Drain Cleaner Bracket With Pivotable Latch For Quick Drum Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drain cleaning machines require numerous time-consuming and labor-intensive steps to replace drums and feed mechanisms, involving multiple tools and complex sequences, which leads to delays and increased labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system with a base and pivotable latch that allows for easy manual attachment and removal of both the drum and feed mechanism to a drain cleaning apparatus, eliminating the need for separate tools by using spring-loaded plunger pins and a hinge mechanism for secure mounting and dismounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical fasteners and multiple mounting steps are used to secure the drum and feed mechanism, then the mounting is secure and reliable, but the replacement process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into modular components: a base with bores for the feed mechanism, a latch mechanism for the drum, and spring-loaded plunger pins for quick engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be independently secured and replaced, enabling the feed mechanism and drum to be mounted separately rather than as a single complex assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism incorporates a pivotable latch member with spring-loaded plunger pins that can dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states. The spring-loaded plunger pins automatically engage with mounting pins when the latch is closed, providing secure mounting without requiring manual fastening operations, thus reducing replacement time while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple separate fastening operations are required to mount the feed mechanism and drum, then each component can be securely attached, but the overall process becomes complex and requires multiple tools
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting functions for the feed mechanism and drum are merged into a single integrated latch mechanism. The pivotable latch member simultaneously controls the engagement of spring-loaded plunger pins with mounting pins for both the feed mechanism bores and drum bearing, consolidating multiple separate fastening operations into one unified action that reduces complexity while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded plunger pins provide self-service mounting by automatically engaging with the mounting pins when the latch is closed. The spring force ensures automatic engagement without requiring manual fastening operations or additional tools, simplifying the mounting process while ensuring reliable attachment through the self-actuating nature of the spring-loaded mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the feed mechanism must be removed to access the drum for replacement, then complete access is achieved, but the replacement procedure becomes unnecessarily lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented so that the drum and feed mechanism are attached to separate mounting interfaces (drum bearing versus bores) on the base. This segmentation allows the drum to be accessed and replaced independently of the feed mechanism, eliminating the requirement to remove the feed mechanism for drum replacement and significantly reducing replacement duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for securing multiple apparatus to a drain cleaning machine is described. The mechanism includes a bracket arranged on a frame of the drain cleaning machine. The bracket allows a drum and a feed mechanism to be removably secured to the frame. The bracket includes a base and pivotable latch. A drum bearing from the drum can be secured between the base and the latch when the latch is in a closed position. Mounting pins from the feed mechanism can be inserted into two bores in the bracket, and secured therein by plunger pins. One plunger pin is manually operated, to selectively lock the latch in the closed position, and to selectively secure one of the mounting pins in one of the bores. Another plunger pin is operated by pivoting of the latch, and functions to selectively secure the other mounting pin in the other bore.