US2154666A

US2154666A - Sewer rod power

Info

Publication number: US2154666A
Application number: US177589A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hubert R Crane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-12-01
Filing date: 1937-12-01
Publication date: 1939-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1956-04-18

Description

April 1s, 1939.

H. R. CRANE SEWER Ron POWER Filed Dec. l, 1957 /Wwewi 72, y

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE a claims.

This invention is an apparatus for scraping, cleaning or otherwise working in sewer lines, pipe and conduit systems or other organizations in which there may be bores or passageways tending to become clogged or fouled from various environmental or incidental causes.

Because of the resistance frequently met in the cleaning of sewer lines it is very desirable that a practical. motor-powered apparatus be provided for the rapid, eiicient and safe rotation and advance of a iiexible-rod sewer working tool into and along the bore of the sewer, and this object is met by the invention herein set out.

Further, an object is to provide a motorlii powered means for rotatively driving the flexible rod at a speed of practical rate far in advance of that which is possible by manual effort.

More particularly, a purpose ofthe invention is to provide a power-take-oif plant o'r unit which will serve to rotate the rod and its bore working tool head at l.several of selective speeds according to the work in hand and the type of tool head employed on the iiexible rod. Another object is to provide a combined portable, wheeled vehicular power unit and exible-rod tool and a mechanically driven rod section coupler, with means wherebyto manually control the drive of the coupler, and to provide for change of Yrate of rotation thereof.

Additionally, an object is to provide a power plant including a prime motor in combination with means whereby the tool may be rotated at speeds much less than that of the motor shaft so that the motor may be operated at its most eillcient speed, and to enable to employ a relatively small motor in the outfit for economy in several aspects.

Also, an object is to provide for avoiding the direct attachment of the tool rod to the shaft of the motor so that this is protected against serious strains to its bearings incident to the whipping of such rods while at work.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the annexed illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinbelow. Figure 1 is a plan of a form of the apparatus (Cl. l5-104.30)

incorporating the invention. Figure 2 is a rear i or handle-end view of the plant. Figure 3 is sectional detail of one of the coupler-driving, power take-ofi' sleeves of the apparatus.

The present combination includes, and is in- 5 tended for the rotation of, a sectional, flexible rod 2 to the forward or working end of which is attachable one or another of various types of bore working tool heads such as an auger 3, and which when cutting into detritus in the bore will l0 advance and pull the rod 2. The rod is of the type having hooked ends 4 for driving interlock with respective double-end couplers 5 which are designed for application of divers torque-effort metrica] hole 6 for the reception of a pin 1.

It has been generally the practice to turn the rod 2 by hand power but this does not enable operation of the rod'at most eilicient speeds,

nor is it always possible to advance the' tool in 20 the bore withv desired facility and safety.

In the present invention the rod driving coupler pin 'I is shown as fastened in a mechanically driven hollow shaft or sleeve 8.

This sleeve 8 is turnably mounted in suitable 25 bearings 9 of an appropriate frame I carrying a small prime motor I I; the frame and the motor beingv rigidly fixed to a hollow axle i2 having an extensible end section I3 forming a chassis on wheels I4. 30

The shaft section I3 is adjusted in'the axle I2 for extension of its wheel to an outward degree to give desired stability to the plant while driving the rod 2, and fastened by a pin or key I5. 35

Fixed on the drive sleeve is a' large gear I6 constantly meshing with a pinion I'I fixed on a shaft I8 journaled in theframe Iii and having at its rear end a fixed change speed pulley I9 to which power is transmitted as by 40 a belt 20 from a change speed pulley 2l xed on the motor shaft 22. By'shifting thev belt from one step of the shaft pulley 2i to another the speed of the intermediate pulley 'I9 may be readily varied as desired according to the work. 45

A device is provided to control the drive from the motor shaft 22 to the intermediate shaft I 8 and as shown includes a lever 2l pivoted at 26 on the frame I0 and having a toe 21 engaging an arm 28 pivoted on-shaft I8, or otherwise 50 as desired, and carrying at its swinging end a presser roller 29 which is depressed by the lever 24 against the belt 20 with sufficient force to cause the belt to drive the pulley I9 and its shaft Il; .the lever being interlockable with a 55 rack segment 2l to hold the driving relation. If it is desired to stop rotation of the shaft il and its related coupling driving sleeve l, and the hitched rod 2, the lever 2l is shifted to release pressure of the roller 2l on belt-2l to loosen it without drive on the, pulley II. A

Thus the rod driving sleeve 2 is driven at a speed very much below that of the motor shaft 22.

A further change of speed of rotation of the nexible rod 2 is made available in the apparatus by the provision of a rocking bearing 32 pivoted at 32 on the side of frame il in a positionV parallel to the axis of the pinion pulley 2i of shaft 22. Rotatively mounted in the bearing 22 is an elongate hollow shaft or sleeve t* for reception of and in which may bepinned a drive coupler l of a rod 2 as above set forth as to shaft I. Y

On one end of the sleeve 2l there is secured a change speed or stepped pulley 24 .to receive a complementary belt, as belt 2l, rove thereto from the pinion pulley 2 l. The bearing 22 is connected y by a link 3l to the lever 2l and when this is in the sleeve; it being understood that in such drive hook-up the transmission shaft Il will be out of commission.

Shaft il. is shown as hollow and this may be adapted for receiving and pinning a rod driving coupler l if so desired, thus affording still anothe speed or rod rotation.

The purpose of mounting the power plant on the wheeled chassis I2-il is to enable the motor to be advanced toward the bore in which the tool head maybe working and for this function the chassis is provided with` a suitable handle Il. Also a rearward leg 21 is provided for standing the chassis at rest, with or without operation of the motor.

s,v1s4,eeef

Itwillbeseen thattherodmayhaveadditional sections added to either end projecting from the drive sleeve I without disturbing they drive coupler pinned in the drive sleeve.

When the rod 2 is driven by means ofthe transy mission and sleeve t* it can be interrupted at will and -the sleeve stopped by throwing the lever 2l to the left and this not only will slack the appliedbelt (dotted lines, Fig. 2) to reduce the speed oi' rod rotation to the extent desired, but ii' the lever is pushed away far enough the pulley 34 will swing into stopping engagementv and through which the rod is axially shiftableand having means positively locking with an interposed coupling to rotate it.

2. A sewer rod apparatus having, in combination, a sectional flexible rod, a couplingv device in which one end of the rod is co-rotatively attached, and a power driven sleeve in which said device is co-rotatively fixed by a positive. interlocking key mounted in the sleeve.

3. In a sewer rod driving machine, a power transmission., a rodi driving member rotaldve thereby. and a rod coupling device co-rotatively connected to said drive member by a positive drive key carried by said member and a oomplementary rod end positively interlocking with the coupling for co-rotation; said member oonsisting of a sleeve in which the coupling is axially mountedfor interlocknwith the key.

` HUBERT n. cam.