GB2196089A

GB2196089A - Drain cleaner tool

Info

Publication number: GB2196089A
Application number: GB08623883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Russell Holden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-04
Filing date: 1986-10-04
Publication date: 1988-04-20
Also published as: GB8623883D0

Abstract

A U-bend 22 has debris 24 eg. sludge, silt or leaves removed therefrom by lowering the forward end of a nose 24 of a scoop 10 into the U-bend. The upwardly facing surface of the member 16 is generally curved, and this rides over and follows the outer wall 28. As the tool is being lowered into and along the U-bend, the nose pushes through the sludge which flows onto the generally concave member 16 and into a pocket 20. The scoop 10 is then raised out of the bend with the sludge being lifted out by the pocket 20 and the concave member 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drain cleaner tool The present invention relates to a drain cleaner tool and in particular, although not exclusively, to a tool for cleaning material such as sludge, slit, leaves or other debris from drain gulleys and U-bends.

At present, when a U-bend becomes blocked with sludge, a flat plate is lowered into the U-bend and the sludge is agitated in order to break up the sludge and hopefully to clear the bend. That sludge which is not able to flow around the bend is then removed by hand. The removal of the sludge by hand is a dirty, lengthy and unhygenic task as well as involving a considerable amount of effort in repeatedly lowering and removing a hand from the bend.

According to one aspect of the present invention a drain cleaner tool comprises a supporting arm having a scoop at one end thereof. With such a tool, the sludge in a Ubend can be removed by lowering the tool into the bend and then lifting the tool out of the bend in order to lift some of the sludge with the tool without the person having to lift out the sludge in their hand.

The scoop may include a pocket which may open towards the supporting arm.

The scoop may include a supporting surface extending from the pocket. The supporting arm may be attached to the scoop at a location remote from the pocket. The supporting surface may extend between the pocket and the supporting area.

The scoop may include a nose extending away from the end of the tool or away from the supporting arm. In use, at least some of the material through which the nose advances may be arranged to pass over the nose. The nose may be arranged to pass adjacent to a wall of a member into which it is being inserted. The underside of the nose may be curved.

The supporting arm may extend at an angle from that in which the scoop extends.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of removing material from a conduit comprises passing the scoop of a drain cleaner tool into the material by holding a supporting arm connected to the scoop and raising the tool in order to raise at least some of the material on the scoop.

The method may further comprise causing the scoop to pass through the material to allow the material to pass onto the scoop and then raising the tool. The scoop may include a nose which is caused to pass adjacent to the wall of the conduit when passing the scoop into the material. The method may comprise allowing the material to flow into a pocket of the scoop before raising the tool.

The present invention also includes a method of removing material from a conduit using a drain cleaner tool as herein specified.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view from the front and to one side of a drain cleaning tool, and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a U bend showing the drain cleaning tool in use.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tool includes a scoop 10 at one end connected to a handle 12 at the other end by an elongate rod 14.

The scoop 10 is formed from steel sheet and includes a lower generally concave member 16 the end portion of which is covered by a curved plate 18 welded to the edge of the member 16. The member 16 and the plate 18 together form a pocket 20. The rod 14 is welded to the end of the member 16 and the ord is bent at its end remote from the scoop 10 to form the handle 12.

Fig. 2 shows a U-bend 22 which has be come blocked with material such as sludge 24.

In order to remove the sludge and clear the bend, the tool is lowered into the U-bend by the operator holding the handle and rod such that the forward end of a nose 26 of the scoop, defined by the outer forward edges of the member 16 and the plate 18, passes adajcent to the outer wall 28 of the bend.

The outwardly facing surface of the member 16 is generally curved, and this rides over and follows the outer wall 28, particularly in its lower region. As the tool is being lowered into and along the U-bend, the nose pushes through the sludge which flows onto the generally concave member 16 and into the pocket 20.

The scoop is then raised out of the bend with the sludge being lifted out by the pocket 20 and the concave member 16.

The scoop is then emptied and the above described sequence repeated a sufficient num ber of times to clear the bend satisfactorily.

The tool may be used when a particular U bend or drain gully becomes blocked, or per iodically to prevent sufficient build up of sludge for the bend or gully to become actu ally blocked.

1. A drain cleaner tool comprising a sup porting arm having a scoop at one end thereof.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 in which the scoop includes a pocket opening towards the supporting arm.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 in which the scoop includes a supporting surface ex tending from the pocket.

4. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the supporting arm is attached to the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Drain cleaner tool The present invention relates to a drain cleaner tool and in particular, although not exclusively, to a tool for cleaning material such as sludge, slit, leaves or other debris from drain gulleys and U-bends. At present, when a U-bend becomes blocked with sludge, a flat plate is lowered into the U-bend and the sludge is agitated in order to break up the sludge and hopefully to clear the bend. That sludge which is not able to flow around the bend is then removed by hand. The removal of the sludge by hand is a dirty, lengthy and unhygenic task as well as involving a considerable amount of effort in repeatedly lowering and removing a hand from the bend. According to one aspect of the present invention a drain cleaner tool comprises a supporting arm having a scoop at one end thereof. With such a tool, the sludge in a Ubend can be removed by lowering the tool into the bend and then lifting the tool out of the bend in order to lift some of the sludge with the tool without the person having to lift out the sludge in their hand. The scoop may include a pocket which may open towards the supporting arm. The scoop may include a supporting surface extending from the pocket. The supporting arm may be attached to the scoop at a location remote from the pocket. The supporting surface may extend between the pocket and the supporting area. The scoop may include a nose extending away from the end of the tool or away from the supporting arm. In use, at least some of the material through which the nose advances may be arranged to pass over the nose. The nose may be arranged to pass adjacent to a wall of a member into which it is being inserted. The underside of the nose may be curved. The supporting arm may extend at an angle from that in which the scoop extends. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of removing material from a conduit comprises passing the scoop of a drain cleaner tool into the material by holding a supporting arm connected to the scoop and raising the tool in order to raise at least some of the material on the scoop. The method may further comprise causing the scoop to pass through the material to allow the material to pass onto the scoop and then raising the tool. The scoop may include a nose which is caused to pass adjacent to the wall of the conduit when passing the scoop into the material. The method may comprise allowing the material to flow into a pocket of the scoop before raising the tool. The present invention also includes a method of removing material from a conduit using a drain cleaner tool as herein specified. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view from the front and to one side of a drain cleaning tool, and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a U bend showing the drain cleaning tool in use. As shown in Fig. 1, the tool includes a scoop 10 at one end connected to a handle 12 at the other end by an elongate rod 14. The scoop 10 is formed from steel sheet and includes a lower generally concave member 16 the end portion of which is covered by a curved plate 18 welded to the edge of the member 16. The member 16 and the plate 18 together form a pocket 20. The rod 14 is welded to the end of the member 16 and the ord is bent at its end remote from the scoop 10 to form the handle 12. Fig. 2 shows a U-bend 22 which has be come blocked with material such as sludge 24. In order to remove the sludge and clear the bend, the tool is lowered into the U-bend by the operator holding the handle and rod such that the forward end of a nose 26 of the scoop, defined by the outer forward edges of the member 16 and the plate 18, passes adajcent to the outer wall 28 of the bend. The outwardly facing surface of the member 16 is generally curved, and this rides over and follows the outer wall 28, particularly in its lower region. As the tool is being lowered into and along the U-bend, the nose pushes through the sludge which flows onto the generally concave member 16 and into the pocket 20. The scoop is then raised out of the bend with the sludge being lifted out by the pocket 20 and the concave member 16. The scoop is then emptied and the above described sequence repeated a sufficient num ber of times to clear the bend satisfactorily. The tool may be used when a particular U bend or drain gully becomes blocked, or per iodically to prevent sufficient build up of sludge for the bend or gully to become actu ally blocked. CLAIMS

4. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the supporting arm is attached to the scoop at a location remote from the pocket.

5. A tool as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 when dependent upon Claim 3 in which the supporting surface extends between the pocket and the supporting arm.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim including a nose extending away from the end of the tool.

7. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the scoop includes a nose extending away from the supporting arm.

8. A tool as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 in which the nose is arranged to pass adjacent to a wall of a member into which it is being inserted.

9. A tool as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 8 in which the underside of the nose is curved.

10. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the supporting arm extends at an angle from that in which the scoop extends.

11. A drain cleaner tool substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of removing material from a conduit comprising passing the scoop of a drain cleaner tool into the material by holdings a supporting arm connected to the scoop and raising the tool in order to raise at least some of the material on the scoop.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12 comprising causing the scoop to pass through the material to allow the material to pass onto the scoop and then raising the tool.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 in which the scoop includes a nose which is caused to pass adjacent to the wall of the conduit when passing the scoop into the material.

15. A method as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14 in which the method comprises allowing the material to flow into a pocket of the scoop before raising the tool.

16. A method of removing material from a conduit using a drain cleaner tool substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 16 comprising using a drain cleaner tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11.