Sewer cleaning machine

• US 10,704,250 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2017
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Scott, John S., Moeller, Scott T., Jones, Christopher S., Stoneback, William D., Corrado, Warren G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennings, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/795,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20180119406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/02 Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes apparatus for cleaning metal pipes by chemical methods C23G3/04 ; removing obstructions in waste pipes or sinks E03C1/30; cleaning sewer pipes E03F9/00; cleaning boreholes or wells E21B37/00; cleaning furnace tubes, flues, chimneys F23J3/02; cleaning heat-transfer conduits, e.g. water tubes of boilers F28G
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/04 using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/045 the cleaning devices being rotated while moved , e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"B08B9/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 9/005 Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods

Abstract

A sewer cleaning machine includes a frame and a drum rotatably supported by the frame. The drum includes a cable that is selectively extendable out of the drum. The sewer cleaning machine also includes a motor supported by the frame and coupled to the drum. The motor is operable to rotate the drum. The drum is configured to engage a surface to facilitate moving the sewer cleaning machine along the surface.

Claims

1. A sewer cleaning machine comprising:

a frame;

a drum supported by the frame, the drum including a cable that is selectively extendable out of the drum; and

a first motor supported by the frame and coupled to the drum, the first motor operable to rotate the drum;

a track supported by the frame; and

a second motor supported by the frame and coupled to the track, the second motor operable to move the track.

2. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a power supply supported on the frame, the power supply operable to power the first and second motors.

3. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the track includes a drive roller, an idler roller, and an endless belt rotatable about the drive roller and the idler roller.

4. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a housing coupled to the frame and rotatably supporting the drum, wherein the frame is moveable between a first position, where the housing rests on a surface, and a second position, where the housing is lifted off of the surface.

5. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 4, wherein the first motor is operable while the frame is in the first position to rotate the drum, and wherein the second motor is operable while the frame is in the second position to move the track.

6. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the first motor and the second motor do not operate simultaneously.

7. A sewer cleaning machine comprising:

a frame including a base;

a housing supported by the base;

a drum disposed within the housing, the drum including a cable that is selectively extendable out of the drum;

a track supported by the frame;

a motor supported by the frame, the motor operable to move the track; and

a power supply supported by the frame, the power supply operable to power the motor,

wherein the track includes a drive roller, an idler roller, and an endless belt rotatable about the drive roller and the idler roller.

8. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 7, wherein the motor is a first motor and the sewer cleaning machine further comprises a second motor supported by the frame, the second motor operable to rotate the drum.

9. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 7, wherein the endless belt is a first endless belt and the track further includes a second endless belt, the motor is operable to move the first and second endless belts.

10. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the drive roller is a first drive roller and the track further includes a second drive roller and a drive shaft connecting the first and second drive rollers, and wherein the motor is operable to rotate the drive shaft so that the first drive roller moves the first endless belt and the second drive roller moves the second endless belt.

11. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 7, wherein the track extends substantially vertically along a length of the frame.

12. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 7, wherein the frame is moveable between a first position, where the base rests on a surface, and a second position, where the base is lifted off of the surface.

13. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 12, wherein the motor is operable to move the tracks when the frame is in the second position.

14. The sewer cleaning machine of claim 7, wherein the power supply includes a battery receptacle to receive a battery pack to power the motor.

15. A sewer cleaning machine comprising:

a frame including a base;

a housing supported by the base;

a drum disposed within the housing, the drum including a cable that is selectively extendable out of the drum;

a track supported by the frame;

a motor supported by the frame, the motor operable to move the track; and

a power supply supported by the frame, the power supply operable to power the motor;

wherein the track includes a first endless belt and a second endless belt, the motor is operable to move the first and second endless belts.