Abstract: Various feed control devices for plumbing tools such as drain cleaning machines are disclosed. The feed control devices include a collection of angled rollers that contact a cable or snake of the drain cleaning machine. Another collection of a single or dual angled roller(s) are mounted or otherwise engaged with a handle, and can be selectively positioned and contacted with the cable. By changing the position of the handle, rotation of the cable is translated to axial movement thereby advancing or retracting the cable. Also described are drain cleaning devices utilizing the feed control devices.

Abstract: Various feed control devices for plumbing tools such as drain cleaning machines are disclosed. The feed control devices include a collection of angled rollers that contact a cable or snake of the drain cleaning machine. Another collection of a single or dual angled roller(s) are mounted or otherwise engaged with a handle, and can be selectively positioned and contacted with the cable. By changing the position of the handle, rotation of the cable is translated to axial movement thereby advancing or retracting the cable. Also described are drain cleaning devices utilizing the feed control devices.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting belt tension in a drain cleaning device is disclosed. The assembly includes an idler pulley assembly in which a pivotable idler pulley is urged against a belt by a tensioned spring. The tensile force exerted by the spring can be adjusted or otherwise changed by a rotatable spool engaged to the other end of the spring.

Abstract: A sleeved coupling for retaining a helically wound cable onto a connector or other component is described. The sleeve is positioned against a shoulder region of a connector and extends over a portion of the cable end. The sleeved coupling significantly increases the torque carrying capability of the resulting cable and connector assembly and achieves performance characteristics similar to welding the cable and connectors together.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting belt tension in a drain cleaning device is disclosed. The assembly includes an idler pulley assembly in which a pivotable idler pulley is urged against a belt by a tensioned spring. The tensile force exerted by the spring can be adjusted or otherwise changed by a rotatable spool engaged to the other end of the spring.

Abstract: A toilet auger includes a first elongate tubular housing, a second elongate tubular housing, a drain cleaning cable, a driven member, and a feed mechanism. The first elongate tubular housing includes a rotational axis. The second elongate tubular housing receives at least a portion of the first housing. The drain cleaning cable is disposed in the first housing and includes a portion disposed generally along the rotational axis. The cable operatively engages the first housing such that rotation of the first housing about the rotational axis causes the cable to rotate generally in the rotational axis. The driven member connects to the first housing for rotating the first housing about the rotational axis to rotate at least a portion of the drain cable generally in the rotational axis. The feed mechanism engages the cable and is configured to axially displace the cable as the cable rotates generally in the rotational axis. A method for removing an obstruction from a toilet drain is also disclosed.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for indicating the length of a sewer drain cleaning snake or flexible cable is described. The assembly provides a visual indication as to the length of cable that has been administered from, or retracted into, a sewer or drain cleaning device. The assembly is particularly adapted for use in hand held cleaning devices.

Abstract: Drain cleaning apparatus comprises a housing in which a drain cleaning cable is coiled and from which the cable is displaced for introducing an outer end of the cable into a drain to be cleaned. The housing is stationary and the cable is rotated about its axis relative to the housing by a drive motor coupled to an inner end of the cable. A manually operable cable feeding device can be coupled with the housing for feeding the cable outwardly and inwardly relative to the housing.

Abstract: A drain cleaning apparatus includes a frame member, a rotatable cable storage drum, a drain cleaning cable, and a motor. The frame member is configured to rest on an associated surface. A wheel, or other friction reducing device, can connect to the frame member to facilitate moving the drain cleaning apparatus across the associated surface. The rotatable cable storage drum mounts to the frame member. The drum defines an axis. The drum includes axially spaced front and rear ends and a radial outer peripheral wall between the front and rear ends. The front end of the drum includes an opening. The drain cleaning cable is coiled in the drum about the axis. The cable includes an outer end portion extending through the opening. The motor includes an output shaft and a motor housing. The output shaft of the motor is operatively connected with the drum for rotating the drum relative to the frame.

Abstract: A combined cart and stand comprising a base for supporting a power driven threading machine and having a pair of wheels for supporting the base and machine for rolling movement along an underlying surface. Three legs are interconnected with the base for displacement between first and second positions relative to the base, and, in the first position, the legs and base provide a tripod stand engaging an underlying surface to support the base and machine in a use position spaced above the underlying surface. In the second position, two of the legs provide handles and the third leg is folded and stored relative to the base providing a cart having wheels which engage the underlying surface such that the base and machine can be inclined relative to the surface and supported by the wheels for rolling movement therealong.

Abstract: A tube cutter for cutting a circular tube having a central tube axis, the cutter comprising: a housing with first and second parallel rollers defining a cradle for receiving a tube cut with the tube axis generally parallel to the axes of the rollers, a cutter head reciprocally mounted on the housing for sliding linearly in a direction toward and away from the rollers, the cutter head having a base and an upstanding arm supporting a cutter wheel rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the axes of the rollers and facing the tube in the cradle, a spring element biasing the cutter wheel in the stated direction and toward the rollers, and a threaded shaft between the housing and cutter head, and rotatable to move the cutter head linearly toward the housing, whereby the cutter wheel engages the tube and the spring element creates a cutting force pushing the cutter wheel against the tube for cutting the tube.

Abstract: A belt driven drum-type drain cleaning machine in which the drive motor is spring biased to tension the drive belt is provided with a spring arrangement by which slippage between the drive belt and drive pulley is intentionally achieved in response to the imposition of a predetermined torque on the drain cleaning cable during use of the machine.

Abstract: A device for axially feeding a drain cleaning snake relative to a storage drum therefor comprises axially spaced apart support members having openings therethrough for receiving the snake and a plurality of snake driving rolls spaced apart about the axis of the openings and having opposite ends interconnected with the support members for the support members to be pivotal relative to one another about the axis of the openings so as to displace the driving rolls between neutral and activating positions in which the roll axes are respectively parallel to and skewed relative to the openings and in which the driving rolls respectively disengage and drivingly engage the snake. The support members are spring biased to the neutral position of the driving rolls.

Abstract: A hand held and hand operated drain cleaning tool including a drain cleaning cable coiled in a drum and having a support for holding the drum in one hand while rotating the drum with the other through a crank on the drum is provided with a cable feeding device operable by a feed actuator which is displaceable by the one hand of a user to feed the cable relative to the drum while the one hand supports the drum and the other hand rotates the drum.

Abstract: Portable water jetting apparatus is disclosed comprising a longitudinally collapsible cart having wheels at one end and a handle at the other, a water jetter unit removably mounted on the cart adjacent the wheeled end thereof, and a jetter hose reel unit mounted on the cart adjacent the handle end thereof. Both the water jetter unit and hose reel unit are adapted to be quickly and selectively disconnected from the cart to facilitate use, transportation, and/or storage of the apparatus, and the hose reel unit is pivotally mounted on the cart for selective orientation of the reel axis relative to the cart and thus the direction of winding or unwinding of the jetter hose therefrom during use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A portable pipe cutting machine comprises a frame, an arm having opposite ends and supported on the frame for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between the opposite ends, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on one of the ends of the arm, and a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit between the frame and the other end of the arm for pivoting the arm to displace the cutting wheel toward a pipe to be cut which is supported on rollers mounted on the frame beneath the cutting wheel. A manually operable variable displacement pump delivers fluid under pressure to the piston and cylinder unit to displace the arm toward the pipe, and an electric drive motor unit is supported on the arm for displacement therewith and includes an output end axially slidably interengaged with a drive shaft for the cutting wheel.

Abstract: A drain cleaning machine is disclosed which is of the character comprising a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning snake which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into and out of the drum, and the frame supports a snake feeding device through which the snake extends and by which the snake is displaced into and out of the drum. The frame is wheeled to facilitate transportation of the machine from one location to another. The drum, drum shaft and bearing are constructed as a unit removably mounted on the frame. The drive motor is pivotally mounted on the frame and spring biased to tension the drive belt and to facilitate separation of the drive belt from the drum to facilitate removal of the drum unit from the frame.