, in which the switch trigger is pressed.

13. The drain cleaning machine of claim 12 , wherein the switch trigger, the switch linkage, the spring, and the plunger are arranged in a bracket in the housing.

14. The drain cleaning machine of claim 13 , further comprising a linkage member configured to be moved by the actuating lever when the actuating lever moves between the deactivated and activated positions, the linkage member being coupled to the actuating lever via an arm.

15. The drain cleaning machine of claim 14 , wherein when the actuating lever moves to the activated position, the arm pivots, moving the linkage member toward the switch trigger.

16. The drain cleaning machine of claim 15 , wherein when the actuating lever moves between the deactivated and activated positions, the switch trigger travels less than or equal to 20% of a distance traveled by the linkage member.

17. The drain cleaning machine of claim 15 , wherein the linkage member moves 40 mm and the switch trigger moves 8 mm.

18. A drain cleaning machine for moving a snake in a drain, the drain cleaning machine comprising:
a snake passage defining a snake axis;
a motor configured to move the snake in the drain when the snake is arranged along the snake axis and the motor is activated;
a radial drive mechanism used to spin the snake about the snake axis, the radial drive mechanism being switchable between an engaged state and a disengaged state;
a translate mechanism used to translate the snake along the snake axis, the translate mechanism being switchable between an engaged state and a disengaged state;
a selection mechanism configured to switch the radial drive mechanism from the disengaged state to the engaged state and configured to switch the translate mechanism from the disengaged state to the engaged state,
a switch trigger configured to move between a first switch trigger position, in which the motor is not activated, and a second switch trigger position, in which the motor is activated, the switch trigger biased to the first switch trigger position;
an actuating lever moveable between a deactivated position and an activated position; and
a switch linkage configured to be moved by the actuating lever between a first switch linkage position, in which the switch trigger is moved to the first switch trigger position, and a second switch linkage position, in which the switch trigger is moved to the second switch trigger position;
wherein moving the actuating lever to the activated position activates the motor and causes the selection mechanism to engage the translate mechanism or the radial drive mechanism.

19. The drain cleaning

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Reed Michael C
• Kehoe Sean T

Classifications

• B08B9/045 Primary

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

• E03F9/005

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

• E03C1/302 Primary

  using devices moved through the pipes {(and simultaneously rotated by means of a cable or rods E03F9/005)} · CPC title