CLOSET AUGER
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.
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Known toilet augers, also referred to as closet augers, typically include an exposed cable that is inserted into the drain of the toilet. Since the cable is exposed the operator of the toilet auger typically must handle the cable after the drain cleaning operation is finished. This has been found to be undesirable.
Additionally, operation of toilet augers having the exposed cable, while not overly complicated, is not very intuitive. Proper operation of the toilet auger can require some instruction or training.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONAccording to the first embodiment, 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 defines a longitudinal 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 opposite proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being carried by the first housing. The proximal end of the cable is carried by the first housing such that rotation of the first housing about the longitudinal axis causes the cable to rotate generally about the longitudinal axis. The driven member connects to the first housing for rotating the first housing about the longitudinal axis to rotate at least a portion of the drain cable generally about the longitudinal axis. The feed mechanism is coupled with the second housing and is configured to urge the cable generally along the longitudinal axis as the first housing is rotated with respect to the second housing.
Also described is a method for removing an obstruction from a toilet drain pipe. The method includes inserting a distal portion of a toilet auger into a discharge opening of a toilet and rotating a cable housing of the toilet auger. The toilet auger includes a drain cleaning cable, an outer housing, a cable housing rotatably mounted in at least a portion of the outer housing, and a feed mechanism.
According to another embodiment, a toilet auger includes an elongate cable housing, a driven member, a drain cleaning cable, a feed mechanism, and a drive block. The elongate cable housing defines a rotational axis. The driven member operatively connects to the cable housing for rotating the cable housing about the rotational axis. The drain cleaning cable is disposed in the cable housing and resides generally along the rotational axis. The feed mechanism engages the cable for axially moving the cable in response to rotation of the cable. The drive block is slidably received in the cable housing and connects to the cable. The drive block engages the cable housing for rotation along with the cable housing.
With reference to the embodiment depicted in
In the depicted embodiment of
The first housing 12 in the embodiment depicted in
The feed mechanism 18, examples of which will be described in more detail below, is interposed between the elongate hollow tube 22 and the curved hollow tube 26. Alternatively, the curved hollow tube can also attach to the elongate hollow tube using a hollow connector (an embodiment having this configuration will be described in more detail below). Additionally, the elongate hollow tube and the curved hollow tube can be made as an integral, i.e. one-piece, tube (this embodiment would require relocation of the feed mechanism).
With continued reference to
The drain cleaning cable 16 is received inside the cable housing 14. The cable 16, as is conventional, is an elongate, flexible member made of tightly wound spring wire. The free or outer end of the cable 16 extends through the curved hollow tube 26 and outwardly beyond its distal end and, in the embodiment illustrated, the outermost end of the cable is formed to provide an auger tip 42. In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiments depicted in
Multiple driven members can be provided for rotating the cable 16 as desired. The cable 16 can be rotated manually or the cable can be rotated using a powered, e.g. electrical, hydraulic or fuel-powered, machine. Each embodiment depicted includes means for rotating a housing that receives the cable. Rotation of the cable housing results in rotation of the cable about a cable axis that is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis 24 and, for the sake of brevity will be considered to be the same as the longitudinal axis 24. In the embodiment depicted in
With continued reference to
Multiple cable feed mechanisms can be provided to deploy selected lengths of the cable 16 from the outer housing 12 and to retract the cable into the housing. Examples of such cable feed mechanisms are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,395,791; 6,158,076; and 6,360,397, and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0193508, each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
The cable feed mechanism 18 shown in
With reference to
With reference back to
With reference to
The cable 116 is rotated using a driver 150 and the driven member 118 is the output shaft of the driver. The driver 150 can be similar to known drivers in that it includes a motor that drives the output shaft 118. The motor receives power from a power source, which can either be internal, e.g. batteries, or external, e.g. AC power. A trigger 152 that operates a switch disposed in the circuit connecting the motor to the power supply controls the delivery of power to the motor. The output shaft 118 of the driver 150 connects to the cable housing 114 to rotate the cable housing and, thus, the cable 116 in a manner that is similar to the embodiments described in
In the embodiment depicted in
The cable feed mechanism 160 operates similarly to the cable feed mechanism described in U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0193508 and includes a first driving roll 162 attached to a pivoting roll mount 164 and a second driving roll 166 attached to the pivoting roll mount 164 on an opposite side of the pivot axis of the roll mount. The pivoting roll mount 164 attaches to a hollow housing 168 of the cable feed mechanism 160 with a pin 172. Additional driving rolls (not depicted) are radially spaced (with respect to the rotational axis of the cable) from the first driving roll 162 and the second driving roll 166. The additional driving rolls typically contact the cable 116. The first driving roll 162 and the second driving roll 166, however, do not engage the cable at the same time. Instead, the first driving roll 162 engages the cable 116 to displace the cable in a first axial direction upon rotation of the cable and the second driving roll 166 engages the cable to displace the cable in a second, opposite, axial direction upon rotation of the cable.
The first driving roll 162, as well as the driving rolls that operate with the first driving roll, are canted relative to the rotational axis of the cable 116 so as to drive the cable in one direction relative to the cable feed mechanism 160 when the first roll and the corresponding additional rolls engage about the cable and the cable is rotated. The second driving roll 166, as well as the driving rolls that operate with the second driving roll, are canted in the opposite direction relative to the rotational axis of the cable so that the cable engaged between the rolls of the second driving roll set is driven in the opposite direction relative to the cable feed mechanism 160 in response to rotation of the cable in the same rotational direction.
An actuator moves the pivoting roll mount 164 to selectively engage the driving rolls 162 and 166 with the cable 116. In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
With reference to
The cable housing 214 rotatably mounts to a drum support (not visible) that is hollow and coaxial with the elongate hollow tube 222. The cable housing 214 includes front and rear drum portions 252 and 254, respectively, of a suitable metal such as steel and which portions are axially interengaged and joined such as by heat welding. The front drum portion 252 is provided with an opening, not designated numerically, which is coaxial with longitudinal axis of the elongate hollow tube 222. The handle 218 attaches to the rear portion 254 to provide the driven member and is radially offset from the longitudinal axis 224 to facilitate manual rotation of the cable housing 214 about the longitudinal axis relative to the elongate hollow tube 222.
With reference to
The feed mechanism 220 further includes first and second sets of drive rolls, respectively, that are axially spaced apart and on axially opposite sides of the pivot pin 276. In the embodiment illustrated in
When the actuator is in the position shown in
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the structures and structural interrelationships between the component parts of above-described embodiments of the toilet auger, it will be appreciated that other embodiments as well as modifications of the above-described embodiments can be made without departing from the principals of the invention. In this respect, for example, it will be appreciated that the location of the feed mechanism and other controls for displacing the cable can be located in a number of different locations on the toilet auger. Additionally, it will be appreciated that components from one embodiment of the toilet auger can be used with another embodiment of the toilet auger, and vice versa. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.
Claims
1. A toilet auger comprising:
- a first elongate tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis;
- a second elongate tubular housing extending in at least a portion of the first housing;
- a drain cleaning cable disposed in the second housing and having opposite proximal and distal ends, the proximal end slidably engaging the second housing and being carried by the second housing and axially movable with respect to the second housing and located at a position on said longitudinal axis such that rotation of the second housing about the longitudinal axis causes the proximal end of the cable to rotate generally about the longitudinal axis;
- a driven member operatively connected to the second housing for rotating the second housing relative to the first housing about the longitudinal axis to rotate at least a portion of the drain cleaning cable generally about the longitudinal axis; and
- a feed mechanism coupled with the first housing and configured to urge the cable generally along the longitudinal axis as the first housing is rotated relative to the second housing.
2. The toilet auger of claim 1, further comprising:
- a drive block on the proximal end of said cable, the drive block cooperating with the second housing such that rotation of the second housing results in rotation of the drive block and the cable.
3. The toilet auger of claim 2, wherein an inner surface of the second housing is non-circular in cross section taken normal to the longitudinal axis and an outer surface of the drive block has a complementary shape in cross section taken normal to the longitudinal axis.
4. The toilet auger of claim 1, further comprising a hand grip, the hand grip receiving the second housing such that the second housing rotates with respect to the hand grip.
5. The toilet auger of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a curved hollow portion adjacent a distal end, the curved hollow portion configured to fit into the discharge opening of an associated toilet bowl.
6. The toilet auger of claim 1, wherein the first housing has a length lt measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and the cable has a length lc measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein lt/lc is about 0.9 to about 1.1.
7. The toilet auger of claim 1, wherein the driven member includes a crank arm connected to the second housing.
8. The toilet auger of claim 1, wherein the driven member comprises an output shaft of a driver.
9. The toilet auger of claim 1, wherein said feed mechanism includes a movable drive roll that selectively engages the cable.
10. The toilet auger of claim 9, wherein the feed mechanism is configured to advance the cable from the second housing when the cable is rotated in a first longitudinal direction and to retract the cable into the first housing when the cable is rotated in the first longitudinal direction.
11. A method for removing an obstruction from a toilet drain pipe, the method comprising:
- providing a toilet auger including a drain cleaning cable, an outer housing, a cable housing rotatably mounted in at least a portion of the outer housing and a feed mechanism;
- inserting a distal portion of the outer housing of the toilet auger into a discharge opening of a toilet; and
- rotating the cable housing with respect to the feed mechanism in a first rotational direction to cause the cable to advance into the toilet drain pipe, whereby a proximal end of the cable is axially displaced relative to the cable housing.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising rotating the cable housing with respect to the feed mechanism in a second rotational direction to cause the cable to retract into the cable housing.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising rotating the cable housing with respect to the feed mechanism in the first rotational direction to cause the cable to retract into the cable housing.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing an operating state of the feed mechanism.
15. A toilet auger comprising:
- an elongate cable housing defining a rotational axis;
- a driven member operatively connected to the cable housing for rotating the cable housing about the rotational axis;
- a drain cleaning cable at least partially received in the cable housing and having a proximal end located generally along the rotational axis;
- a feed mechanism engaging the cable for axially moving the cable in response to relative rotation between the cable and the feed mechanism; and
- a drive block operatively coupled with the proximal end of the cable and being slidably received in the cable housing for movement together with said proximal end of the cable along said rotational axis defined by the cable housing, the drive block engaging the cable housing for rotation along with the cable housing.
16. The toilet auger of claim 15, wherein the cable housing includes an interior passage dimensioned to preclude coiling of the cable about the rotational axis.
17. The toilet auger of claim 15, wherein the cable housing has a non-circular interior surface in a cross section taken perpendicular to the rotational axis.
18. The toilet auger of claim 15, further comprising an outer housing connected to the cable housing, the outer housing including a curved distal end portion.
19. The toilet auger of claim 15, wherein the feed mechanism includes movable rollers that selectively engage the cable.
20. The toilet auger of claim 15, wherein the driven member includes at least one of an output shaft of a motor and a crank arm connected to a handle.
21. A toilet auger comprising:
- a first elongate tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis and having opposite first and second ends, and a handle portion on the first end thereof;
- a second elongate tubular housing loosely rotatably received in the first housing and having an inner surface;
- a driven member operatively connected to the second tubular housing for rotating the second housing relative to the first housing about said longitudinal axis;
- a drain cleaning cable having opposite distal and proximal ends, the proximal end being located in the second tubular member and on said longitudinal axis;
- a drive block on the proximal end of the cable and slideable together with said cable in said second tubular housing along said longitudinal axis, the drive block having an outer surface complementary to said inner surface of the second housing for being driven by the second housing about the longitudinal axis; and,
- a feed mechanism coupled with the second end of the first tubular housing, the feed mechanism being configured to engage said cable and urge the cable generally along the longitudinal axis for moving the distal end thereof relative to the first and second housings based on relative motion between the feed mechanism and the cable.
22. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein:
- said inner surface of the second housing is non-circular in cross section taken normal to the longitudinal axis; and,
- said outer surface of the drive block has a complementary non-circular shape in cross section taken normal to the longitudinal axis.
23. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein said handle portion is a hand grip, the hand grip receiving the first end of the second housing such that the second housing rotates with respect to the hand grip.
24. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the first housing includes a curved hollow portion adjacent the second end thereof, the curved hollow portion being configured to fit into the discharge opening of an associated toilet bowl.
25. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the first housing has a length lt measured generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and the cable has a length lc measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein lt/Ic is about 0.9 to about 1.1.
26. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the driven member includes a crank arm connected to the second housing.
27. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the driven member comprises an output shaft of a driver.
28. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein said feed mechanism includes a movable drive roll that selectively engages the cable.
29. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the feed mechanism is configured to selectively advance the cable from the second housing when the cable is rotated in a first direction and to selectively retract the cable into the first housing when the cable is rotated in said first longitudinal direction.
30. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the feed mechanism includes:
- a feed housing member coupled with the second end of the first tubular member;
- a trigger member coupled with the first elongate housing adjacent said handle portion; and,
- a rod member extending between the feed housing member and the trigger member for actuating the feed mechanism using the trigger member.
31. The toilet auger according to claim 21, wherein the driven member includes an electric motor.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO. (St. Louis, MO)
Inventors: Larry F. Babb (Grafton, OH), Clifford P. Duff (Sheffield Village, OH)
Application Number: 11/695,956
International Classification: E03D 9/00 (20060101);