# US 2017/0284078 A1 · Powered drain auger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284078 A1 - Document ID: US20170284078A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/463,276 - Filed: 2017-03-20 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-05 - Assignees: Black & Decker Inc. - Applicants: Black & Decker Inc. - Inventors: Daniel PUZIO; Scott M. RUDOLPH; Jeffrey M. COWART; Joseph C. BISER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284078A1 ## 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 9/0436: {provided with mechanical cleaning tools, e.g. scrapers, with or without additional fluid jets (B08B9/045, B08B9/047 take precedence)} - B08B 9/045: the cleaning devices being rotated while moved {, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"}(B08B9/047 takes precedence) - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract A drain cleaning device includes a power unit and a drum assembly coupled to the power unit for rotation by the power unit. The drum assembly includes a base, a cable received in the base that is configured to be fed from the base and rotated to clean a drain, and a cover releasably coupleable to the base. The drum assembly includes a plurality of taper locks releasably coupling an outer peripheral portion of the cover and an outer peripheral portion of the base. Each of the taper locks is moveable between a locked position in which the cover is retained on the base and an unlocked position in which the cover is removable from the base. Each of the taper locks being biased toward the locked position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drain cleaning device, comprising: a power unit; and a drum assembly coupled to the power unit for rotation by the power unit, the drum assembly including a base, a cable received in the base that is configured to be fed from the base and rotated to clean a drain, and a cover releasably coupleable to the base, wherein the drum assembly includes a plurality of taper locks releasably coupling an outer peripheral portion of the cover and an outer peripheral portion of the base, each of the taper locks being moveable between a locked position in which the cover is retained on the base and an unlocked position in which the cover is removable from the base, each of the taper locks being biased toward the locked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, wherein each of the taper locks includes a lock plate coupled to one of the cover and the base and moveable relative to the one of the cover and the base between the locked position and the unlocked position; a keyhole slot formed in the lock plate, the keyhole slot having an elongated portion having a first width and an enlarged portion having a second larger width; and an engagement projection coupled to the other of the cover and the base, the engagement projection configured to be received of the elongated portion when the lock plate is in the locked position and in the enlarged portion when the lock plate is in the unlocked position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drain cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the engagement projection includes a shank extending from the base and receivable through the keyhole slot, and a head coupled to a top end portion of the shank, the head configured to engage a top surface of the lock plate when the lock plate is in the locked position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The drain cleaning device of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the lock plate increases gradually from a portion of the lock plate corresponding to the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot to a portion of the lock plate corresponding to the elongated portion of the keyhole slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising one or more elastic members coupled to an end portion of each of the taper locks, the one or more elastic members configured to bias each taper lock toward the locked position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, wherein a pair of adjacent taper locks are biased away from each other in their locked positions and are moveable toward one another in their unlocked positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drain cleaning device of claim 6, further comprising a single elastic member disposed between the pair of adjacent taper locks to bias the adjacent taper locks away from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, wherein each taper lock includes a lock plate coupled to one of the cover and the base and moveable relative to the one of the cover and the base between the locked position and the unlocked position, and a retainer configured to temporarily retain the lock plate in the unlocked position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drain cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the retainer includes an actuating pad on a top surface of the lock plate and configured to receive a first external force moving the lock plate from the locked position to the unlocked position; an articulating protrusion formed on a first edge portion of the lock plate of the lock plate; and a stepped portion formed at a second edge portion of the lock plate opposite the first edge portion of the lock plate, wherein the articulating protrusion is configured to contact a first lateral side wall of a recess that receives the lock plate in response to the first external force applied to the actuating pad, and to articulate the second end portion of the lock plate outward, and wherein the stepped portion is configured to engage a corner portion of a second lateral side wall of the recess, opposite the first lateral side wall of the recess, in response to the outward articulation of the taper lock, the engagement of the stepped portion of the locking plate with the corner portion of the second lateral side wall of the recess holding the taper lock in the unlocked position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drain cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the lock plate is configured to articulate inward, from the unlocked position, in response to a second external force applied to the lock plate that releases the engagement of the stepped portion of the locking plate with the corner portion of the second lateral side wall of the recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The drain cleaning device of claim 9, further comprising a release pad extending upward from a top portion of the lock plate, wherein the lock plate is configured to articulate inward, from the unlocked position, in response to a second external force applied to the release pad, releasing the engagement of the stepped portion of the lock plate with the corner portion of the second lateral side wall of the recess. ### Claim 12 A drain cleaning device, comprising: a power unit including a housing containing a motor, an output spindle configured to be rotated by the motor, and a handle having a first end coupled to the housing and extending transverse to the housing to a second end, the power unit being coupleable to a power supply; a drum assembly including a shroud having a center portion non-rotatably coupled to the housing and a drum containing a drain cleaning cable, the drum rotatably received in the shroud and coupled for rotation to the output spindle so that the drum rotates in response to rotation of the output spindle by the motor; a light emitting assembly coupled to shroud; and a support arm coupled to the second end of the handle and to a peripheral portion of the shroud, the support arm providing structural support for the shroud and providing a channel for providing electrical power from the power supply to the light emitting assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drain cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the light assembly is pivotally mounted to the shroud. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drain cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the light emitting assembly includes a light housing that accommodates a light source, the light housing configured to be releasably retained at a plurality of pivotal positions relative to the shroud by one or more detents that engage one of more protrusions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 18) The drain cleaning device of claim 18, wherein the power unit includes a switch configured to control operation of the motor and of the light emitting assembly. ### Claim 16 A drain cleaning device, comprising: a power unit; a drum assembly coupled to the power unit, the drum assembly including a drum containing a cable, the drum configured to be rotatably driven by the power unit; a feed handle assembly coupled to the drum assembly and configured to receive the cable for feeding through the feed handle assembly; and a cable locking mechanism including a locking clamp configured to selectively engage the cable, and a selector moveable among a plurality of positions including a first position in which the locking clamp is configured to lock a first cable having a first diameter against axial movement through the feed handle assembly, a second position in which the locking clamp is configured to lock a second cable having a second larger diameter against axial movement through the feed handle assembly while allowing axial movement of the first cable through the feed handle assembly, and a third position in which the locking clamp is configured to allow axial movement of the first cable and the second cable through the feed handle assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drain cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the selector comprises a sleeve coupled to the feed handle assembly, the sleeve having a plurality of stepped portions defined on an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, each stepped portion having a different diameter corresponding to one of the plurality of positions, the sleeve being axially moveable among the plurality of positions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drain cleaning device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of stepped portions includes a first stepped portion having a first diameter that causes the locking clamp to engage the first cable when the sleeve is in the first position, a second stepped portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter that causes the locking clamp to engage the second cable when the sleeve is in the second position, and a third stepped portion having a third diameter larger than the second diameter such that the locking clamp does not engage the first cable or the second cable when the sleeve is in the third position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The drain cleaning device of claim 17, wherein the sleeve further comprises a plurality of ramped portions defined on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and alternating with the plurality of stepped portions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The drain cleaning device of claim 17, wherein the locking clamp comprises a spring arm having an inclined portion extending radially outward from an axis of the cable and configured to be selectively engaged by the stepped portions, and a leg portion coupled to the inclined portion and extending radially inward into a hollow interior portion of the guide portion in response to engagement of the inclined portion by the stepped portion of the sleeve so as to selectively contact a cable in the guide portion.