# US 10,501,927 B2 · Drain cleaner with drum exchange mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,927 B2 - Document ID: US10501927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/478,574 - Filed: 2017-04-04 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-04 - Assignees: Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited - Applicants: Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited - Inventors: Parke Pleasants - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501927B2 ## CPC - E03F 9/005: {Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods} - B08B 9/045: the cleaning devices being rotated while moved {, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"}(B08B9/047 takes precedence) - B08B 9/047: the cleaning devices having {internal} motors {, e.g. turbines} for powering cleaning tools - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract A drain cleaner including a rotatable drum, a cable at least partially housed within the drum, and a body supporting the drum. The body includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing and the second housing are movable relative to one another between a closed position, in which the drum is secured to the body, and an open position, in which the drum is removable from the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drain cleaner comprising: a rotatable drum; a cable at least partially housed within the drum; and a body supporting the drum, wherein the body includes a first housing and a second housing movable relative to one another between a closed position, in which the drum is secured to the body, and an open position, in which the drum is removable from the body, wherein the second housing is slidable away from the first housing to move the body from the closed position to an intermediate position, and wherein the second housing is rotatable relative to the first housing to move the body from the intermediate position to the open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drain cleaner of claim 1, wherein drum is positioned between the first housing and the second housing of the body when the body is in a closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drain cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a motor and the second housing includes a cable feed mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drain cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a channel and the second housing includes a projection, the projection movable within the channel as the second housing moves relative to the first housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drain cleaner of claim 4, wherein the channel includes a linear portion and a circular portion, the projection configured to slide within the linear portion and the projection configured to rotate within the circular portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drain cleaner of claim 5, wherein the second housing includes a stopper, the stopper configured to slide within the channel with the projection and the stopper engagable with a wall of the channel to prevent rotational movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drain cleaner of claim 6, wherein the first housing includes a recess formed in the wall adjacent the channel, and wherein the second housing is rotatable relative to the first housing when the stopper is aligned with the recess. ### Claim 8 A drain cleaner comprising: a rotatable drum; a cable at least partially housed within the drum; a body supporting the drum, the body including a first housing and a second housing, the first housing and the second housing movable relative to one another between a closed position, in which the drum is secured to the body, and an open position, in which the drum is removable from the body; and a release mechanism disposed on the first housing and the second housing to control relative movement of the first housing and the second housing, wherein the first housing includes a handle assembly extending rearwardly from the drum, the handle assembly having a grip and a trigger adjacent the grip, wherein the second housing extends forwardly from the drum and includes a cable feed mechanism, and wherein the drum is rotatably supported between the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drain cleaner of claim 8, wherein the release mechanism is actuable to selectively lock and unlock the body, wherein the first housing is movable relative to the second housing when the body is unlocked, and wherein the first housing is fixed relative to the second housing when the body is locked. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drain cleaner of claim 9, wherein the second housing is rotatable relative to the first housing when the body is unlocked. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The drain cleaner of claim 9, wherein the drum release mechanism includes a latch, the latch positioned on the first housing and configured to selectively engage the second housing to lock the body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drain cleaner of claim 11, wherein the drum release mechanism includes an actuator, the actuator actuable to disengage the latch from the second housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drain cleaner of claim 12, wherein the second housing is slidable relative to the first housing while the actuator is being actuated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The drain cleaner of claim 9, wherein the body is unlocked when the second housing is slid away from the first housing. ### Claim 15 A drain cleaner comprising: a rotatable drum; a cable at least partially housed within the drum; a body supporting the drum, wherein the body includes a first housing and a second housing movable relative to one another between a closed position, in which the drum is secured to the body, and an open position, in which the drum is removable from the body; and a drum release mechanism disposed on one of the first housing and the second housing to selectively lock and unlock the body, wherein the first housing is movable relative to the second housing when the body is unlocked, and wherein the first housing is fixed relative to the second housing when the body is locked, the drum release mechanism including a latch positioned on one of the first housing and the second housing, the latch configured to selectively engage the other of the first housing and the second housing, and an actuator actuable to disengage the latch from the other of the first housing and the second housing, wherein the first housing includes a channel and the second housing includes a projection, the projection being movable in a linear direction within the channel as the second housing moves relative to the first housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drain cleaner of claim 15, wherein the second housing is rotatable relative to the first housing when the body is unlocked. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drain cleaner of claim 16, wherein the second housing is slidable relative to the first housing while the actuator is being engaged. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The drain cleaner of claim 15, wherein the body is movable to an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position.