WO2005089969A1

WO2005089969A1 - Device for removing blockages in drainpipes

Info

Publication number: WO2005089969A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/050933
Authority: WO
Inventors: Owen William Peter Houndsome
Original assignee: Owen William Peter Houndsome
Priority date: 2004-03-19
Filing date: 2005-03-17
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for the removing blockages in a pipe, having an insert body adapted to be removably inserted into a pipe with sealing means to seal space created between the exterior of the insert body when located in the pipe and the interior of the pipe. A passage is located within the insert body through which pressurized water can be introduced into the pipe so that a blockage within the pipe can be removed.

Description

DEVICE FOR REMOVING BLOCKAGES IN DRAINPIPES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for removing blockages.

More particularly, the invention relates to a device for removing blockages in drainpipes.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Pipes, in particular drainpipes, tend to become blocked over a period of time by solid waste materials including debris, dirt and pieces of fabric. The traditional method of clearing these blockages involves the introduction of a spring steel wire or tape longitudinally into the pipe to dislodge the blockage with the simultaneous flushing of the solid waste materials out of the drainpipe. The spring steel wire or tape is typically stored in the form of a coil held in a suitable retaining frame.

Alternatively, a hosepipe is used to introduce water under pressure into the drainpipe in order to break up the blockage and flush the solid waste materials out. The difficulty with this alternative is that it is often messy in that water flows out of both ends of the drainpipe and it is difficult for one person to control and observe the effects of the water emitted by the hose pipe.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for removing blockages for overcoming the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a device for the removing blockages in a pipe, includes (a) an insert body adapted to be removably inserted into a pipe;

(b) sealing means adapted to seal space created between the exterior of the insert body when located in the pipe and the interior of the pipe; and

(c) a passage located within the insert body through which pressurized water can be introduced into the pipe so that a blockage within the pipe can be removed.

Also according to the invention, a method for removing blockages in a pipe, includes the steps of

(a) closing-off the end of a pipe by means of an insert body and sealing means; and

(b) introducing pressurised water into the pipe either via a passage located in the insert body or via an opposite end of the pipe and thereby removing the blockage in the pipe.

The device may include a pipe coupling connected to the passage in the insert body to enable a hose-pipe to be connected thereto.

The coupling may be a quick-release coupling.

The device may include a cap adapted to close-off the passage thereby closing off the interior of the pipe from the outside.

The passage may be a tube.

The tube may be integrally formed with the insert body.

The sealing means may include at least one compression seal.

The sealing means may include at least one elastomeric ring. The tube may include an exterior thread and at least one nut having a thread adapted to cooperate with the exterior thread of the tube and adapted to expand the sealing means outwardly.

At least one nut and/or flange may be provided integrally formed with the tube.

The insert body may be a spigot or socket formation for entering or encircling an end of a pipe.

The pipe may be a drainpipe.

The sealing means may be axially compressable and expandable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in :

Figure 1 : an isometric view of the device for removing blockages in accordance with the invention from one end thereof;

Figure 2: an isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1 from the opposite end thereof; and

Figure 3: a sectional side view of the device shown in Figure 1 and operatively installed on an end of a drainpipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings, there is shown a device for removing blockages in drainpipes in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The device 1 includes a) a hub member 2 having an inner tubular spigot 3 and an integral outer concentric skirt 4; and b) an externally screw threaded pipe 5 extending through the tubular spigot 3 of the hub member 2.

The hub member 2 is conveniently made as an injection moulded plastics unit and the tubular spigot 3 is of smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of a drainpipe 6 with which it is to be used and the inner diameter of the skirt 4 is larger than the outer diameter of the drainpipe 6 so that it is operatively located on the outside thereof.

Located on the inner end of the screw threaded pipe 5 is a compression seal formed by the elastomeric ring 7 sandwiched between two washers 8 and 9.

The washer 8 is operatively engaged by the inner end 10 of the tubular spigot 3 and the washer 9 is engaged by a nut 11 on the inner end of the pipe 6.

The nut 11 could be permanently fixed to the pipe 6 and, indeed, could simply be a head or flange formed integrally with the pipe 6 in the event that it is injection moulded.

The pipe 6 also has an operating nut 12 and washer 13 located on the outside of the hub member 2 so that this operating nut 12 can be used to urge the pipe 6 to move outwards from the spigot 3 and thereby compress the elastomeric ring 7 axially.

This action causes the elastomeric ring 7 to expand in a radially outwards direction so that it can sealingly engage the inner surface of the drainpipe 6 as and when required, the compression seal 7 thus operating in a known manner. Finally, the operatively outer end of the pipe 6 has fitted thereto a conventional quick release coupling 14 of a type commonly found on garden hoses.

In this instance the quick release coupling 14 has a spigot configuration and has an integral union nut 15 for screwing it onto the end of the pipe 6.

In use, the device 1 is attached to one end of a garden hose or the like by way of the quick release coupling 14 and the composite spigot formation including the compression seal is introduced into the open end of a drainpipe 6 that is to be cleared.

The operating nut 12 is then tightened whilst the device 1 is held by way of the skirt to prevent rotation thereof.

The compression seal 7 is thus brought into operation to seal the device 1 effectively to the inside surface of the drainpipe 6 and water under pressure can then be introduced into the drainpipe 6.

Once the blockage has been cleared, the water is turned off and the device 1 according to the invention can be removed simply by releasing the compression seal 7.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

The device 1 in accordance with the invention therefore relates to a device for assisting in the removal of blockages in pipes, typically drainpipes (sometimes termed waste pipes) of the sort usually associated with the outlets from bathroom and kitchen wash facilities and also from appliances such as clothing and dish washing machines. The invention thus provides a simple, yet effective device for assisting in the removal of blockages in drainpipes in a manner that overcomes, at least to some extent, difficulties associated with the prior art procedures.

It is to be understood that the term compression seal as used in this specification is intended to mean an elastomeric ring located between two relatively movable flanges or washers so that it can be compressed axially in order to expand it radially, either inwards or outwards, so as to sealingly engage a cylindrical surface generally concentric therewith.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A device for the removing blockages in a pipe, includes a) an insert body adapted to be removably inserted into a pipe; b) sealing means adapted to seal space created between the exterior of the insert body when located in the pipe and the interior of the pipe; and c) a passage located within the insert body through which pressurized water can be introduced into the pipe so that a blockage within the pipe can be removed.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a pipe coupling connected to the passage in the insert body to enable a hose-pipe to be connected thereto.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the coupling is a quick- release coupling.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a cap adapted to close-off the passage thereby closing off the interior of the pipe from the outside.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the passage is a tube.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the tube is integrally formed with the insert body.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means includes at least one compression seal.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means includes at least one elastomeric ring.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the tube includes an exterior thread and at least one nut having a thread adapted to cooperate with the exterior thread of the tube and adapted to expand the sealing means outwardly.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which at least one nut and/or flange is provided integrally formed with the tube.

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the insert body is a spigot or socket formation for entering or encircling an end of a pipe.

12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the pipe is a drainpipe.

13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means is axially compressable and expandable.

14. A method for removing blockages in a pipe, which includes the steps of a) closing-off the end of a pipe by means of an insert body and sealing means; and b) introducing pressurised water into the pipe either via a passage located in the insert body or via an opposite end of the pipe and thereby removing the blockage in the pipe.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, in which the pipe is a drainpipe.

16. A device for removing blockages in a pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A method for removing blockages in a pipe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.