Multiple use cleaning apparatus
First Claim
1. A multiple use drain cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a frame assembly having a plurality of frame members and a wheel assembly supporting the frame members;
a drum assembly supported by the frame assembly comprising a payout drum, a rotatable drive shaft, and a truck support assembly, the payout drum supported by the drive shaft, the truck support assembly supporting the payout drum and supportable by the frame assembly and selectively removable therefrom, the truck support assembly having a wheel assembly and frame members forming handle portions so that the truck support assembly is usable to support the payout drum separated from the frame assembly;
a snake hose supported by the payout drum and having a near end attached to the rotatable drive shaft and a free end with a nozzle;
spray hose means for providing a source of high pressure fluid for external cleaning operations;
pump means for pressurizing and communicating a fluid to one of the snake hose for discharge by the nozzle at the free end of the snake hose and the spray hose means for discharge therefrom, the pump means comprising a pump supported by the frame assembly, the pump having an inlet port and an outlet port;
fluid means for supplying multiple fluids to dispense;
conduit means for communicating the fluids in selective proportions to the pump inlet port;
valve means for alternately directing the fluids to the snake hose or the spray hose means;
power means supported by the frame assembly for selectively driving the pump; and
pressure sensing means supported by the frame assembly and communicating with the spray hose means for selectively activating and deactivating the power means in response to the pressure of the fluids in the spray hose means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, multiple purpose drain cleaning apparatus comprising a payout drum supporting a snake hose wound thereon and supported for rotation on a portable support frame, a plurality of fluid tanks in selective fluid communication with a powered pump connected to the snake hose, and a spray hose assembly for providing a source of high pressure fluid for external cleaning operations. A valve assembly is provided for alternately directing the pressurized fluid to the snake hose or to the spray hose assembly. A pressure sensing unit communicates with the spray hose assembly for selectively activating and deactivating the power source powering the pump in response to the pressure of the fluid in the spray hose assembly. In another embodiment a valve assembly is provided to define an open flow path of the fluid during start-up of the pump.
68 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A multiple use drain cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a frame assembly having a plurality of frame members and a wheel assembly supporting the frame members; a drum assembly supported by the frame assembly comprising a payout drum, a rotatable drive shaft, and a truck support assembly, the payout drum supported by the drive shaft, the truck support assembly supporting the payout drum and supportable by the frame assembly and selectively removable therefrom, the truck support assembly having a wheel assembly and frame members forming handle portions so that the truck support assembly is usable to support the payout drum separated from the frame assembly; a snake hose supported by the payout drum and having a near end attached to the rotatable drive shaft and a free end with a nozzle; spray hose means for providing a source of high pressure fluid for external cleaning operations; pump means for pressurizing and communicating a fluid to one of the snake hose for discharge by the nozzle at the free end of the snake hose and the spray hose means for discharge therefrom, the pump means comprising a pump supported by the frame assembly, the pump having an inlet port and an outlet port; fluid means for supplying multiple fluids to dispense; conduit means for communicating the fluids in selective proportions to the pump inlet port; valve means for alternately directing the fluids to the snake hose or the spray hose means; power means supported by the frame assembly for selectively driving the pump; and pressure sensing means supported by the frame assembly and communicating with the spray hose means for selectively activating and deactivating the power means in response to the pressure of the fluids in the spray hose means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multiple use drain cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a frame assembly; a drum assembly comprising a payout drum and a drive shaft rotatably supported by the frame assembly, the payout drum removably supported by the drive shaft for rotation therewith and replaceable with various sizes of similar payout drums; a snake hose supported by the payout drum, the payout drum having a central hollow hub through which a free end of the snake hose is extendable and rotatable concentrically with the payout drum, the snake hose having a jetting nozzle member attached to its free end; electric power means for selectively rotating the drive shaft and the payout drum supported thereby; spray hose means for providing a source of high pressure fluid therethrough; pump means for pressurizing and communicating a fluid to the snake hose for discharge by the nozzle member of the snake hose or for pressuring and communicating the fluid to the spray hose means for discharge therefrom, the snake hose having a near end attached for quick disconnect to the rotatable drive shaft of the drum assembly, the power means further characterized as selectively powering the pump means; and pressure sensing means communicating with the spray hose means for selectively activating and deactivating the electric power means in response to the pressure of the fluids in the spray hose means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A multiple use drain cleaning apparatus for cleaning a drain pipe, comprising:
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a frame assembly having a plurality of frame members and a wheel assembly supporting the frame members; a drum assembly supported by the frame assembly comprising a payout drum, a rotatable drive shaft, and a truck support assembly, the payout drum supported by the drive shaft, the truck support assembly supporting the payout drum and supportable by the frame assembly and selectively removable therefrom, the truck support assembly having a wheel assembly and frame members forming handle portions so that the truck support assembly is usable to support the payout drum separated from the frame assembly; a snake hose supported by the payout drum, the snake hose having a near end attached to the rotatable drive shaft and a free end with a nozzle extendable into the drain line; pump means for pressurizing and communicating a fluid to the snake hose for discharge by the nozzle at the free end of the snake hose, the pump means comprising a pump supported by the frame assembly, the pump having an inlet port and an outlet port; fluid means for supplying multiple fluids to dispense; conduit means for communicating the fluids in selective proportions to the pump inlet port; power means supported by the frame assembly for selectively driving the pump; and first valve means communicating with the outlet port of the pump and having an open mode and a closed mode, in the open mode the first valve means for providing return flow of the pressurized fluids from the pump to the fluid means until the fluid passing therethrough achieves a predetermined pressure whereupon the first valve means shifts to its closed mode for providing a flow of the pressurized fluids to the snake hose. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A multiple use drain cleaning apparatus for cleaning a drain pipe, comprising:
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a frame assembly; a drum assembly comprising a payout drum and a drive shaft rotatably supported by the frame assembly, the payout drum removably supported by the drive shaft for rotation therewith and replaceable with various sizes of similar payout drums; a snake hose supported by the payout drum, the payout drum having a central hollow hub through which a free end of the snake hose is extendable and rotatable concentrically with the payout drum, the snake hose comprising a hose, a flexible spring supported about the hose at the free end of the snake hose and a jetting nozzle member attached to its free end; power means for selectively rotating the drive shaft and the payout drum supported thereby; pump means for pressurizing and communicating a fluid to the snake hose for discharge by the nozzle member, the snake hose having a near end attached for quick disconnect to the rotatable drive shaft of the drum assembly, the power means further characterized as selectively powering the pump means; and first valve means communicating with the outlet port of the pump for diverting flow of fluids from the pump until the fluids passing therethrough reaches a predetermined pressure whereupon the first valve means closes and directs the pressurized fluids to the snake hose. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification