US1842166A

US1842166A - Device for removing obstructions from drain pipes and for like purposes

Info

Publication number: US1842166A
Application number: US560410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas G Haines
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-08-31
Filing date: 1931-08-31
Publication date: 1932-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1932. 1- HAlNEs v DEVICE FOR REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS FROM DRAIN PIPES AND FOR LIKE PURPOSES Filed Aug. 31, 1931 aw my H .R firm/m Wm .5

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Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS G. HAINES, .OI' DAYTON, OHIO DEVICE FOR REMOVIN G OBSTRUCTIONS FROM DRAIN PIPES AND FOR LIKE PURPOSES Application filed August 31, 1931. SerialNo. 560,410.

This invention relates to a clean-out deyice for removing obstructions from dram pipes and for like purposes. In removing an obstruction from a clogged drain pipe 1t 18 cuso tomary to employ a long wire or flexible rod which is forced through the pipe and whlch is rotated about its longitudinal axis to force the same past bends in the pipe and through the obstruction. A. form of rod whlch is w commonly used comprises a tightly coiled wire having at one end a head to engage and remove the obstruction and to guide the end otthe rod about turns in the pipe. Ordinarily such a rod is provided with a detachable handle for forcing the same through the pipe and for rotating the same. In practice this handle is connected with the rod at a point spaced some distance from the end of the pipe and the rod then forced into the pipe, after which the handle is detached and moved back another step from the end of the pipe and then actuated to force another portion of the rod into the pipe. This method of actuating the rod is unsatisfactory not only because it is slow and ineflicient in its operation but because that portion of the rod which is not in the pipe is unsupported and lies on the floor of the room in which the work is being done and inasmuch as these rods are often very dirty this is highly objectionable.

One object of the invention is to provide means for forcing a rod through the pipe in which the rod will be wound on a reel and which will have means for withdrawing the rod from the reel and force the same into the pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the reel will be rotatable about an axis extending lengthwise of that portion of the rod which is in the pipe so that the rod may be turned about its longitudinal axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device with very simple and easily operated actuating means for the rod.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

' In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken centrally throu h the device; and Fig. 4 is a detail view s owing the actuating device provided with an extension.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that the device may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that embodiment of the invention here illustrated the device comprises a frame 5 which is preferably circular in form and which is here shown as comprising two side members 6 and 7 rigidly connected one to the other and spaced apart to receive between them a drum 8 which is rotatably mounted thereon. One side member, 6, of the frame has an open slot 9 extending entirely about the same and a handle 10 secured to the drum projects through that slot and provides means for rotating the drum within the frame. One end of the rod is attached to the drum in any suitable manner, as by means of a clamp-actuated by a thumb nut 11. The flexible rod may be of any suitable character but is here shown at 12 as comprising a tightly coiled wire having at its forward end a head 13. When the device is not in use the rod is wound on the drum, as shown in the drawings, and the outer end portion of the rod extends through a suitable guideway at one side of the frame. In the present construction a tubular member 14 is rigidly secured to the frame and extends substantially radially therefrom, the passageway through this tube constitutinga guide for the rod and the tubular member itself constituting a support and a guide for the actuating device. Movably mounted upon the member 14 is an actuating device which may be of any suitable character. Preferably it is slidably mounted on the guide member 14 and, as here shown, it consists of a tubular member 15, the inner portion of which telescopes the guide member 14 and is slidable thereon and the outer portion of which extends beyond the guide member and may be of reduced diameter as shown at 16. The rear end of the actuating member 15 is supported on the guide by a cap or plug 17 inserted in the inner end thereof which is slidably mounted on the guide and which also serves as a stop to engage a flange 18 at the outer end of the guide, this flange also serving as a support for the outer portion of the actuating member.

The rod of course extends beyond the guide and through the outer end portion of the actuating member. The actuating member is provided with a suitable gripping device which will engage the rod and advance the same when the actuating member is moved outwardly but which will release the rod and permit the actuating member to move with relation thereto when the latter is moved inwardly. This gripping device may take various forms but, in the present instance, it comprises a. pawl 19 pivotally mounted between lugs 20 on the actuating device, the latter having an opening or slot 21 through which the nose of the pawl may extend into engagement with the rod. The end of the pawl may grip the rod in any desired manner but preferably the rod is provided with serrations or teeth which are engaged by the nose of the pawl. In the present instance the coils of the rod form these serrations. A spring 22 presses the pawl normally into engagement with the rod so that upon outward movement of the actuating member the rod will be caused to move with the same but on the inward movement of the actuating member the pawl will ride over the rod. To prevent the reverse movement of the rod when the actuating member is moved inwardly a detent is mounted on the frame and this detent is here shown as a pawl 23 adapted to extend through a slot 24 in the tubular guide and to engage the rod, a spring 25 holding the pawl normally in engagement with the rod. Means are also provided for retaining both pawls in inoperative positions to permit the rod to be rewound onto the drum and for this purpose each pawl is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 through which its pivot pin extends and which permits the same to be moved bodily transversely to its axis and its nose moved into engagement with the outer surface of the part on which it is mounted, that is, the outer surface of the actuating member or the outer surface of the tubular part on the frame, as shown in dotted lines in Fi 1.

The frame and the drum may be rotated bodily about an axis substantially coincident with the tubular guide, thus causing the rod to be rotated about its longitudinal axis to force the end or head thereof through ob- St-lllCtlOIlS and about turns in the pipg I prefer to provide the frame with a support which may engage the body of the operator or which may be grasped by the hand of the operator according to the conditions under which the work is being done and this support is pivotally connected with the frame on an axis substantially in line with the guideway through which the rod leaves the frame. In the present construction, a bracket 27 is secured to that side of the frame opposite the tubular guide 14 and has pivotally mounted thereon a supporting member 28 which is of such a shape that it may engage the body of the operator or may be grasped in the hand of the operator.

In the operation of the device the end of the rod which projects beyond the actuating device is inserted in the pipe and the actuating device reciprocated to feed the rod step by step into the pipe, the operator applying such pressure as may be necessary through the supporting device 28. When the movement of the rod is retarded by the contact of the head 13 with an obstruction or with a turn in the pipe the frame as a whole is rotated thus rotating the rod and causing the head to be forced through the obstruction or to work its way about the bend in the pipe. When the rod has been moved entirely through the pipe the

pawls

19 and 25 are retracted and secured in their inoperative positions and the drum then rotated to withdraw the rod and wind the same on the drum.

In some instances, and particularly where considerable pressure is necessary to force the rod through the pipe, the actuating device may be placed in contact with or secured to the pipe and the frame and drum moved with relation to the actuating device. in this man ner the operator may apply any desired pressure on the frame and the detent pawl 23 will then act as the feeding pawl and the pawl 19 will act as a detent.

When the pipe which is to be cleaned is located overhead or at such other position that it is difficult to place the actuating de vice directly in line therewith. the actuating device may be provided with an extension tube 29 having a laterally extending end portion which may be inserted in or connected with the pipe and will thus hold the tube 2?; and the actuating device against longitudinal movement and by manipulating the frame the rod may be forced through the extension 29 and through the pipe.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to he understood that I do not desire to be lim ited to the details thereof as various modifi- 3 cations may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described. a frame adapted to be supported by the operator, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which the rod may extend, and an actuating device mounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement and comprising a part arranged to grip said rod and advance the same when said actuating device is moved in one direction and to release said rod when said actuating device is moved in the other direction, said actuating device also having a part forming a hand grip whereby it may be manipulated by the operator who supports said frame.

2. In a mechanism for moving a flexible cleaning rod through a conduit, a frame adapted to be supported by the operator, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have said rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway throu h which said rod may extend, a device movagly connected with said frame, adapted to engage the end of said conduit and having means to engage saidrod and hold the latter against reverse movement with relation thereto, and means carried by said frame to prevent the reverse movement of said rod with relation to said frame, whereby the movement of said frame away from said device will cause a portion of said rod to be Withdrawn from said drum and the movement of said frame toward said device will cause said portion of said rod to be advanced with relation to said device.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, an actuating device mounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement and com rising a part arranged to grip said rod an advance the same when said actuating device is moved in one direction and to release said rod when said actuating device is moved in the other direction, and a detent carried by said frame and arranged to hold said rod against reverse movement when it is released by said actuating device. i

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, an actuating device mounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement and comprising a part arranged to rip said rod and advance the same when said actuating device is moved in one direction and to release said rod when said actuating device is moved in the other direction, a detent carried by said frame and arranged to hold said rod against reverse movement when it is released by said actuating device, and means for retaining said part of said actuating device and said detent in inoperative positions while said rod is being wound on said drum.

5. In a device of the character described,

' a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, and an actuating device carried by said frame and having a part to engage said rod and advance the same, said frame and said drum being rotatable about an axis substantially in line with said guideway.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, an actuating device carried by said frame and having a part to engage said rod and advance the same, and a support for said frame, said frame being rotatably mounted on said support on an axis substantially in line with said guideway. a

7. n a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, an actuating device carried by said frame and having a part to engage said rod and advance the same, and a supporting member pivotally connected with that side of said fram opposite said guideway on an axis substantially in .line with said guideway.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transverse tothe axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod may extend, and an actuating device movably mounted on said guide and comprising a gripping member to engage said rod and advance the same when said actuating device is moved in one direction.

9. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a guide projecting beyond the edge-of said frame on a line transverse to the axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod may extend, a device movably mounted on said guide and comprising a gripping member to engage said rod, and a gripping member on said frame to engage said rod, said gripping members being so arranged that the relative movement of said frame and said device in one direction will cause one of said gripping devices to advance said rod.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon, a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transverse to the axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod may extend, a member slidably mounted on said guide, and

a gripping device carried by said member and arranged to engage said rod and advance the same when said member is moved in one direction and to release said rod when said member is moved in the other direction.

11. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transverse to the axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod may extend, a member slidably mounted on said guide, a pawl pivoted on said member, and a spring to hold said pawl in engagement with said rod, said member having a part to be engaged by said pawl and to support said pawl in an inoperative position.

12. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a tubular member carried by said frame and through which said rod may extend, a second tubular member slidably mounted on the first mentioned tubular member and having a part extending beyond the outer end of said first mentioned tubular member, and gripping devices carried by said tubular members and adapted to engage said rod, said gripping devices being so arran ed that the longitudinal movement of one tu ular member with relation to the other in one direction will cause one of said gripping devices to advance said rod.

13. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, an elongated member mounted on said frame and having a passageway for said rod, a tubular member slidably mounted on said elongated member and having a part etxending beyond said elongated member and provided with an opening in the side wall thereof, a gripping device mounted on said tubular member and extending through said opening, and means to yieldably press said gripping device into engagement with said rod.

- 14. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, an elongated member mounted on said frame and having a passageway for said rod, a tubular member slidably mounted on said elongated member and havtending through said opening, said pawl being mounted for movement transverse to its axis to cause the end thereof to engage the outer surface of said tubular member.

15. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, an elongated member mounted on said frame and having a passageway for said rod, a tubular member slidably mounted on said elongated member and having a part extending beyond said elongated member and provided with an opening in the side wall thereof, and a spring pressed pawl carried by said tubular member and extending through said 0 ening, and a spring pressed pawl mounted on said frame and arranged to engage said rod and hold the same against reverse movement, said pawls being mounted for bodily movement into engagement with relatively fixed parts of said device to hold said pawls in inoperative positions.

16. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a guide extending substantially radially from one side of said frame and through which said rod may pass, an actuating device slidably mounted on said guide and having means to engage and advance said rod when said actuating member is moved in one direction, means carried by said frame to hold said rod against reverse movement when said actuating device is moved in the other direction, and a supporting member pivotally mounted on that side of said frame opposite said guide on an axis substantially in line with said guide.

17. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, a guide extending substantially radially from one side of said frame and through which said rod may pass, an actuating device slidably mounted on said guide and having means to engage and advance said rod when said actuating member is moved in one direction, means carried by said frame to hold said rod against reverse movement when said actuating device is moved in the other direction. and means for so supporting said frame that said frame and said drum may be rotated about an axis substantially in line with said guide.

18. In a device of the character described, T

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, a

part movably mounted on said frame. and 1 way through which said rod may extend, a

part projecting from said frame adjacent to said guideway, a member slidably mounted on said part, and rod gripping devices carried by said frame and said slidable member and so arranged that the outward movement of said frame with relation to said member will cause the gripping device on said frame to advance said rod.

20 In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame, and adapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon, said frame having a guide- Way through which said rod may extend, a part movably mounted on said frame, and rod gripping devices carried by said frame and said movable part and so arranged that the relative movement of said frame and said part in one direction will cause one of said gripping devices to advance said rod, and a tubular extension carried by said movable part and having a laterally extending end portion. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

THOMAS G. HAINES.