US2312826A - Hydraulic cleaner for drains and the like - Google Patents

Description

J. LEYDEN March 2, 1943.

'HYDI RAULIC CLEANER FO'R DRAINS AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1941 ll/l l/ll!! ll n e WM Ev ML m E aO mbl 3 .5 JY B Patented Mar. 2, 1943 HYDRAULIC CLEANER EOR Joseph Leyden, Marshall, Mich. e e i et e M sh- 19.41, S a 8. 291

6 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to hydraulic devices, and in its specific phases to plunger type devices for breaking up obstruc'} tions in drain pipes and flushing same therethrough.

The ordinary procedure used in the past for opening clogged drain pipes has been to either take the pipe apart and clean it, run a hose or flexible cable through same, or use a plunger of the type commonly referred to as the plumbers friend. Complex devices using pistons or the like which slidably fit the interior of the end of the clogged pipe, or a cylinder attached thereto, have been proposed, but apparently have not been a commercial success. The complexities of such apparatus and the shortcomings of the devices of the ordinary plunger type, as well as substitutes for same,

showed the need of an improved drain opening device and led to the development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a simplified, easily constructed, and readily operated apparatus adapted to break up accumulations in drainpipes and force same out of the pipe to the sewer main, or other connection thereto.

Another object is to provide a drain opening apparatus which not only employs hydraulic pressure equal to the conventional watersystem pressure, but also makespossible the increasing of such pressure by pulsating action. A further object is to provide a simplified device wherein water is supplied to the clogged drain under pulsating and rotary flow, thusincreasing the outward scouring pressure of the flowing water due to the centrifugal action involved.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned vertical view illustrating a preferred form of the device of-the present invention in applied position.

Figure 2 showsanadapterforming a remova le. swim qfa e se d ee u ab e e eanecting. threadedfaiicets'thereto.

While "he device which embodies .the present in ti ri s d fili b tf en f in cleaning or? r rc ngout pipeline obstruct us,

nud e cd iddd 'r 'i bd di d i s Q n; a d also to improvethe sealing action "thereof; The

upper and or apeiof Tenn" lfis provided with a hollow extendingne'ck 3 into which hollow tube 4 extendsand is fastenedlin place with alsuitable clamp Passage ay '6' connects the interior of plunger cup IQ theinteriorpf the end of hollow tube 3; for fluid ffiowi therebetween. Joined tothe up er endof hollow tube 4 by means of ds orthe likefi's a short 'nipple T e wered?! lil i l is m dda bev e w prxn a sea n b valv m m e 9 which may be inthe form ofa ball bearing. Su ab e.m e s'mar ad r l ew' n l m e movement 9 fifY i m m e n he ndbf ol ow. ube 4' and f h e-$0 c o l sh n thi purp s is 1 n lfl h preferably'eggtends completely through hollow tube 4 for purposes of stability. "Aflx'ible'tube l hich my belated f rm of ru be b ie' h like 99 9Q d h free an bf n l l I by means of clamp [2 or the quivaiem; "The o her n o v .95? l 'l is fe l ib v-6011191111.?

member 1. brmedds 3f e 116st am "F s mn di d ensiru twn nd 'q a' te in iond pre su e rinn ng ty o p in member isuse lchefioupling me ber frietio a ly ri the ar 9 w ich it s d 'dtin d and he m'dmed thr fl i r texer e insid oi the ou in i i cfe it frictional grip on such member. Wherethe device is to be connected to a conventional thre de u e the ada t 15 Gli i is ut i ed s p r Of the assem l b? as the body I! of the adapter I6" is inserted into the o en a d o c l id n me er L3,. an i internal y t ea ed can i8 s swerve Q P h threaded snou ;L o :fa 15? when? al i .iaucet ha a plaid dammed-dd spent; dddnie fthe rethrough into drain pipe 22.

through hollow tube 4 so as to absorb the torque exerted by the spirally flowingfiuid. The upper.

end of spiral member 23 may also be used as a stop for valve member 9 in the place of pin ID.

This spiral flow of the fluid delivered from hollow tube 4 causes same to flow in like direc.-.

tion after reaching the interior of plunger cup I, and to continue such rotary movement under flow into drain pipe 22. In order to facilitate this curved path flow, strainer 2| is preferably removed at the start of the drain cleaning operation. This rotary fluid movement presents the advantages of outward pressure due to centrifugal action, thus not only increasing the scouring and cleaning action on the drain pipe, but also providing what may be termed a live boring action which again helps in opening and flushing'the clogged system.

A conventional size of apparatus of the type illustrated and suitable for use in opening pipes, such as sink drains, involves the use of a fiveinch diameter heavy rubber plunger cup mounted on a piece of inch brass or galvanized pipe approximately fifteen inches long, the upper end of which has a inch brass nipple-threaded thereinto. A suitable length piece of standard inch hose is used to join the upper end of this nipple to the coupling member l3 which in turn is adapted to be connected to a conventional faucet either directly or by means-of an adapter I6 where the faucet spout I9 is threaded for attaching a hose coupling. The lower end of nipple acts as a stop for valve member 9 and in preferred construction allows same to move endwise of hollow tube 4 a distance approximately in the range of t; inch to A; inch. Under plunging action the back flow of fluid through hollow pipe 4 carries valve member 9 up against the lower end 8 of nipple I to form a tight seal therewith. The spiral member 23 is preferably formed from a rust-proof material such as heavy strip brass or bronze which has been twisted or otherwise formed as shown. The number of spiral turns in this strip for a given length thereof determines to a large extent the rotary motion of the fluid as it passes into plunger cup I and flows Suitable faste ling means such as rivets 24 preferably of A;

to inch diameter are used to hold spiral memin stabilizing spiral member 23 against twisting motion.

In operating the device for opening a sink drain or the like, strainer 2| is preferably removed from the open end of clogged drain pipe 22 and after coupling member I3 is attached to spout IQ of faucet l5, plunger cup I is placed over the entrance to drain pipe 22 and in contact with the bottom of sink 20. By turning handle 25 of faucet l5 to direct water through the device, such water after filling the tubing and plunger cup I, while the latter is held in place, will exert static pressure on drain pipe 22. Then by grasping hollow pipe 4 and moving same up and down in plunger fashion, a series of high pressure pulsations of water moving under rotary flow will be impressed into the open end of drain pipe 22 thus producing dynamic fluid pressures .in surges exceeding the normal static water pressure at the faucet. This action is highly eflective in quickly opening drains which are plugged tighter than a conventional hand plunger will open, and at the same time more effectively opens and flushes drains where an ordinary hand plunger is commonly used.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the article and combination herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, means for connecting said plunger cup to a suitable source of fluid supply, a check valve, said check valve beingadapted to substantially prevent back flow of fluid through said connecting means toward said source of supply, and means to cause fluid flowing through said connecting means into said plunger cup to assume a curved path in the latter.

2. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, means for connecting said plunger cup to a suitable source of fluid supply, said connecting means and cup having a continuous fluid passageway therethrough, means to cause fluid flowing through said connecting means into said plunger cup to assume a curved path in the latter, and means to substantially prevent fluid flow from said plunger cup back through said connecting means.

3. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a relatively heavy walled, flexible, and resilient plunger 'cup having a hollow extending neck at the apex thereof, a hollow tubular member acting as a fluid conduit and operating handle, means for connecting the hollow extending neck of said plunger cup to one end of said tubular member in manner forming a substantially fluid tight joint therewith, means in said tubular member to cause fluid' flowing therethrough to assume a spiral path, and flexible means to connect the other end of said tubular member to a suitable source of fluid supply for flow through said tubular member into said plunger cup.

4. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup having a hollow extending neck at the apex thereof, a hollow tubular member, means for connecting the hollow extending neck of said plunger cup to one end of said tubular member in manner forming a substantially fluid tight joint therewith, means in said tubular member to cause fluid flowing therethrough to assume a spiral path, a hollow nipple fitting into the other end of said tubular member, a valve member in said tubular member for substantially preventing fluid flow through said tubular member into'said nipple, and a flexible means to connect the other end of said nipple tn 2. suitable source of fluid supply for flow through said tubular member into said plunger cup.

5. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, a rigid hollow tubular member connected at one end to the apex of said plunger cup, a hollow nipple fitting the other end of said tubular member, a ball bearing within said tubular member and adapted to abut the end of said nipple for sealing purposes while permitting flow through said tubular member into said plunger cup, means substantially restricting said ball bearing to limited movement lengthwise of said tubular member, said limited movement of the ball bearing in said tubular member facilitating said fiuid flow as well as quick sealing on reverse flow, and suitable means to connect the other end of said nipple to a suitable source of fluid supply for fiow through said tubular member into said plunger cup.

6. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which consists of a resilient rubber plunger cup having a hollow extending neck at the apex thereof, a. rigid hollow tubular member, means for fastening the hollow extending neck of said plunger cup to one end of said tubular member, a spiral member mounted in fixed position in said tubular member to cause rotary flow of fluid delivered through said tubular member into said plunger cup, a hollow nipple fitting into the other end of said tubular member, the end of said nipple within said tubular member being internally beveled to form a. valve seat, a ball bearing within said tubular member, said ball bearing being adapted to cooperate with said seat for sealing purposes while permitting flow through said tubular member into said plunger cup,,'a suitable rubber hose fixedly joined to the other end of said nipple, and a coupling member fixedly joined to the opposite end of said hose for connecting same to a suitable source of fluid supply.

JOSEPH LEYDEN.

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