Back to results
US 12,496,624 B2Granted
Torque limiter for powered drain cleaner
AssigneeRidge Tool Company
InventorsMichael J. Rutkowski, Mitchell Barton, Alex Michael Cole, Donald M. Embree, Nicholas Christopher Mavros, Jeffrey Szucs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque limiter and a retrievable chain knocker tool, each separately configured for use with a drain cleaning apparatus are described. The drain cleaning apparatus includes a drum housing defining an interior region, a cable carrier rotatably mounted within the housing interior region, and a transmission assembly operatively configured for transferring rotary power to an end portion of flexible cable retained in the housing.
Claims20
A drain cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a drum housing defining an interior region;
- a drain cleaning cable defining a first end and a second end, the drain cleaning cable at least partially disposed in the drum housing;
- a torque limiter mounted within the interior region of the drum housing, the torque limiter including a first rotatable member for engagement with a source of rotational power and a second rotatable member for transfer of rotational power to the first end of the drain cleaning cable, wherein the torque limiter further includes at least one spherical member disposed axially between the first and second rotatable members;
- a torque limiter housing within which are disposed the first and second rotatable members and said at least one spherical member;
- a spring positioned outside of the first and second rotatable members and abutting a shoulder of the torque limiter housing for applying a biasing force between the first and second rotatable members;
- and
- a cable retention plate disposed adjacent the torque limiter and configured to secure the drain cleaning cable against the drum housing.
4 more elements
A drain cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a drum housing defining an interior region;
- a drain cleaning cable having a first end and a second end, the cable at least partially disposed within the drum housing;
- a torque limiter mounted within the interior region of the drum housing, the torque limiter comprising:
- a first rotatable member for engagement with a source of rotational power;
- a second rotatable member for transfer of rotational power to the first end of the drain cleaning cable;
- at least one spherical member disposed between the first and second rotatable members;
- a torque limiter housing within which are disposed the first and second rotatable members and said at least one spherical member;
- a spring positioned outside of the first and second rotatable members, the spring abutting a shoulder formed in the torque limiter housing and applying a biasing force to urge the first and second rotatable members together;
- and
- a cable retention plate disposed adjacent the torque limiter, the cable retention plate configured to secure the drain cleaning cable against the drum housing.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.