US1446224A

US1446224A - Adjustable sewer cleaner

Info

Publication number: US1446224A
Application number: US521024A
Authority: US
Inventors: John M Thompson; William H Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-12-08
Filing date: 1921-12-08
Publication date: 1923-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1940-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,224. J M THOMPSON ET AL ADJUSTABLE SEWER CLEANER.

HLED 02c. a. 1921. a sums-smear 1.

Feb. 20, 1923.

FILED DEC. 8.1921.

1 M THOMPSON ET AL ADJUSTABLE SEWER CLEANER.

EEEE

J. M. THOMPSON ET AL.

ADJUSTABLE SEWER CLEANER.

Feb. 20, 1923.

FILE-D 050.8.1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F's-iterated Fish. 2%, i923.

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JOHN ll i. THOBEPSON AND tVILLIAM Z-EI. THOIEPSON, O F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE SERVER CLEANER.

Application filed De-cember 8, 1921. Serial No. 521,024.

To all "l(]i0772 it may concern:

Be it known that we, Jenn M. Tiioiirson and lViLLXAIll' H. Trioiirsoiq, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and usehil IIHPI'OVQlTlGIl't in uljustabie Sewer Cleaners, of which the folliming is a speciii 'ation.

lhis invention relates to sewer cleaners of the kind which are adapted to be drawn through a, sewer pipe for the purpose of removing obstructions which may have accumulated therein, and more particularly to sewer cleaners of this kind which are adj ustable to fit into sewers of different sizes.

Theobjects of the invention. are to pro vide asewer cleaner ofthis kind having means of improved constructii'in for adapting; the same to operate onsewers of different diameters; also to improve the construction of adjustable sewer cleaners for the purpose of producing a strong, rigid, and com.- paratively inexpensive sewer cleaner which can be easily adjusted to the desired size; also to provide the various parts of the sewer cleaner with. sharpened edges which assist in cutting obstructions in a sewer; also to provide a cleaner of this kind which is so constructed that the parts thereof can be rigidly held in any adjusted position, so that the cleaner may be drawn through a sewer in either direction; also to improve the adjustal'ile sewer cleaners in other respects hereinafter specified.

In, the accompanying drawings:

1' and 2 are side elevations of an ad justable sewer cleaner embodying the invention, Fig. l

i showing the parts of toe same adjusted to fit a small sewer and Fig. 2 showing the same adapted to lit a larger sewer.

Figs. 3 and a are longitudinal sectional The sewer cleaner includes a substantially central body portion on which the adjustahle parts of the cleaner are mounted anl which is adapted receive the dratlit strains example, as rivets a.

to which the cleaner is subjected. This body portion may he of any suitable or desired construction, that shown including a plu rality of angle bars A four being used in the construction shown, which extend lengthwise of the cleaner and the ends of which are rigidly secured to front and rear fittings or end pieces B and C. The angle bars in the constructioi'i shown are so arranged that the of the bars form four spaces or channels and. for this purpose, the angle bars are titted into rectangular depressions formed between radially extending arms 6 and c of the. end pieces, and may be secured to the arms by any suitable means, such for In order to help in clearing a sewer of obstructions, the front edges oi, the angle bars are preferably sharpened to form cutting; edges,'as shown at a. The front end piece B is also provided with a. forwardl extending lug or part b to which the clevis or other attaching; means 5 may be secured, for example, by means of a bolt 7)" extending through the projection Z2 Figs. 2 and 3. The rear end piece is pro vided with a corresponding projection c which is preferably hollow and which is also provided with holes adapted to receive a bolt (4 for attaching a clevis c to the rear end piece or fitting. These end pieces consequently serve for the two-fold purpose of holding; the angle bars of the body in correct relation to each other and also of affording means for attaching draft devices thereto. End pieces or fittings of other suitable or desired construction, however, may be provided. a

The sewer cleaner is provided with a plurality of horizontal shoes or guide bars D which are adapted to engage the inner walls of the sewer and which serve the two fold purpose of guiding the cleaner in its movement through a, sewer and also of cutting deposits formed in the sewer. These shoes or guide liars may be of any suitable or desired construction, those shown being prorlded wvith web portions (.5 which are arranged in substantially radial planes with reference to the body of the sewer cleaner and the intermediate portions of the shoes or cutting bars are provided with substantially circumferential flanges (Z which afford a somewhat extended bearing on the inner surface "of the sewer. In order to facilitate the cutting of deposits from the sewer, the opposite sides of the flanged portions (5 are preferably sharpened as indicated at thus providing both radial and circumferential cutting edges. Any desired number of shoes or guide bars may be provided, four bein shown in the construction illustrated. which have the function of dividing thedeposit in the sewer into four parts and thereby facilitate the removal thereof.

The shoes or'guide bars may be adjusted relatively to the central body portion of the sewer cleaner in any desired manner. in the Construction shown for this purpose, each shoe or guide bar is connected to the flanges of two adjacent angle bars A by means of two or more parallel links E, the outer ends of wl'iichare pivotally connected adjacent to the end portions of the shoes D by means of pivots e or the like. The inner ends ofthe parallel. links are connected. to the flanges of the angle bars A. by means of pivots 0. These links are also preferably pro-' videdwith, sharpened front and rear e lges e which greatly assist in cutting the deposit in the sewer, particularly in view of the fact that these links are generally arranged in angular relation with reference to the body portion of the sewer cleaner, so that a gradual entrance of the cutting edges into the de posit is effected. The parallel links connecting the body portion with the guide shoes n. a-y be of any suitable construction, those shown including hub portions arranged between flanges of adjacent angle i bars and pivoted thereto and bifurcated outer portions. the ends of which straddle the webs (Z of the shoes and are pivoted thereto. I I

The adjusting of the guide shoes or bars with reference to the central body portion of the cleaner may be effected in the construction shown, by means of toggle or adjusting links F. a pair of these links being provided in the construction shown. for each" of the guide shoes, the outer ends of which are connected to. the flange (Z of th, guide shoe by means of a pivot e, and the inner ends of the links are pivotally connected to an adjusting block or nut F. which in the construction shown is movable lengthwise of the body portion of the sewer cleaner. The adjusting block shown, see particularly Fig. 6, has angle shaped recesses f into which the corners of the angle bars are adapted to enter for guiding the block F in its movement, and this block is also preferably provided with outwardly extending arms or projections f to which the inner ends of the toggle links F are pivotally connected. It will be readily seen that by moving the adjusting block lengthwise of the body portion of the sewer :cleaner. the guide shoes may be adjusted toward and from the body portion of the of the screw shaft are suitably journalled in i the end. pieces or fittings B and (l, a bearing collar ybeing preferably arranged adjacent to the front titting B which is adjustable to take up any slack or lost motion which may occur in the screw shaft. shaft is also provided adjacent to its other end with a bearing collar 9, and extends through the rear end piece or fitting C and into tiierecessed portion thereof, and this end of the screw shaft is provided with an end which is preferably squared or otherwise formed to receive a wrench, or key, not shown, for turning the shaft to move the adjusting block nut in either direction and thereby to adjust the sewer cleaner for sewers of different diameters. Any other means for adjusting the position of the block F may be provided.

The sewer cleaner is preferably also provided with a gaging, reinforcing and cut ting member H which. in the construction shown. is inthe form of a disk and is adapt ed to engage the material accumulated in the sewer and push the same through the sewer to a part thereof where this material can be removed. lnthe construction shown for this purpose, the member or disk H is provided with an annular, forwardly extending flange 7L provided with a plurality of cutting teeth It. Since it is desirable that this cutting and pushing disk should be of a size slightly smaller than the diameter of a sewer to be cleaned, it is desirable that a plurality of these disks be provided. one for each different size of sewer to be cleaned and these disks are so mounted on the body iortion of the sewer cleaner that they can be readily secured thereto or removed therefrom. For this purpose, those cutting members which are used in connection with sewer pipes of relatively large diameters are, in the construction shown, arranged to be se cured on the angle bars A of the body portion. The cutti disks of larger diameter are provided with central apertures through which the rear end of the body portion is adapted to extend and with rearwardly extending portions or lugs 72, adapted to enter between the legs of the angle bars A. One or more of these lugs is provided with a set screw its for clamping the cutting disk in place on the body portion. The cutting disks of smaller diameter are provided with Cir The

intense flange portions h having set screws h adapted to engage withthe rearwardly projecting portion of the rear fitting C. In the use oi. the sewer cleaner, this annular cutting flange it serves the purpose of severing the deposi' in the sewer pipe adjacent the inner faces of the pipe, and the disk shaped portions thereof engage the accumulations in the pipe and force them lengthwise of the sewer into a portion thereof where the ac cuinulations may be removed.

T he annular cutting members H serve tun ther purposes in connection with the adjustable cleaner. In the first place, the incl ibers H engage the rear ends of the guide shoes or bars l) and thus reinforce these portions thereof, and secondly the cutting members form gages by means of which the cleaner may readily be set for sewers of the desired. diameter. F or this purpose, the members ii. in the construction shown,'are provided with a plurality of substantially radial reces notches I extending inwardly from t l edges thereof, four of these recesses being shown in the construction illustrated, in which the radial flanges a of the guide shoes or bars are adaptedto seat. Conscquenhy adjusting the sewer cleaner for a particular sewer, a cutting disk of the desired size is selected and is placed into operative relation to the body portion of the cleaner. The screw shaft G is then turned in such a mannor as to move the flanges (Z of the guide shoes into the recesses I of the cutting disk. When the radial flanges d of the guide shoes seat in the bottoms of the recesses I the sewer cleaner cori tly adjusted for the corresponding size of sewer and furthermore the rear ones of the guide shoes are stron gly braced to resist the strains or pressure to which they may be subjected. The front ends of the guide shoes are betterireinforced against pressures or strains owing to the tact that these ends of the shoes are connected to the body portion of the cleaner by means of two sets of links namely the front links it) and the'toggle links F.

In the use of the sewer cleaner, a cable or other draft device. is attached to the front clcris 6 thereof and the device drawn through the sewer to be cleaned.

,he deposit in. the sewer is, then cut by the radial cutting edges a of the. angle bars A, the Front cutting edges 6 oi the front and rear parallel links E and the radial cutting edges 1.4 or the guide shoes, as well as the longitu dinal cutting edges of the outer flanges ot the shoes. The deposit in the sewer is further cut by means of the cutting teeth h" of the cutting disks and these disks also push the loosened deposit lengthwise of the sewer. The many cutting edges provided on the sewer cleaner make the cleaner particularly desirable for clearing sewers of tree roots which have grown into the same, as well in a sewer pipe into series or sector-shay for removing any other deposits which may form in the sewers. It, for example, a hard deposit is formed on a sewendue to the deposit of chemicals or other materials therein, the cleaner may be drawn through the sewer a number of diiierent times, the cleaner at first being contracted in diameter and being increased in diameter after each pas sage through the sewer, until the same is large as can be used in connection with the sewer. In this manner the deposits can be gradually cut away. (Ewing to the fact that the cutting edges a, e and Z? flare or incline outwardly and rearwardly with reference to the body portion of the cleaner, the cutti of deposits, roots or the like troina sewer i.-. greatly facilitated, since a smaller end oi the sewer cleaner enters the deposit in ad Vance oi the portion thereof of larger diameter. i

By means of the construction showina single sewer cleaner can housed on a large number of difierent sized sewers and the cleaner can be very quickly adjusted to cooperate with sewers or diti'erent sizes. The construction of the cleaner is such that the parts thereof are rigidly held in'any position into which they are set, so that the cleaner may be drawn through the sewer in either ClUQCtlOD. 'Uonsequentlyni the cleaner cannot be pulled through the sewer, due to the obstructions therein, it can be withdrawn in the opposite direction. i I

We claim as our invention:

1. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a central body portion, guide shoes adapted to engage with a sewer pipe, radial connecting parts supporting said guide hoes from sair body port on, said connect and guide shoes being adapted to cut dep.

portions, and means for holding said; ra. connecting parts in dliii el'cnhpOFltlOil relatively to said shoes and body portion to adapt the sewer cleaner to operate on sewers of different sizes. i

i 2. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a 7 central body portion, guide shoes adapted to engage with a sewer pipey radial connecting parts supporting said ide shoes from said body portion, said connecting parts being; adaptedto make a series oi cuts in'the deposit in a sewer pipe, which cuts extend sub stantially from the center to the inner surface of the sewer pipe, and a disk arranged on the rear end of sell having a plurality ot'c rcumferential teeth which cut thedeposit from the surfaceoi' a sewer pipe and push the sanielengthwise or the pipe. i

3. A sewer cleaner having cutting inenn hers which are arranged to out the deposit in a sewer intoa series of sector-shaped poi? tions, and a disk arrangedon the rear end of the sewer cleaner and having circurnieu l'iS . scent to the surtace of a tial cuttingineans which cut the deposit sewer pipe, the body portion cl disn serving to push the cut material lengthwise of the pipe l. I l sewer cleaner having adial pivoted cutting members which are a ang ed to cut the deposit in a sewer into a series of sectorshaped portions, means tor pushing said portions lengthwise of a sewer, and i'neans for holding said cutting members in diilerentv angular relations to the sewer cleaner to adapt the same to operate on sewers o't-different diameters i 5. In a sewer cleaner, the combiuatmn ot' a central lBOC y portion, anadjusting screw arranged thereon, guide shoes movable to difl'erent distances iirom saidbody portion, pair of parallel linlrs connecting each guide shoe with said body portion, an adjusting block movable lengti -ise on said body por tion and" co-operat g with said adjusting screw, and toggle lllllis connecting said adjusting block and said guide shoes.

('5. in a sewer cleaner the combination of a central body portion, a plurality of guide shoes adjustably mounted thereon, a pair oi? parallel links connecting each guide shoe with said body portion, a block adjustably mounted on said body portion, an adjustable screw for holding said block in difl'erent positions on said body portion, and means connecting said block and said shoes for positioning said shoes at different distances from said body portion.

In a sewer cleaner the combination of a central body portion, a plurality of guide shoes adjustably, mounted thereon, parallel links conn'ectin 'said body portion. and said guide shoes, apair o'f'paralle] links connectin g each guide shoe with said body portion. on adjusting block movably niouiitedon said body portion means connecting said block with said shoes for determining the positions thereo'l relatively to said body portion, and means for rigidly securing said block to said body portion. j

Ina sewer cleaner the combination of a central body portion, a plurality of guide hoes adjustably mounted thereon, parallel linlis connecting said body portion and said guide shoes, for guiding the movement of said guide shoes relatively to said body portion, an adjusting block movably mounted on said body portion, toggle links connecting said shoes and said blocks for adjusting the positions of said shoesrelatively to said body portion, and means for 'gidly securing said block on said body portions to hold said shoes in their adjusted positions.

9. In a sewer cleaner the combination of a central bodyportion, a plurality of guide shoes adjustably mounted thereon, and hav ing'sharpened edges to cut deposit in a sewer near the inner surface of the sewer, means on said body portion for rigidly holding a i-e224 said guide shoes at different distances from said body portion, providedwith cutting portions ext nding radially in said sewer, and a member detachably mounted on the rear end of said body portion and adapted to push through these'wer the material loosened by said cleaner.

l0. lna sci-Yer cleaner the combination of a central body portion, a plurality of guide shoes adjustably mounted thereon, means on said body portion for rigidly holding said guide shoes different distances from of central body portion guide shoes adapted to be moved to different distances from said bodyportion, and a plurality of disks oi? different diameters, any one oi which is adapted to be mounted on said body portion and to engage with saidsho'es for holding the same at a definite distance from said body portion.

12. In a sewer cleaner,'the combination of a central body portion guide shoes adapted to be moved to different distances from said body portion, and a member adapted to be secured on said body portion and the outer edges of which are adapted to engage the inner portions of said guide shoes.

13'; In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a central body portion guide shoes adapted to moved to dili'erent distances from said body portion, and a disk having a part adapted to be secured to said body portion, and recesses in the outer portion thereof into which parts or said guide shoes are adapted to enter for holding the guide shoes in fixed relation to said'body portion, a

l t. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a central bodyportion guide shoes adapted to be moved to different distances from said body portion, a member adapted to be secured on said body portion and the outer edges of which are adapted to engage the inner portionsot said guide shoes, and aplurality of cutting teeth atthe outeredge of said disk which extend forwardly from said disk. i 15. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a central body portion, a plurality of guide shoes adjustably mounted thereon, means on said body portion for rigidly holding said guide shoes at diilerent distances from said body portiomand a guide member adapted to be secured on said body portion and the outer portions of which are adapted to engage said shoes, whereby said shoes may be drawn into engagement with said guide member for positioning the shoes relatively to said body portion. I

16. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion comprising a plurality 01':

flanged bars spaced apart, front and rear dratt pieces to which said. bars are con nected, and guide shoes mounted on the flanges of said bars.

17. In a sewer cleaner, the combination or a body portion comprising a plurality of flanged bars spaced apart, front and rear dratt pieces to which said bars are connected, and which space said bars apart, guide shoes mounted on said bars, and means mounted in the space between said bars for adjusing said guide shows toward and from said said bars for holding said links in different angular positions to adjust said shoes relatively to said body portion.

19. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion including a plurality of substantially parallel bars, end pieces connecting the opposite ends of said bars, and adjusting screw j ournalled in said end pieces, guide shoes adapted to be positioned at difterent distances from said body portion, and means connecting said adjusting screw and said guide shoes.

20. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion including a plurality or" substantially parallel bars, end pieces connecting the opposite ends of said bars, and adjusting screw journalled in said end pieces,

guide shoes, links connecting said bars and.

said guide shoes, and adjusting nut cooperating with said screw and guided on said bars, and means connecting said guide shoes and said adjusting nut for adjusting said shoes relatively to said body portion.

21. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion including a plurality of parallel bars, guide shoes, links pivotally connected with said guide shoes and said bars, and means for adjusting said guide shoes relatively to said body portion, said links and the front ends 0]: said bars and shoes being provided with cutting edges.

22. In a sewer cleaning device, the combination of a body portion, guide shoes mounted on said body portion and which are provided with a substantially radial flange having cutting faces at an end thereof and with a substantially circumferential flange provided with cutting edges at the sides thereof.

23. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion, guide shoes, links connecting said guide shoes and said body portion, and a disk mounted on said body portion and haying forwardly extending cutting teeth, said body portion, said links and said guide shoes also being provided with cuting edges.

E l. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion including a plurality of parallel bars, guide shoes, links pivotally connected withsaid guide shoes and said bars, means for adjusting said guide shoes relatively to said body portion, said links and the tront ends of said bars and shoes beprovu d with cutting edges, and a member mounted on the rear portion of said body portion and adapted to push through the sewer the mater al cut therefrom.

25. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a body portion including a plurality of parallel bars, guide shoes, links pivotally connected with said guide shoes and said bars, means for adjusting said guide shoes relatively to said body portion, said links and the front ends of said bars and shoes be ing provided with cutting edges, and amember mounted on the rear portion of said body portion and adapted to push through the sewer the material cut therefrom, said member also having a substantially annular cutting edge adapted to sever material adjacent to the walls of the sewer.

26. In a sewer cleaner, the combination of a central body portion, guide shoes, pairs or parallel links connecting each guide shoe and said body portion near the front and rear ends of: said guide shoe, whereby said shoes may swing toward and from said body portion, an adjusting link for each shoe connected with said body portion and with one end of the shoe, and a disk mounted on said body portion and adapted to be engaged by the other ends of said shoes.

27. A sewer cleaner having cutting mem bers which are arranged to make a series of substantially radial cuts in a sewer and arranged at an angle so that the middle portion of the deposit will be cut first, means on said sewer cleaner for making a substantially circular out adjacent to the Wall of the sewer pipe, and means for pushing the 9 out material lengthwise of a sewer.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,446,224, granted February 20, 1923, upon the application of John M. Thompson and William H. Thompson, of Bufialo, New York, for an improvement in Adjustable Sewer Cleaners, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction aS follows: Page 4, line 29, claim 6, for the Word adjustable read adjusting; same page, lines 39 and 40, claim 7, strike out the comma and Words a pair of parallel links connecting each guide shoe with said body portion and insert instead for guiding the movement of said guide shoes relatively to said body portion; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of May, A. D., 1923.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.