US2552808A

US2552808A - Supporting device for pipe cleaning machines

Info

Publication number: US2552808A
Application number: US733810A
Authority: US
Inventors: John V O'brien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-03-11
Filing date: 1947-03-11
Publication date: 1951-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-15

Description

\ Filed March 11, 1947 May 15, 1951 v, GWEN 2,552,808

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PIPE CLEANING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 15, 1951 V J. v. O'BRIEN SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PIPE CLEANING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11', 1947 Patented May 15, 1951 SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PIPE CLEANING- MACHINES J chn V. OBrien, Park Ridge, 111.

Application March 11, 1947, Serial No. 733,810

7 Claims.

The, invention relates generally to improve ments in machines for use in cleaning pipes of various kinds, and removing stoppagesin drains, such as sink drains, floor drains, etc, but relates more particularly to portable machines for this purpose.

The general object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind which shall be light, compact and sturdy so that it may be easily carried and operated by one man and which at the same time shall function efficiently for a variety of purposes, such as cleaning out scale, corrosion and stoppages in drains and pipes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind having a motor for actuating the flexible cable, to which the cutter element is attached, and an associated drum for storing the unused portion of the cable, th motor in non-operative position being supported closely adjacent the drum so that the drum and motor may be transported as a unit, and the motor being easily withdrawn with sufficient cable as necessary for use in the cleaning of pipes, drains and the like.

Again it is an object of the invention to pro vide a flexible cable storage drum and stand for supporting the drum, so that the drum may free- 1y rotate on one axis in response to torque developed in the cable by the power unit in a cleaning operation and which drum is trunnioned on;

a horizontal axis to enable the drum to be swung to the position best adapted to permit the cable to pass from the drum to and through the power unit during a cleaning operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as I proceed with a description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe cleaning machine embodying my invention, the parts being in the non-operative position. they occupy when the device is ready to be stored or transported.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, but with the motor removed, as when used and the motor supporting arm swung downwardly into a position of rest against the top of the drum supporting cradle.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4' is a view of the machine in elevation, certain of the parts being broken away to disclose the interior construction and only a por" tion of the handle of the power unit being shown,

and

Fig. 5 is a view, at. right angles to Fig. l, showing the drum tilted at an angle, being one of a number of positions in which it may be placed to facilitate use.

The machine comprises, as main parts, the stand I, flexible cable containing drum 2, cradle 3, for supporting drum 2 in stand i, and power unit 4 for-rotating flexible cable 5.

The details of the reel and reel support. are claimed in my copending application. Ser. No. 6,896, filed February 7., 19.48.

The stand I comprises parallel angle iron members 66, which are held in spaced relation by a. Ushaped metal band 1 having a base portion 8 and upstanding. side leg portions 9!!. The u-shaped member '1 is permanently secured to. the member 6-6 as by welding, or in any other suitable manner. The top portions of the legs Q-9 are preferably bent outwardly at, right angles and then reverse folded as shown at lit-l0. There are thus provided parts which may serve as handles, if desired, althoughv the machine as a whole may be conveniently carried in one hand, by grasping the top span of the cradle member 3- slightly at one side of center.

The cradle 3' is conveniently a casting comprising a bottom span portion H, upstanding side portions l2.-l'2 and top portions Lil-l3, which extend upwardly and inwardly and which merge into an integral offset central portion I5.

Associated with the offset portion I5. is a plate i6, which is bowed outwardly so that a spherical portion ll of a brass bearing l8, which is positioned in the top ofthe drum along the axis of rotation of the drum, may be clamped between said parts. There is thus provided a self-aligning bearing for the upper part of the drum.

The lower part of the drum is supported upon an anti-friction bearing carried in the central part of the lower span H of the cradle 3. As shown the anti-friction bearing comprises a ball bearing l9, which is accommodated in an opening in the span H, being supported by a plate 20 bolted to the under side. of the span I l.

The bottom wall of the drum carries a stud 2| having a reduced portion 212, which engages. the center ring of the anti-friction bearing and a reduced and threaded upper portion 23, which e-xtends into the interior of the drum. On the bottom outside surface of the drum is a reinforcing plate 24 and on, the. inner surface is a washer 25. By means of nut 26, the stud 2! is held firmly in position, the washer 25 and reinforcing plate 24 being pressed firmly against the respective sides of the drum. bottom.

By the means described, the drum is positioned for free rotation in the cradle 3 in response to torque imparted to the flexible cable 5 when rotated by the power unit i.

In the operation of the machine, it is convenient to have th axis of rotation of the drum in a position other than vertical for which reason the cradle is mounted so that it may be swung orltilted to the desired position, one such position being shown in Fig. 5. For this purpose there main in any placed position.

The power unit d comprises a motor til having a gear housing 3| at one end and a hollow handle portion 32 fat the opposite end. Extending from the gear casing end of the power unit is a chuck 33 through which the flexible cable 5 passes and by means or" which the actuation of the cable by the power unit may be controlled. At that end of the cable external to the drum there is secured a suitable tool 3 for cutting away the scale, cor- 1 rosion, or other material causing the stoppage or restriction in the pipe, drain, etc.

When the parts are in their non-operative position (see Figs. 1 and 4) the lower hollow portion of the handle 32 telescopes over the upper cylindrical end of the bearing it, thus serving to support one end of the power unit. The other end of the power unit is supported by a swing-able arm 35 pivoted to the cradle as at 36 and having a saddle-like portion 3? at its outer end in which the lower part of the power unit rests, while engaged with shoulder of the gear housing. A projection 38, on the cradle, serves as a stop to limit movement of the arm 35 in one direction. When the power unit is functioning the arm 35 is swung downwardly to the position shown in Fi 2.

Current to energize the motor 39 of the power unit is supplied by means of the conventional conductor 39, which may be plugged into any convenient electrical outlet.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the entire machine may be conveniently transported by gripping one side of the upper portion of the saddle with one hand, preferably on that side over which the power unit extends. Because of the compact arrangement, the machine can be carried into rather confined quarters and positioned conveniently adjacent the outlet of thepipe, drain or the like to be cleaned. It will be understood at this time that the major part of the flexible cable is stored in coiled condition within the storage drum, where it is out of the way.

' Operation Assuming the machine has been placed adjacent the pipe or drain to be cleaned, the power unit is lifted away from the stand, cradle, and drum, at the same time'pulling a portion of the 'cable from the drum through the hollow upper bearing 18. Before starting the actual cleaning operation the cradle will be positioned at that angle which will move the drum so' that its axis of rotation will most freely permit of the paying out of the flexible cable. The tool at the end i of the flexible cable is then inserted in the pipe or drain opening and the motor started to cause rotation of the cable and the cutter afiixed thereto. The cable is then fed forward as the cleaning operation progresses.

When the cleaning operation has been completed, the parts may be quickly and easily restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. The soiled cable is then stored within the drum, where it may be dried, aerated, and cleaned, if desired, through the vent holes 3 l. V

The apparatus is at once light, compact, sturdy and efficient for its intended purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of the invention as required by law, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details, except as may be necessary by limitations in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pipe cleaning machine embodying therein a flexible cable holding drum, a supporting structure for the drum and including parts above and below said drum and in which it is journalled for rotation, a tubular member projecting beyond said part of the supporting structure above the drum and communicating with the interior thereof and forming a cable payout opening therefore, mechanisms through which said cable extends and operative for imparting rotation to said cable, and including a part removably fit-.

ting upon said tubular member and forming, one part of the support therefor, and means carried by said structure laterally of said tubular member and engageable 'by another part of said mechanism and forming a second part of the support therefor. V

2. A pipe cleaning machine embodying therein a flexible cable holding drum, a supporting structure for the drum and including parts above and below said drum and in which it is journalled in a flexible cable holding drum, a supporting structure for the drum and including parts above and below said drum and in which it is journalled for rotation, a tubular member projecting beyond said part of the supporting structure above said drum and communicating with the interior thereof and forming a cable payout opening therefor, an electric motor driven mechanism for imparting rotation to said cable and including a casing and a hollow handle portion through which said cable extends and which handle portion has removable telescopic engagement with said tubular member and forming, at leastfa part of the support for said mechanism, and an arm swingably mounted on said part of the supporting structure above the drum and engageable with said casing and forming the other part of the support for said mechanism.

4. A pipe cleaning machine embodying theresaid part of the structure below the same, a

tubular member projecting from the top of said drum and journalled in and extending beyond that part of the supporting structure above said drum and communicating with the interior of the drum and forming the payout opening for the cable therein, and mechanism for imparting rotation to said cable and including a portion through which said cable extends and which portion has removable telescopic supporting engagement with the projecting part of the tubular member.

5. A pipe cleaning machine embodying therein a stand, a flexible cable holding drum mounted for rotation on said stand and including a tubular part journalled in a part of said stand and forming a cable payout opening for said drum, mechanism having a hollow part through which said cable extends and operative for imparting rotation to said cable, said hollow part of said mechanism being adapted for detachable telescopic engagement with said tubular part while having supporting bearing engagement upon said part of said stand between uses of said cable.

6. A pipe cleaning machine embodying therein a stand, a flexible cable holding drum mounted for rotation on said stand, said drum including a tubular part journalled in a part of the stand and forming a cable payout opening of said drum, mechanism through which said cable extends and operative for imparting rotation to the flexible cable during use thereof, said mechanism including a part adapted for telescopic engagement with said tubular part, and an arm carried by said stand and engageable by another part of said mechanism for supporting said mechanism upon the stand in a position extending laterally from said tubular member between uses of said cable,

7. A pipe cleaning machine embodying there in a stand, a flexible cable holding drum, means mounting said drum for rotation on the stand and including a tubular part forming a cable payout opening for the drum, a power unit for imparting rotation to said cable, said. unit having a hollow handle portion through which said cable passes, and which is telescopically engageable with said tubular part for supporting one end of said power unit when it is in an inoperative position between uses of the cable.

JOHN V. QBRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 414,881 Grams Nov. 12, 1889 751,204 Rapke Feb. 2, 1904 1,495,304 Heidelberg May 27, 1924 2,033,670 Auer Mar. 10, 1936 2,037,104 Yohn Apr. 14, 1936 2,073,928 Gassen Mar. 16, 1937 2,259,899 Long Oct. 21, 1941 2,269,406 Crane Jan. 6, 1942 2,426,265 Gavin Aug. 26, 1947 OTHER. REFERENCES Pages 12 and 13 of catalog, Flexible Sewer- Rod Equipment 00., 9059 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. (Received in Patent Oifice April 19, 1940, copy in Division 27.)