Tool for assembling and disassembling a drain basket in a cistern

Abstract

Tool (1) for assembling and disassembling a drain basket (12) in a cistern, comprising a shaft (2), a spur gear (3), a plurality of cams (4), and gripping arms (5) arranged on the cams (4), wherein the spur gear (3) is arranged at one end of the shaft (2) in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the shaft (2), wherein the spur gear (3) engages with the cams (4), and the cams (4) can be driven by means of the spur gear (3), wherein each cam (4) has a gripping arm (5) which is rotatable between an extended gripping position and an engagement or retraction position, wherein in the gripping position the gripping arms (5) are aligned such that they reach through the windows (13) of the drain basket (12) or are supported on the inner circumference of the drain basket (12), and in the engagement or retraction position the cams (4) and gripping arms (5) have a smaller diameter than the inner circumference of the drain basket (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tool for assembling and disassembling a drain basket in a cistern with the features of claim 1.

[0002] The drain basket is an essential component of the flushing mechanism in a cistern and performs several functions. It not only serves as a holder for the valve seat, but is often directly integrated with it. The valve seat, which guides the valve closure part, is often an integral part of the drain basket, which means that the valve closure part plays a central role in controlling the water flow. The drain basket is usually inserted into the base opening of the cistern and sealed there. It extends towards the drain valve and can at least partially enclose it, so that the travel path of the valve closure part lies within the basket. The valve closure part moves axially, i.e. up and down, between the open and closed positions, and in principle it could also pivot.

[0003] The drain basket typically features ribs or struts, designed as transverse and longitudinal struts. These define passages through which water from the cistern drains first into the drain basket and then through the valve seat. The drain basket is a small, cylindrical or conical-shaped container made of sturdy plastic (often white, gray, or black), sometimes metal or composite. It has a mesh structure or perforated walls that retain larger particles or debris while allowing water to flow freely through.

[0004] The drain basket is equipped with plug-in connections, clips, or a rotating mechanism for attachment. Additional guide elements help direct the water flow evenly into the drain valve. The design and material vary depending on the manufacturer: Geberit relies on simple, smooth designs, Grohe often offers robust models with guide rails, while Viega specializes in fine mesh structures.

[0005] Maintaining the drain basket is straightforward. Because it sits directly above the drain valve, it can be easily removed to remove dirt, limescale, or foreign matter. This is necessary when the drain valve or seals need to be cleaned or replaced. Removal occurs after the water supply has been turned off and the cistern has been emptied. The basket is either simply pulled out, twisted, or removed by releasing clips. After cleaning, it is reinserted, ensuring trouble-free operation of the cistern.

[0006] The interior of a concealed cistern is often difficult to reach, as these cisterns are integrated into the wall to save space and are invisibly installed. Access to the internal components is only possible through the maintenance opening behind the actuator plate. This opening is usually relatively small and significantly restricts access. This can be particularly problematic during repairs or maintenance, such as removing the drain basket or replacing the drain valve.

[0007] Additionally, tightly packed components and limescale often make it difficult to loosen or remove certain parts. Some components may be jammed or require special tools to be removed through the limited opening. In complicated cases, it may even be necessary to remove the entire cistern from the wall—a time-consuming and expensive process that often involves additional work such as tile removal or re-sealing. This makes the maintenance of concealed cisterns significantly more challenging than for exposed models.

[0008] State-of-the-art tools for gripping components in the cistern now exist. Water pump pliers are a versatile tool suitable for gripping and loosening screw connections, nuts, and other components in the cistern. They feature adjustable jaws that can be flexibly adapted to different sizes. Water pump pliers are particularly useful for stuck or heavily calcified parts, as their powerful leverage allows them to loosen even stubborn connections. Thanks to their non-slip handles, they also provide a secure grip and facilitate work, even in tight or hard-to-reach areas of the cistern.

[0009] It's difficult to grasp the drain basket directly from above with water pump pliers, as the angled jaws of the pliers can cause the drain basket to tilt. The uneven force exerted creates the risk of damaging the basket during removal. This is particularly critical with plastic drain baskets, as the wall sections can break or crack under the pressure. These limitations make using water pump pliers risky in this case, requiring a more suitable tool or a more careful approach.

[0010] The invention is based on the object of improving the assembly and disassembly of a drain basket, in particular in a concealed cistern.

[0011] This problem underlying the invention is now solved by a tool having the features of claim 1.

[0012] The tool according to the invention is used for assembling and disassembling a drain basket in a cistern, in particular an under-cistern, and is equipped with a shaft, a spur gear, a plurality of cams and gripping arms arranged on the cams, wherein the spur gear is arranged at one end of the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft, wherein the spur gear is in engagement with the cams and the cams are drivable by means of the spur gear, wherein each cam has an arm which is rotatable between an extended gripping position and an engagement or retraction position, wherein in the gripping position the arms are aligned such that they reach through the windows of the drain basket or are supported on the inner circumference of the drain basket, and in the engagement or retraction position the cams and arms have a smaller diameter than the inner circumference of the drain basket.

[0013] The tool for assembling and disassembling a drain basket according to the invention has a long shaft with a spur gear attached to one end. This spur gear drives several cams, each equipped with an arm. The arms of the cams are designed to rotate in two positions: 1. Gripping position: In this position, the arms are extended outward and positioned to penetrate the drain basket's windows or rest on the inner perimeter of the drain basket. This provides a firm grip for safely grasping and installing or removing the drain basket. 2. Engage or retract position: Here, the cams and arms move to a position where they have a smaller diameter than the drain basket. This facilitates inserting the tool into the drain basket or removing the tool after successful assembly or disassembly of the drain basket.

[0014] This design ensures precise, controlled handling of the drain basket, prevents jamming, and minimizes the risk of damage. It is particularly helpful for hard-to-reach concealed cisterns where conventional tools such as water pump pliers are of limited use. In particular, the tool eliminates the need to remove the concealed cistern to disassemble and install the drain basket. This saves time and therefore costs. The tool enables easy installation and removal of the drain basket without the need for additional tools or laborious disassembly of the cistern.

[0015] The cams are preferably of identical design. The spur gear rotates the cams synchronously via a mechanical transmission to ensure smooth movement of all arms. The cams and arms are designed to securely grip the drain basket even in the presence of limescale or other deposits.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the shaft is arranged in a tube. The arrangement of the shaft in a tube ensures support and guidance of the shaft and protects it from external influences.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the tube is connected to a holding plate, with the cams being rotatably mounted on the holding plate. The holding plate provides a stable mounting option for the rotatable cams and enables precise movement of the gripper arms.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, three cams are specified to engage the spur gear. The use of three cams distributes the force evenly across the drain basket, enabling safe and gentle disassembly.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, it is specified that a base plate is provided, with cams arranged between the base plate and the holding plate, the cams having passages, and the connecting elements, in particular screws, bolts, or rivets, that penetrate the base plate and the holding plate are connected to each other via the passages. The base plate and the connecting elements ensure a solid and robust construction, thereby increasing the functionality and durability of the tool.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, it is specified that the length of the shaft is adjustable to facilitate access to low-lying drain baskets in concealed cisterns. The adjustable shaft length enables the tool to be used even in low-lying and hard-to-reach concealed cisterns. The shaft can, for example, consist of several sections to be connected, whereby the sections are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner and the length of the shaft is determined by the selected number of sections. Alternatively, the shaft can be telescopic. The pipe can also consist of several pipe elements that are connected to one another in different numbers, or the pipe can also be telescopic.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, it is specified that the movement of the spur gear is controllable via an adjustment device attached to a free end of the shaft in order to precisely position the cams. The adjustment device can be designed as a handle or a screw. The handle can be operated manually. Depending on the design of the head, the screw can be operated either with a suitable tool or by hand. The adjustment device allows for targeted and fine adjustment of the cam movement, making gripping and releasing the drain basket easier and more controlled.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, an outwardly projecting handle is arranged on the circumference of the pipe. The external handle facilitates operation and increases comfort when using the tool.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the arms of the cams can be spring-loaded to facilitate engagement in the gripping position and to assist release into the retraction position.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the arms can be provided with rubberized or non-slip gripping surfaces to enable secure fixation of the drain basket and to avoid damage to the basket.

[0025] The disadvantages mentioned above are thus avoided and corresponding advantages are achieved. There are now numerous possibilities for designing and developing the tool. In this regard, reference is first made to the claims subordinate to claim 1. A preferred embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing and the associated description. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 in a perspective view a tool, Fig. 2 in a longitudinal section the tool, Fig. 3 shows in a plan view an arrangement of arms and cams in an engagement or retraction position within the drain basket, the arms assuming a position with a smaller diameter than the drain basket, Fig. 4 shows a plan view of an arrangement of arms and cams in a gripping position within the drain basket, in which position the arms are extended outwards, and Fig. 5 in a perspective view the drain basket and the tool with the arms in the gripping position, whereby the arms penetrate windows of the drain basket.

[0026] The tool 1 comprises a shaft 2, a spur gear 3, several, in particular three, cams 4, and arms 5 arranged on the cams 4, which arms can also be referred to as gripping arms 5. The spur gear 3 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner at one end of the shaft 2 and engages with the cams 4, which can be driven by the spur gear 3. The spur gear 3 and the cams 4 can each have a toothing (not shown), wherein the toothing of the spur gear 3 engages with the toothing of the cams 4. Alternatively, the spur gears 3 and the cams 4 can be connected via frictional contact. The contact surfaces can, for example, be rubber-coated.

[0027] The tool 1 is designed so that the movement of the spur gear 3 can be controlled via an adjusting device 10 in the form of a handle attached to a free end of the shaft 2. By turning the adjusting device 10 or the handle 10, the shaft 2 is set in rotation, which also causes the spur gear 3 to rotate. Since the spur gear 3 engages with the cams 4, the cams 4 are moved synchronously to precisely position the gripper arms 5 in the desired position.

[0028] Additionally, an outwardly projecting handle 11 is located on the circumference of the tube. This serves to stabilize the tool 1 during operation by providing the user with a firm grip. This allows the tool 1 to be held securely while the handle 10 is rotated to precisely control the position of the gripping arms 5.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows that the shaft 2 is guided in a tube 6. A retaining plate 7 is attached to the lower end of the tube. The cams 4 are rotatably mounted on the retaining plate 7. A base plate 8 serves to stabilize the structure, with connecting elements 9 connecting the retaining plate 7 and the base plate 8 and serving as the axes of the cams 4. The connecting elements 9 extend through the cams 4. The connecting elements 9 can be designed as screws, rivets, or bolts.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows a top view of the arrangement of the arms 5 and cams 4 in the engaged or retracted position. In the engaged or retracted position, the arms 5 have a smaller diameter than the drain basket 12, allowing the tool 1 to be easily inserted into or removed from the drain basket 12.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 shows a top view of the arms 5 and cams 4 in the gripping position. In the gripping position, however, the arms 5 are extended outward so that they either rest on the inner circumference of the drain basket 12 or reach through the windows 13 of the drain basket 12.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the tool 1 and the drain basket 12, with the arms 5 in the gripping position and reaching through the windows 13 of the drain basket 10. List of reference symbols 1 tool 2nd wave 3 spur gear 4 cams 5 gripper arms 6 pipe 7 Holding plate 8 Base plate 9 Fasteners (e.g. screws, bolts or rivets) 10 Adjustment device in the form of a handle 11 Grab handle 12 Drain basket 13 Drain basket window

Claims

[1] Tool (1) for assembling and disassembling a drain basket (12) in a cistern, comprising a shaft (2), a spur gear (3), a plurality of cams (4), and gripping arms (5) arranged on the cams (4), wherein the spur gear (3) is arranged at one end of the shaft (2) in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the shaft (2), wherein the spur gear (3) engages with the cams (4), and the cams (4) are drivable by means of the spur gear (3), wherein each cam (4) has a gripping arm (5) which is rotatable between an extended gripping position and an engagement or retraction position, wherein in the gripping position the gripping arms (5) are aligned such that they pass through the windows (13) of the drain basket (12) or are supported on the inner circumference of the drain basket (12), and in the engagement or retraction position the cams (4) and gripping arms (5) have a smaller diameter than the inner circumference of the drain basket (12). take. [2] Tool according to claim 1, characterized bythat the shaft (2) is arranged in a tube (6). [3] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the tube (6) is connected to a holding plate (7), wherein the cams (4) are rotatably arranged on the holding plate (7). [4] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that three cams (4) are in engagement with the spur gear (3). [5] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a base plate (8) is provided, wherein the cams (4) are arranged between the base plate (8) and the holding plate (7), wherein the cams (4) have leadthroughs and the connecting elements (9), in particular screws, bolts or rivets, which pass through the base plate (8) and the holding plate (7) via the leadthroughs, are connected to one another. [6] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the length of the shaft (2) is adjustable to facilitate access to low-lying drain baskets in concealed cisterns. [7] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the spur gear (3) is controllable via an adjusting device (10) attached to a free end of the shaft (2), in particular in the form of a handle or a screw, in order to precisely position the cams (4). [8] Tool according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an outwardly projecting handle (11) is arranged on the circumference of the tube.

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