US1721106A - Drain-pipe cleaner - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1929. w. J. FISCHBECK DRAIN PIPE CLEANER Filed March 14, 1927 J SCHBEGIT PL. m M. M m M FITTOENEV Patented July 16, 1929.

name stares L'ZZLttt WILLIAM J; FISCHBECK, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DRAIN-PIPE CLEANER.

Application filed March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,088.

As may be inferred from the above title, this invention relates to devices for use in outlet pipes, communicating with sewers, or the like; and it is a particular object of this invention to provide an improved pipe-engaging organization, hereinafter termed a rat, adapted to be spirally or otherwise advanced through a drain pipe, or the like, this rat being preferably equipped with terminal means for engaging a rag, or other material, to loosen and /or'remove the same.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a drain pipe cleaner, of the general character referred to and comprising a pair of cast or other heavyelements connected by a set of resilient scrapers, with separable means for advancing the same; and, in preferred embodiments of my invention (in which I may employ a wire carrier of novel design) a coil of wire may be connected with the mentioned rat, or its equivalent, by means favorable to the transmission of a torque to said rat,to effect a rotation or a spiral advance or retraction thereof. v

Other objects of my invention, including the construction of drain-cleaning rat which, being constructed mainly from helically wound springs, is adapted to pass through constrictions and around corners, and including also a wire carrier and a coupling which may be capable of numerous alternative uses, may be best appreciated from .the following description of an illustrative embodiment of my invention,t-aken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, in which Fig. 1 is a general View, which may be regarded as elevational, showing my novel rat as connected with a cruciform wire carrier by means of a torque-transmitting coupling.

Fig. 2 is an end view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. b

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken through my novel coupling organization, substantially as indicated by the line 44: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the line 66 of' Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an elevational view, correspondmg to the right hand portion of Fig. 1, but. showing an embodiment of my inventionfin which a centrally disposed springis formed of coarser wire than that used in the construction of a set of wall engaging springs,the latter disclosing a slight"wind or spiral arrangement.

Referring to the details of that specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 11 being a cleaning organiza-. tion or rat terminatingat one end in offset hooks 12, 12 and terminating, at its opposite end, in a wire 13. I show this wire as connected with a longer wire 14, wound upon the coil carrier, 15, by means of a torque-transmitting coupling 16; and I show the rat 11 as comprising a tightly wound central spring 17 surrounded by a plurality of outwardly bowed springs 18,al'.l of the mentioned springs being secured in their intendedrelationship by disposing end portions thereof within cast or other bodies 19, 19'. I i

The hooks 12, 12 are shown as terminating in oppositely disposed points 20, 20 the central spring 17 is shown as extending into the forward body 19 and through the inner or rear body 19, and as normally disposed coaxially with the wire 18; and the ends 21, 21 of the bowed springs 18 are shownasso secured in the cast or other heavy bodies 19, 19',th-atsaid bowed springs (shown as tightly-wound spirals) may appear, when the described rat is viewed from its forward end (see Fig. 2) as radially disposed with referenceto the body 19, or its equivalent.

It will be apparent that a forward pressure and /or a twisting movement of the wire 13, or its equivalent, may be relied upon to advance the described rat,the springs 18, or equivalent resilient elements, meantime engaging andscrapin g the walls of a drain pipe, or the like; that the hooks 12, 12 may be relied upon to remove or loosen any cloth or friable material encountered; that the resiliency of the springs 18 permits the described rat to pass constrictions and to round corners; that the central spring 17 (or 17, Fig. 7 may advantageously be formed of a stiffer wire thanthat used in the construction of the bowed springs 18 (or 18); and that, if desired, the bowed springs referred to may be so connected with the bodies 19, 19' as to produce a slight wind in the longitudinal axes thereof,-as best shown in Fig. 7 but, in any case, I prefer to provide means for transmitting a torque to the wire 13, and thereby to the described rat during the advance thereof.

The wires 13 and 14 are preferably comparatively stiff steel wires (whether or not circular in cross-section) and I show these wires as respectively carrying a male coupling element 22 and a female coupling element 23. One of these, as, for instance the male coupling element 22 should be provided with a cavity 24, having a rectangular cross-sectional outline and adapted to retain, in parallel relationsl'iip, terminal loops 25, 26, or similar flat elements, provided upon the respective wires 13 and 14. It will be seen. that, although the coupling element 23 is, in the illustrated embodiment, capable of relative rotation, for a coupling or uncoupling effect, the interfitting of the loops or flat ends 26 within the rectangular cavity 24 is effective to prevent relative rotation between said ends, when the parts are assembled in the indicated manner between the wires 13 and 14. The coupling 16 thus serves not only to connect the mentioned wires, or equivalent wires, but to assure a transmission of torque thereby.

' It will be obvious that either of the mentioned Wires may have any desired length; and, whether or not I employ the coupling 16, or its equivalent, I may accordingly provide one of the mentioned wires with a carrier "such as the mentioned carrier 15.

The carrier 15 is shown as comprising a pair of centrally intersecting rods forming radial arms 27 28, 29 and 30, each terminating in an eye 31. Any suitable means, such as a plate 32, may be utilized in spacing and reinforcing the mentioned arms,whether or not they'are centrally welded together, as at 33; and the'inner end of the wire 14 may be secured, after passing the same through all of the mentioned eyes, in any suitable Wayas by winding and/or soldering the same, as indicated at 34, on to a first and comparatively loose lap of wire,-which then must always remain upon the mentioned carrier.

In operation, it will be understood that the described rat is merely inserted in a drain pipe; that a twisting motion is preferably imparted thereto during an advance effected by paying out the wire 13, 14; and that, after the drain is opened, the described rat or its equivalent, may be withdrawn by merely pulling the same back onto the carrier 15. he carrier being presumably held stationary or so manipulated as to keep the rat turning on its axis while the wire, as it is pulled in, slides through and accumulates within the eyes 31.

As to additional details of construction, it

will be noted that the bodies 19 and 19 are preferably somewhat conical in general form; and that the ends of the resilient elements may be secured either by casting the same therein, or by brazing somewhat as suggested at 35, 36 that the hooks 12, 12 are preferably formed of steel and not only offset but opposuitable clamping grip member 37, pivoted at 38 and outwardly pressed by a spring 39 whereby the wire 14 maybe relcasably but securely held, relatively to the carrier 15, during the transmission of a push or a pull and/or a torque therethrough, to manipulate the rat 11, or its equivalent.

Although I have herein described a single complete embodiment of my invention, it should be understood not only that various features of this invention might be independ-' ently employed but also that numerous alternative embodiments thereof might be devised, by those skilled in the arts to which this case relates, without involving the slight-- est departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as the same is indicated in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a drain pipe cleaner :a rat provided at one end with forwardly-projecting hooks and at its opposite end with means for its advancement,said rat comprising bodies which are spaced apart by a plurality of outwardly bowed resilient elements and a resilient center element.

' 2. In a drain pipe cleaner: a rat provided at one end with forwardly-projecting hooks and at its opposite end with means for its advancement,-said rat comprising bodies which. are spaced apart by a plurality of outwardly bowed resilient elements and a resilient center element, said elements being cast into said bodies.

3. In a drain pipe cleaner: a rat pro-- vided at one end with hooks and at its oppo-.

site end with means for its advancement, said ratcomprising bodies which are spaced apart by a plurality of outwardly bowed spiral springs and said bodies being connected by a central spiral spring, said central spring being formed of stiller wire than said outer springs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 7th day of March, 1927.

WILLIAM J. FISCI-IBECK.

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