FR2794518A3 - Rotary cleaning appliance for water pipes includes rotating head on end of spiral spring, and has flexible metal wire coiled up and housed inside hollow body - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a guide to offset axis of the cleaning spring, so that it scrapes the inside of the pipe when rotated. The pipe cleaning device comprises a hollow body (10) within which a flexible metal wire is coiled up and housed. A channel is provided through the center of the body to guide the metal wire, which ends in a spiral head (111) projecting from the end of the device. The other end of the metal wire is coiled within a larger diameter section (151) at the rear of the device. The rear section includes a projecting handle (14) which allows the drum at the rear of the device to be rotated. An additional handle (16) projects at right angles to the main axis of the device. A plate (22) near to the front of the device deflects the metal wire from its normal axis, to that the projecting spiral head is out of alignment with the axis. The spiral head projects through a tapered sections (25) which may be placed against the open end of a pipe to be cleaned.

Description

The present invention relates to an electric device with crank start to clean a pipe in which a flexible metal wire can be rotated and deflected to ensure drilling by- blows to dig and remove obstacles in a water pipe by rotation.

Figures 7 and 8 show a conventional device for cleaning pipes comprising a magazine (90) in which a flexible metal wire is wound. A hollow pipe seat (92) starts from the front part of this magazine (90) while a crank (93) is placed on its rear part. The flexible metal wire (91) passes through the pipe seat (92). A gripping sleeve (94) is placed around the latter. A fixing bolt (95) is placed at the front end of the pipe seat (92) to immobilize the flexible metal wire (91).

In use, the gripping sleeve (94) is held with one hand while the crank is turned with the other so as to rotate the flexible metal wire (91). At this time, the spiral head (911) at the front of the wire (91) rotates to remove obstacles in the water pipe.

However, this spiral head (911) of the flexible metal wire (91) can only rotate around the axis of the wire (91). This rotation can hardly remove obstacles in a seriously congested pipeline.

In addition, the flexible metal wire (91) wound in the magazine tends to exit automatically from the pipe seat under the effect of its lack of rigidity so that it is necessary to use the bolt (95) for the immobilize. However, in the case of an excessive locking force, the structure of the flexible metallic wire (91) is destroyed whereas in the case of a loose locking, the flexible wire escapes, which has drawbacks in use. .

 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A main object of the present invention is therefore to produce an electric device with crank start-up for cleaning a pipe in which, when the main body is rotated, the front cap and the external tube are kept stationary and the eccentric inclined passage hole of the eccentric plate makes it possible to rotate the flexible metallic wire eccentrically. Thanks to the constriction of the cruciform perforation of the reduction plate in the front cap and to the conical orifice thereof, the flexible metal wire leaving the front cap is rotated and bent to drill by- strokes following a polygonal path so as to dig and remove by rotation obstacles in the water pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the preceding pipe cleaning device in which the inclined passage hole of the eccentric plate and the conical orifice of the front cap form an angle. Therefore, when the eccentric plate is moved to the front cap and immobilizes it, the flexible wire is tightened and placed in the inclined through hole and the conical hole.

In accordance with the preceding objects, the electrical device with crank start-up for cleaning a pipeline according to the present invention comprises a hollow main body in which a flexible metal wire is wound and housed. A pipe starts from one of the ends of this main body along its axis. One end of the flexible metal wire, provided with a spiral head, crosses and leaves the pipe. The central axis of the other end of the magazine has a hexagonal shaft. A crank is placed eccentrically on the other end of the main body. An outer tube is placed around the pipeline. It has a circular handle. The end of the outer tube adjacent to the main body has an enlarged section to receive this body.

The distal end of the pipe opposite the main body has a polygonal section which fits in the polygonal opening of the ring. The periphery of this polygonal section has two opposite semicircular grooves having internal threads. The wall delimiting the polygonal orifice has two opposite semi-circular grooves having internal threads by means of which, when the ring is adjusted on the pipe, the semi-circular grooves are stamped one on the other to form two threaded holes. Two bolts are screwed into these threaded holes to fix the eccentric plate. A passage hole is provided eccentrically in the eccentric plate and inclined towards the outer circumference of this plate so that the flexible metal wire passes through it.

The distal end of the outer tube opposite the main body has an internal thread allowing it to be screwed onto an external thread of the front cap. The latter has an axial conical orifice. The large diameter end of the conical orifice is close to the eccentric plate. The surface of this end is equipped with a reduction plate having a cruciform perforation whose semicircular cells are interconnected. The flexible metal wire passes through the perforation and the conical orifice.

The present invention will be better understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present assembled invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partially sectional view of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the conical orifice of the front cap and the reduction plate according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the use of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing how the flexible metal wire is immobilized.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a conventional device for cleaning pipes.

Figure 8 is a side sectional view of the conventional device for cleaning pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 4. The electrical device with a crank start for cleaning pipes according to the present invention comprises a hollow main body (10) in which a flexible metal wire (11) is wound and housed. A pipe (12) leaves from one end of this main body (10) along its axis. One end of the flexible metal wire (11), provided with a spiral head (111), passes through and leaves the pipe (12). The central axis of the other end of the magazine (10) is provided with a hexagonal shaft (13). A crank (14) is placed eccentrically on this other end of the main body (10). An external tube (15) is fitted on the pipe (12). This outer tube (15) has a circular handle (16). The end of the outer tube (15) adjacent to the main body has an enlarged section (151) for receiving this body (10).

The distal end of the pipe (12) with respect to the main body (10) has a polygonal section (121) fitted in the polygonal orifice (21) of a ring (20). The periphery of the polygonal section (121) is provided with two opposite semicircular grooves (122) having internal threads. The wall of the polygonal orifice (21) is provided with two opposite semi-circular grooves (211) having internal threads. When the ring (20) is adjusted on the pipe (12), the semicircular grooves (122), (211) are stamped one on the other to form two threaded holes. Two bolts can be screwed into the threaded holes to fix an eccentric plate (22). A through hole (23) is provided eccentrically in the plate (22) and gradually inclined towards the outer circumference of this plate so that flexible metal wire (11) can pass through it.

The distal end of the outer tube (15) with respect to the main body (10) has an internal thread (152) allowing it to be screwed onto the external thread (26) of a front cap (25) . This has an axial conical orifice (27). The large diameter end of this orifice (27) is adjacent to the eccentric plate (22) and provided with a reduction plate (28) having a cruciform perforation (29) whose semicircular cells are interconnected. The perforation cells (29) have the same angle of conicity as the conical orifice (27). The flexible metal wire (11) passes through the perforation (29) and this orifice (27).

During use, the front cap (25) is rotated and adjusted so as to move away from a certain distance from the eccentric plate (22). The handle (16) is held with one hand, while the crank (14) is turned with the other or else the hexagonal shaft (13) is driven by an electric tool so as to rotate the main body (10 ). The external face of this body is received in the enlarged section (151) of the external tube (15) so as to prevent the user from being in contact with the rotating main body (10). When this main body (10) is rotated, the front cap (25) and the outer tube (15) are held stationary. The eccentric inclined passage hole (23) of the eccentric plate (22) makes it possible to rotate the flexible metallic wire (11) eccentrically. Thanks to the constriction of the cruciform perforation (29) of the reduction plate (28) in the front cap (25) and to the conical orifice (27), the flexible metallic wire (11) coming out of the front cap (25 ) turns and is deflected to jerk along a rectangular path shown in Figure 5. Thus, thanks to the rotation ensuring drilling and jerking, the head (111) of the flexible metal wire (11) can strike and dig by rotation obstacles in the water pipe so as to remove them.

After use, the flexible metal wire (11) is gradually reintroduced into the main body (10). Then the front cap (25) is tightened on the outer tube (15) and moved to the eccentric plate (22). The axes of the inclined through hole (23) of the eccentric plate (22) and of the perforation (29) of the reduction plate (28) of the front cap (25) form an angle. Therefore, when the eccentric plate (22) is moved to the front cap (25), the flexible wire (11) is retracted and placed in the inclined through hole (23) and the perforation (29) of the plate reduction (28) as shown in Figure 6.

According to the previous embodiment, thanks to the cooperation between the inclined passage hole (23) of the eccentric plate (22) and the cruciform perforation (29) of the reduction plate (28) in the front cap (25) and at the 'conical orifice (27), the flexible metal wire (11) rotates and is deflected to ensure drilling in spurts following a rectangular path so as to dig by rotation and to remove obstacles in the water pipe. In addition, the eccentric plate (22) can be moved to the front cap (25) so as to clamp and immobilize the flexible metal wire (11).

The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present invention and should not limit its field. Many modifications of this embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Claims (3)

1. Electric device with crank start-up for cleaning a pipe comprising a hollow main body (10) in which a flexible metal wire (11) is wound and housed, a pipe (12) starting from one of the ends of this main body following its axis, one end of the flexible metal wire (11), provided with a spiral head (111), passing through and leaving the pipe (12), the central axis of the other end of the magazine (10) being provided with a hexagonal shaft (13), a crank (14) being placed eccentrically on this other end of the main body (10), an external tube (15) being placed around the pipe (12) and provided with a circular handle (16), the end of the external tube (15) adjacent to the main body (10) having an enlarged section (151) for receiving this body, in which the distal end of the pipe (12) opposite of the main body (10) has a polygonal section e (121) which fits in the polygonal orifice (21) of the ring (20), the periphery of this polygonal section (121) has two opposite semi-circular grooves (122) having internal threads, the wall defining the polygonal orifice (21) has two opposite semicircular grooves (211) having internal threads by which, when the ring (20) is adjusted on the pipe (12), the semicircular grooves (122), (211 ) are ground on top of each other to form two threaded holes, two bolts are screwed into these threaded holes to fix the eccentric plate (22), a through hole (23) is provided eccentrically in the eccentric plate ( 22) and inclined towards the external circumference of this plate so that the flexible metallic wire (11) passes through the passage hole (23) and the distal end of the external tube (15) with respect to the main body (10) has a internal thread (152) allowing it to be screwed on r an external thread (26) of the front cap (25), the latter has an axial conical orifice (27), the large diameter end of this orifice (27) is close to the eccentric plate (22), the surface of this end is equipped with a reduction plate (28) having a cruciform perforation (29) whose semicircular cells are interconnected, the flexible metal wire (11) passes through the perforation (29) and the conical orifice (27 ). 2. An electrical device with a crank start for cleaning a pipe according to claim 1, in which the reduction plate (28) has several through holes (23). 3. An electric device with a crank start for cleaning a pipe according to claim 1, in which the cells of the perforation (29) of the reduction plate (28) have the same angle of conicity as the conical orifice (27).