A drain cleanout features a flexible drain auger, a mounting section supported solely on a drain pipe, a drum section carried by the mounting section and storing the auger, a rotational connection coupling the mounting section and the drum section, and a rotational drive unit carried by the mounting section and operable to drive rotation of the drum section. A feed mechanism for the flexible auger features a helical slot in the auger cable and a thin disc received in the slot and supported at a fixed longitudinal position in a travel direction along which the drain auger exits and re-enters the drum. Rotation of the auger cable with the drum cause longitudinal displacement of the auger cable in the travel direction. A liquid sensor enables the apparatus to be left in place for automatic self-activation upon detection of liquid back up in the drain pipe.

Motor dampening provisions are described. Incorporation and use of the motor dampener(s) in a rotary type drain cleaning machine enables elimination of a clutch in the machine. Also described are clutch-free drive systems using the motor dampener(s). Also described are torque countering members that are used in conjunction with the motor dampener(s).

Motor dampening provisions are described. Incorporation and use of the motor dampener(s) in a rotary type drain cleaning machine enables elimination of a clutch in the machine. Also described are clutch-free drive systems using the motor dampener(s). Also described are torque countering members that are used in conjunction with the motor dampener(s).

A drain cleaning machine includes a brushless direct current (DC) motor configured to rotate a snake about the snake axis. An electronic processor is configured to control power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor. In a first operating range when a load experienced by the brushless DC motor is less than or equal to a predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at an approximately constant speed regardless of the load experienced by the brushless DC motor. In a second operating range when the load experienced by the brushless DC motor is greater than the predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at a decreasing speed as the load experienced by the brushless DC motor increases.

A drain cleaning machine includes a brushless direct current (DC) motor configured to rotate a snake about the snake axis. An electronic processor is configured to control power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor. In a first operating range when a load experienced by the brushless DC motor is less than or equal to a predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at an approximately constant speed regardless of the load experienced by the brushless DC motor. In a second operating range when the load experienced by the brushless DC motor is greater than the predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at a decreasing speed as the load experienced by the brushless DC motor increases.

A rotor body is completely produced from metal by means of additive manufacturing methods or 3D printing, wherein the cross-jet nozzle duct is left out during the additive manufacturing layer by layer as a continuous edge-free curved opening in the form of an arc curved in relation to the longitudinal axis (L). A cleaning fluid can be transported from a feed duct of the rotor body up to a nozzle tip (D) and can be dispensed there from the cross jet nozzle outlet, and accordingly higher-energy cleaning fluid chats are to be able to be generated or an energy loss of the exiting cleaning fluid is to be reduced.

A conduit cleaning device includes a body with a central portion, a forward portion comprising a neck, and a rear portion with a hose fitting adapted for connection to an associated hose. The body includes a main flow passage that extends through the hose fitting, through the central portion, and into the neck. A rotor is rotatably supported on the neck. The rotor includes at least one rotor nozzle orifice in fluid communication with the main flow passage. A centering device is secured to the central portion of the body. The centering device includes a core and a plurality of fins that project outwardly from the core. The core of the centering device includes a mounting bore that extends therethrough, wherein at least part of the hose fitting is located within the mounting bore of the core and an annular space is defined between the hose fitting and an inner surface of the mounting bore of the core.

A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

A pipe cleaning robotic device for sludge removal and suction and discharge includes a rail having a plurality of receiving grooves spaced at a predetermined distance on one side thereof; a fixed unit formed at an end of the rail, inserted into a pipe, and fixed in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the pipe; a driving unit mounted on the rail and movable in forward and backward directions along the rail by a wheel drive rotated by an external power; a cylindrical frame for moving and rotating in the forward and backward directions according to driving of the wheel drive; and a sound wave generator formed on one side of an outer circumference of the frame to generate a sound wave to remove the sludge in the pipe cleaning robotic device.