E03F9/005

MOTOR CONTROL OF A DRAIN CLEANING MACHINE
20220355348 · 2022-11-10 ·

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.

Cable Feeding Device for Drain Cleaner
20170304879 · 2017-10-26 ·

A cable feeding device for a drain cleaner includes an upper body mounted on a support tube of the drain cleaner, a control subassembly, and a lower body. The upper body in which an upper feeding roller is held and the lower body in which two lower feeding rollers are held join each other. A cable inside a cable drum of the drain cleaner can extend through a region encircled with the upper and lower feeding rollers and can be resisted by the upper and lower feeding rollers for controllable forward or backward movements of the cable into a drain to be cleaned. The lower body has at least one separate mold-stripping hole for easy manufacturing of the upper and lower bodies in a plastic injection molding process. The upper and lower feeding rollers are not exposed to the outside for longer service life to clip the cable.

POWERED DRAIN AUGER

A drain cleaning device includes a power unit and a drum assembly coupled to the power unit for rotation by the power unit. The drum assembly includes a base, a cable received in the base that is configured to be fed from the base and rotated to clean a drain, and a cover releasably coupleable to the base. The drum assembly includes a plurality of taper locks releasably coupling an outer peripheral portion of the cover and an outer peripheral portion of the base. Each of the taper locks is moveable between a locked position in which the cover is retained on the base and an unlocked position in which the cover is removable from the base. Each of the taper locks being biased toward the locked position.

CLOSET AUGER
20170232484 · 2017-08-17 ·

A closet auger includes an elongated casing member extending along an axis, and an elongated drive member telescopically received in the casing member and movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the casing member along the axis. The drive member is rotatable relative to the casing member about the axis. The closet auger further includes a flexible cable having an end removably connectable to the drive member in first and second configurations, where a length of the flexible cable is retracted within or extended from the drive member, respectively. A cable retention assembly is supported by the casing member and selectively engageable with the flexible cable to inhibit movement of the flexible cable relative to the casing member. The drive member is movable relative to the flexible cable when the cable retention assembly engages the flexible cable to change between the first and second configurations.

Mechanism for retention of multiple apparatus on plumbing tools
11426776 · 2022-08-30 · ·

A mechanism for securing multiple apparatus to a drain cleaning machine is described. The mechanism includes a bracket arranged on a frame of the drain cleaning machine. The bracket allows a drum and a feed mechanism to be removably secured to the frame. The bracket includes a base and pivotable latch. A drum bearing from the drum can be secured between the base and the latch when the latch is in a closed position. Mounting pins from the feed mechanism can be inserted into two bores in the bracket, and secured therein by plunger pins. One plunger pin is manually operated, to selectively lock the latch in the closed position, and to selectively secure one of the mounting pins in one of the bores. Another plunger pin is operated by pivoting of the latch, and functions to selectively secure the other mounting pin in the other bore.

CLEAR DRUM COVERS FOR PLUMBING TOOLS
20170268216 · 2017-09-21 ·

A clear or generally transparent cover or enclosure for plumbing tools is described. The clear cover enables viewing of interior regions of the plumbing tools. In particular versions, the covers are used with drum type drain cleaning devices and enable visual inspection of the drum and/or a flexible drain cleaning cable associated with the device.

MODULAR GUIDE HOSE SYSTEM FOR PLUMBING TOOLS
20170266702 · 2017-09-21 ·

A drain cleaning system is described that includes a drain cleaning device with a flexible drain cleaning cable, and two or more sections of guide hoses that can be attached to one another and/or to the device. Also described are systems that include provisions for advancing or retracting the drain cleaning cable and which can also be coupled to one or more of the guide hoses.

MOTOR DAMPENER AND DRIVE TRAIN FOR PLUMBING TOOLS
20170268596 · 2017-09-21 ·

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 control of a drain cleaning machine

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.

TRANSPORTABLE MACHINE INCLUDING A TRACK SYSTEM

A transportable machine including an elongated frame having a top end and a bottom end, a handle disposed on the top end of the frame, a base disposed on the bottom end of the frame, where the base and the frame together define a space configured to receive and support a load, and a wheel disposed on the bottom end of the frame. A track is coupled to the frame, where the track includes a roller and an endless belt configured to rotate about the roller. A motor is coupled to the roller, where the motor is operable to drive the endless belt, and a power supply provides power to the motor.