Cable feed control mechanism for drain cleaner

A drain cleaner comprising:

• a cable configured to be inserted into a drain;
• a drum supporting the cable;
• a motor configured to rotate the drum;
• and
• a cable feed control mechanism configured to limit linear movement of the cable, the feed control mechanism including
• a plurality of clamping wedges surrounding the cable, each clamping wedge having an inclined surface,
• a collar positioned around a least a portion of the plurality of clamping wedges and having a cam surface,
• a sleeve coupled to the collar and operable to move the collar in an axial direction, wherein movement of the collar in the axial direction moves the plurality of clamping wedges into a locked position whereby the cam surface of the collar engages the inclined surfaces of the plurality of clamping wedges to move the clamping wedges radially inward and into engagement with the cable, and
• a retaining member configured to selectively hold the sleeve and the plurality of clamping wedges in the locked position when the sleeve is rotated.

A drain cleaner comprising:

• a cable configured to be inserted into a drain;
• a drum supporting the cable;
• a motor configured to rotate the drum;
• and
• a cable feed control mechanism configured to selectively feed the cable in a linear direction and limit the movement of the cable, the cable feed control mechanism including
• a plurality of feed wedges surrounding the cable, each feed wedge having a first inclined surface,
• a plurality of rollers supported by the feed wedges,
• a plurality of clamping wedges surrounding the cable, each clamping wedge having a second inclined surface,
• a collar positioned around at least portions of the plurality of feed wedges and the plurality of clamping wedges, the collar having a first cam surface and a second cam surface,
• a sleeve coupled to the collar and operable to move the collar, and
• a retaining member,
• wherein movement of the sleeve in a first axial direction causes movement of the collar towards the plurality of feed wedges such that the first cam surface of the collar engages the first inclined surfaces of the plurality of feed wedges to move the plurality of feed wedges radially inward to a feed position whereby the plurality of rollers engages the cable, wherein the retaining member is configured to selectively hold the sleeve and the plurality of feed wedges in the feed position when the sleeve is rotated, and
• wherein movement of the sleeve in a second axial direction causes movement of the collar towards the plurality of clamping wedges such that the second cam surface of the collar engages the second inclined surfaces of the plurality of clamping wedges to move the clamping wedges radially inward to a locked position whereby the plurality of clamping wedges engages the cable, wherein the retaining member is configured to selectively hold the sleeve and the plurality of clamping wedges in the locked position when the sleeve is rotated.