Wireless Handle for Motorized Drain Cleaner Cable

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drain cleaners require manual effort to feed and rotate the cable, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially in accessing hard-to-reach areas, and lack wireless communication for remote control of the motor.

Innovation Solution

A drain cleaner with a base unit, rotatable drum, and motor, featuring a handle with a passage for the cable and an actuator that communicates wirelessly with the motor, allowing for remote control and reduced manual effort in feeding and rotating the cable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual feeding and rotation of the cable is used, then device complexity is reduced, but user effort and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effortVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical system with an automated motorized system. The motor automatically rotates the drum to feed the cable into the drain, eliminating the need for manual cable feeding and rotation. This substitution of mechanical effort with motorized automation directly resolves the contradiction by reducing user effort while accepting increased device complexity through the addition of the motor and control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If physical connection between handle and base unit is maintained, then control reliability is improved, but wireless communication capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless controlVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical wired connection with a wireless communication system. The handle incorporates a wireless transmitter that communicates with the base unit's wireless receiver, eliminating the need for physical cables between the handle and base unit. This enables remote operation and improves automation while maintaining control reliability through wireless signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If cable rotation is manually controlled, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveefficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual cable rotation control with an automated motor-driven system. The motor, controlled by the actuator on the handle, automatically rotates the drum at controlled speeds to feed the cable efficiently into the drain. This automation significantly improves productivity and efficiency by eliminating manual labor while accepting the added complexity of the motor and control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10618086B2Drain cleaner with feed handle

Publication Date: 2020.04.14 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP

AI summary

A drain cleaner includes a base unit having a frame, a drum rotatably supported by the frame, a cable at least partially disposed within the drum, a motor supported by the frame for driving rotation of the drum and the cable, and a handle for guiding the cable into a drain. The handle includes a body, a passage formed in the body, and an actuator supported by the body. The passage receives a portion of the cable such that the handle is disposed around the cable and is movable along the cable relative to the base unit. The actuator is in communication with the motor for actuating rotation of the drum.