US977005A - Apparatus for clearing obstructions from drain and other pipes. - Google Patents

Description

W. HADDUUK. APPARATUS FUR CLEARING OBSTRUGTIONS FROM DRAIN AND OTHER PIPES.

APPLXOATIOH FILED HAB. 8, 1909.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

fir/54.1.07

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WORCESTER HADDOCK, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO R. JOHN BERNE AND ONE-HALF TO HENRY VOLZ,

BOTH OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOB CLEARING OBSTBUCTIONS FROM DRAIN AND OTHER PIPES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed March 8, 1909. Serial No. 482,144.

1'0 all whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVoncEsTER HADDOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovenients in Apparatus for Clearing Obstructions from Drain and other Iipcs, of which the following is a spccilication.

rl"he several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification. and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,-I `igure l represents a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a mechanism embodying my invention. In this view the section is a vertical central one. Fig. 2 isa view in perspective of a receptacle l'or various substances, which may bc employed in connection with the cleansing of said .sinh and other drain pipes. l"ig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improved device when combined with my improved receptacle shown in Fig. 2, the whole applied to the exit hole of a basin or sink. The section is a central vertical one. Figli is a vertical central section of a construction containing certain features of my invention, one of which is somewhat modified for use, in connection with a different kind of handle. 5 is a. vertical central section of a device lllustrating the preferred means for adapting one size of conduit used with my invention to other sizes of conduits.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

A indicates a hemispherical cu of elastic material, and therefore preferab y made of rubber. In the central part of the upper end of this cu A I form a hole A. I provide a centra shank B constructed as follows: This shank has an annular flange B, preferably quite broad, as shown, and extending in a radial direction from the axis of the shank. Above this flange B is a neck B' of much shorter diameter. Above this neck Ba the shank is enlaiFed, its diameter being longer than that o the neck B.

The diameter of the hole A2 is much less than that of the neck B. Consequently when the shank B is inserted through this hole A: in the cup, as will be the ease. in manufacture, the edge of the hole A2 of'the rubber cup A will fold or lie up against the neck B3, and till this space around the neel: B3. The enlargement li* of the shank has a peripheral screw thread 135. ()n this enlargement is screwed a sleeve C provided interiorly with a screw thread C2. the latter engaging the screw thread 155 of the said enlargement Bt. This sleeve is provided with outwardly extending arms or handles C, preferably two in number. snhstaniiallv as shown i11 Fig. l. .\bove the enlargement B4, the shank il again diminishedin size and this diminished Vportion l5 is provided with an exterior screw thread il". 'This pon tion B of said shank li receives the lower end of a hose or other pipe l). which will usuallyl be flexible. rhis lower end ol' pipe I) is screwed b v its seri-w thread l!" onto the "I shank portion ll: here the pipe l) i` oi' rubber, the screw thread l" will operate to enter the rubber o1' the pipe l) anti no inlerior screw thread on the pipe D will be nec essary. The passageway Ba extends through the shank B for the whole length of it. The lower portion of this passageway B5 has a screw thread B9.

I provide a stopple E, exteriorly screw threaded at E2,which stopple can be screwed into the screw threaded aperture B, of passageway Bs. 'hen thus applied, this sto )le E will entirely close the passageway Iii.

`he stoppie E is provided with means for enabling it to be rotated for screwing the stopple into the shank B or unscrewing it therefrom. Preferred means for this purpose are the thumb pieces E, E", respec tivel located at opposite sides of the sto ple E. he mode in which this feature o mv invention operates is as follows: The cu is located over the exit hole of the sii or basin, and which hole is in connection with the drain pipe, and the ed e of this cup is `on the Hoor of the basin or sink, and outside of the said hole. In Fig. 3, the bottom S of a sink or basin is shown. The mouth of the exit. pipe orapassage .S is usually covered b a perforate floor Sa whose perforations are too small to allow large things to enter the hole S2. After the cup A has been thus properly located, a forcible downward pressure 1s applied to the handles C3, C, and the cup A 1s quite a little flattened, and some of the air within it is expelled. This pressure on the handles C3, C, is now released. Thereupon the cup will expand and suck the contents of the drain p1 e upward, and loosen them where jamme together. This action of the cup A by alternately pressing it down by the said handles and then allowing it to rise, is continued until the contents of the drain pipe have been loosened. The action essentially consists in forcing said contents of the drain pipe down and out of the said pipe by means of the air compressed when the cup is pressed downward, this compressed air ressing in turn upon the contents of the rain pipe. The cup takes more or less fresh air under its edge as pressure upon it is removed from the handles, and this additional air is again forced downward into the drain pipe when the air is again compressed. If water is standing in the sink or bowl to a moderate depth when the air is compressed, the air will be forced out of the cup and out and down into the drain pipe and against the contents of said pipe, and in this way will assist in forcing out the contents of the drain pipe. In order to prevent the cup A from merely being depressed at the middle portion, I provide a flat disk A". This disk has a central aperture of the diameter of the opening in the sleeve C, and the disk is fitted to place resting on the upper surface of the cup and then the sleeve C is screwed down. lVhen the handles C3 are depressed, the disk is brought to bear on the top surface of the cup, and a much more effective action of the cup is attained. To carry olf those contents of the drain pi )e which clog it, I then remove the stopple l), again place the cup over the exit hole S2. I connect the u per end of the pipe D, namely the part F w ich is a cou ling, with a faucet G. Openin the faucet I cause the water to flow rapi ly through the pipe D, and its shank B into the cup A and thence through the hole S2, thus carrying olf the debris and foreign substances that have clogged the said exit pipe.

It frequently happens that it often becomes desirable to remove from the drain pipe, grease or fats, and the like that. have odged therein, and again it becomes desirable to disinfect the drain pipe and its contents. One feature of my invention provides for effecting such results. This feature is as follows: provide a cup or cage H, preferably in the form of a truncated cone.

he side H2 of this cage is preferably imperforate. The bottom H3 of this cage is perforate and is preferably a wire screen cloth. The top `of this cage isy provided with a central opening ll, in alinemont with the passageway B5. The edge portion ll ol` this openlng ll* is not sharp, but round, so as not to cut the rubber of the cup.

In application, the substance that is to be applied to accomplish the removing ol' the grease, fat, etc., or to disinfect the efxil pipe, 1s placed in the cage ll. through the openingy H. The cage ll is then located over the exit drain hole. The cup is located as shown in Fig. 3 over thc cage and held down thereupon, and upon the bottom S of the sink or basin. rlhe edge lli of the openinjLl H* abuis against they rubber of the cup beyond the rim B2. The upper end ol' the pipe. l) is connected to a faucet as hereinbeforc mentioned, and water from the faucet is caused to flow down through the shank l and into the cage. llere it dissolves the article therein and carrie` it down into the drain pipe. where it performs the desired function. For example. lrc in a granulated shape ll,` so that it cannot pass through the cage while in a solid state. is pnt in the rae'e H. The water flowing down through the cup and the cage dissolve.` the I ve and earl-ies` it directly down to the grease or i'at in the drain pipe. There the grease or fat is ein or dissolved hy the l \e. and ron-edinunl) disappears.

ln case a disinfectant. :t`4 sulfate ol iron. or chlorid of lime. ete.. is located in the cage. the water lio\\'iuf |r down through ilushank and the cup and the rage dissolves it and carries it into the pipe and distributes the disinfectant upon und alongr the surtir-e of the exit pipe.

In Fig. ,l there is illustrated a oloditied form of one of the featuresv ot' in r de\ ire. In this Fig. l, the construction ot lhe cup and of the shank and of the stopple are substantially the same as in Figs. l and 2l alreadyy described. with the exception that there is no passageway directly through the shank, and a handle J is secured to the shank in a socket provided for that purpose. The lower end )ortion of this handle is prel erably prov1ded with a ferrule J 2, and the preferred means of uniting the handle to the shank B is by forming the lower end of the ferrule with a diminished extension or end J3, and on the periphery of this extension 3 I form a screw thread J4. Upon the socket of the shank, I form a screw thread B12. The extension J3 is screwed into this screw threaded end ortion B12 of the shank and is thereby held firmly in position. This handle is obviously usable in various ways, among which it may be mentioned that it can be used to compress the cup A in the manner already described.

In connection with the device as thus far described, I employl a water inlet passageway connected to t e passageway B3 of the shank, preferably substantially as follows:

lll)

A curved pipe K, having a straight end K2, l larged portion and adapted to compress the is provided with a I ieripheral screw thread K. An opening B in the side ot' the shank B is provided with a screw thread B, and the straight portion I"' of the pipe K is screwed therein substantiallj.' as shown in Fig. l. The other end of this pipe K is provided with a coupling piece K of the usual form, and this is dal)7 connected Willi a flexible or other pipe, which latter is in turn adapted to be connected to the faucet, hydrant or other water supply, and thereby receive water directly therefrom, which water Hows through the pipe K and thence through the shank and tiushes out the sink hole and drain pipe. It can also be used to cai-rv7 the lye or disinfectant and the like located in the cage Il through the sink hole into the drain pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described. The passage K can be closed b v a suitable stopplc E4, one torni ot which is shown in Fig. l. Ot' course, as is well understood in the art of plumbing, the coupling F may, without change, be adapted to thc ends ot variously sized faucets b v incans of a proper sized reducer, one size of which shown and indicated by the character D3. This reducer is usually formed ot' rubber pipe. ln Fig. 5, the adjacent end (l2 of a i'aucet is shown, inserted into the rcducer DE The rubber pipe l). reducer D and faucet (if are all held and clanipcdt tightlvY together h v nicans of a clainp D4, ot' well known construction.

'l`hc construction shown in Vig. 4 is of priinarv advantage and utility in the, opening up ot' thc conduits connected to the bowls of water closets. The rubber cup whose lowet' portion A is i'ornied so as to contact with the exit orifice of the bowl, is passed down into the saine. and the handle J moved up and down vertically, thereb v reciprocating the cup and causing it to alternately force air forward and down through the exit conduit, and then as the cup rises, suck on the said conduit. These movements of the air against and through the contents of the said exit conduit operate to loosen the contents lod ed in the said conduit.

lherever the word sink is used in the claims, it. is to be understood as including other drain pipes of analogous location.

What I claim as new, and of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for cleansing sink pipes, an elastic cup, a shank havin a passageway through it, this shank icing extended through the top portion of the cup, a stopple adapted to close that end of the passageway within the cup, an annular flan e of the shank below the adjacent top portion of the cup, a disk on the shank next above the cup, an enlar ed portion of the shank above this loose dis, and rovided with a peri heral screw thread, a slleeve screwed upon t is enrubber cap between the disk and the annular lange, arms extended from the sleeve. an upper end portion ot' the shank provided with a screw thread and a tlcxihlc pipe or hose connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a faucet. substantially as and for the purposes lspcciticd.

2. In a device i'or cleansing sink holes, the combination oi' a shank. a handle connected thereto, a cup connected to the shank, the Shank provided with a passageway and a pipe, in connection with the lshank, adapted to be connected to the faucet, and a stopple adapted to hc connected to the shank and to close the passagewayv thereof` sul stantiallv as and tor the purposes` speciticd.

3. In a device for cleansing sink or drain pipes, a rubber cup, a shank onto which the said cup is tittcd. an annular tlange on the shank helow the cup. :i device t'or con|prc sing the cup against thtl thinge. a handle t'or depressing` the cup. and a cage. adapted to be within the cup. and having a perforated bottoni and an opt-n top. the openingl in the top of the cage adapted to receive within it the said annular tlange and pcrniit the cup itself to iiupinge again t the edge ol' thisl top opening ot the cage and lo inake a light joint therewith. the `shank having an inlet conduit opening` inzo thc top opening ot' the cage, and adapted to malt-c connection with a pipe for supplying water tu the `hunk. .suh- Stantiallv as and l'or the pui-poes `spcciticd.

4. ln a device tor cleansing sink pipes. an elastic cup. a \hank having :i p:|.'s:igevv.i v through it. the shank lining' extended through thc top portion ol: the cup. an annu lar tiange integral with the .shank and located below thc adjacent top portion ot' the cup, a disk on the shank next above the cup. an enlarged portion on the shank above the disk provided with a peripheral screw thread, thus leaving a diminished portion or neck between the annular tiangc below and the enlarged screw threaded portion above, the edge of the cup being received into the recess thus formed, a sleeve screwed upon the enlarged portion of the shank, arms on the shank, the shank adapted when screwed down to compress the adjacent portion of the rubber cup between the disk and the annular Harige, and means for enabling the shank to connect with a pipe for introducing water into the cup, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a device for cleansing sink holes, a. rubber cup, a shank upon which the cup is mounted, radial arms for operatin the device secured to the shank, a condint in the shank and a flexible connection therefor to suppl Water to the inside of the cup, and a Stopp e for closing the'conduit as desired.

6. In a device for cleansing sink holes, a rubber cup, means for compressing the cup against the support; it is rested upon, a t the cup for admitting Water thereto, and cage provided with :1 perforated bottoni :md 1 nie-uns for closing Suid conduit, snhstunti-.illv an Open top, the cage adapted to be within :is und for the purposes. specified. the cup and having un upper edge in the i \VORCES'1`ER HADDOCIQ Vicinity of the top opening of it, adapted i Attest: t0 make close Contact with the interior sur Joux E. 1 `1'1m.\'1lzlcii, ffice of the cup, a conduit extended through l K. 5111'111.

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