Snake Tool Adapter for Heavy-Duty Drain Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain cleaning technologies, such as handheld augers and electric drain cleaners, are inadequate for cleaning larger drain and sewer pipes with diameters of 3″ to 8″, particularly due to the limitations of handheld augers in size and the heaviness and safety risks associated with electric drain cleaners, which make them unsuitable for accessing rooftop vent stacks.
Innovation Solution
A snake tool adapter that couples commercially available heavy-duty drain cleaning cables with a portable rotary driving tool, such as a handheld drill, providing a lightweight and portable solution for cleaning larger pipes by incorporating a polygonal shaft for attachment to the drill and a gripping portion for handling the cleaning cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If handheld augers are used for drain cleaning, then the device is lightweight and portable, but it cannot effectively clean larger drain and sewer pipes with diameters of 3" to 8"
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter enables a single lightweight drill tool to perform multiple functions by accepting different drain cleaning cables of varying diameters and lengths, making it suitable for cleaning pipes ranging from small to large diameters (3" to 8" and beyond), thus achieving multi-functionality without requiring multiple specialized tools
2Adaptability or versatility
If electric drain cleaners are used to clean larger drain and sewer pipes, then the cleaning capability is sufficient, but the device becomes heavy and cumbersome, weighing over 100 pounds
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate components: a lightweight portable drill and a detachable adapter with cable assembly. This segmentation allows the user to carry only the essential lightweight drill and adapter, while the heavy cable can be managed separately or left at the work location, significantly reducing the weight burden during transport and positioning
3Strength
If electric drain cleaners are used for drain cleaning, then heavy duty cleaning is achieved, but safety risks increase due to the weight and handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the heavy mechanical self-contained electric drain cleaner with a lightweight power drill coupled with an adapter and cable assembly. This substitution maintains the necessary mechanical cleaning power through the cable while eliminating the excessive weight and associated safety hazards of traditional electric drain cleaners
4Weight of moving object
If lightweight electric drain cleaners are used, then portability is improved, but the cleaning effectiveness for large pipes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed to accommodate various heavy-duty drain cleaning cables with different diameters, lengths, and attachment types, enabling a single lightweight drill to deliver effective cleaning power for large pipes while maintaining portability
Data Source
AI summary
A snake tool adaptor capable of coupling commercially available heavy duty drain cleaning cables and attachments normally associated with heavy electric drain cleaners with a portable rotary driving tool such as a hand-held drill. Adaptors of the subject invention include a hand grip having a proximal end terminating in a shank for operable attachment to a the chuck of a power drill, and a distal end terminating in coupling means for removable mating engagement with various heavy duty drain cleaning cables and their attachments normally associated with heavy electric drain cleaners.