US3703015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conduit cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-25
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1991-08-25
Abstract
Abstract Conduit cleaning apparatus characterized by a cage containing a demountable reel of cable; a support frame comprising a base member; a support means carried by the base member for effecting reciprocal movement of the cage; first and second ratchet gripping means for either advancing the cable from the reel into the conduit to be cleaned or from the conduit and into the reel when the cage is moved reciprocally via the support means. The cage may be rotated by either manual or power drive means. The apparatus is designed to be broken down into four subassemblies so that one worker may easily transport, assemble, use and disassemble the apparatus without requiring a helper. Also disclosed are specific structural features that are employed in preferred embodiments.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester H Naeve
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:16
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03F; E03F9/00; E03F9/002; E03F9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Conduit cleaning apparatus comprising: a. cage means for containing a reel of cable; b. a support frame comprising a base member carrying a support means for effecting reciprocal movement of said cage means; c. mounting means for rotatably connecting said cage means with said support means; d. reel readily removably connected to said cage means and containing cable for extending a cleaning device into said conduit; e. rotating means for rotating said cage means and consequently said reel and cable; f. first and second ratchet gripping means, said first ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said base member, and said second ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said cage means and said reel and movable with respect to said base member; said first and second ratchet gripping means having movable holding means for determining whether or not said ratchet gripping means will grip and hold said cable and in what direction of relative movement against which they will hold such that said cage means on said support means may be moved reciprocally and effect advance of said cable from said reel and into said conduit when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a first position and effect return of said cable from said conduit and into said reel when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Conduit cleaning apparatus comprising: a. cage means for containing a reel of cable; b. a support frame comprising a base member carrying a support means for effecting reciprocal movement of said cage means; c. mounting means for rotatably connecting said cage means with said support means; d. reel readily removably connected to said cage means and containing cable for extending a cleaning device into said conduit; e. rotating means for rotating said cage means and consequently said reel and cable; f. first and second ratchet gripping means, said first ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said base member, and said second ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said cage means and said reel and movable with respect to said base member; said first and second ratchet gripping means having movable holding means for determining whether or not said ratchet gripping means will grip and hold said cable and in what direction of relative movement against which they will hold such that said cage means on said support means may be moved reciprocally and effect advance of said cable from said reel and into said conduit when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a first position and effect return of said cable from said conduit and into said reel when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
238 words
Conduit cleaning apparatus comprising: a. cage means for containing a reel of cable; b. a support frame comprising a base member carrying a support means for effecting reciprocal movement of said cage means; c. mounting means for rotatably connecting said cage means with said support means; d. reel readily removably connected to said cage means and containing cable for extending a cleaning device into said conduit; e. rotating means for rotating said cage means and consequently said reel and cable; f. first and second ratchet gripping means, said first ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said base member, and said second ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said cage means and said reel and movable with respect to said base member; said first and second ratchet gripping means having movable holding means for determining whether or not said ratchet gripping means will grip and hold said cable and in what direction of relative movement against which they will hold such that said cage means on said support means may be moved reciprocally and effect advance of said cable from said reel and into said conduit when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a first position and effect return of said cable from said conduit and into said reel when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
238 words
Conduit cleaning apparatus comprising: a. cage means for containing a reel of cable; b. a support frame comprising a base member carrying a support means for effecting reciprocal movement of said cage means; c. mounting means for rotatably connecting said cage means with said support means; d. reel readily removably connected to said cage means and containing cable for extending a cleaning device into said conduit; e. rotating means for rotating said cage means and consequently said reel and cable; f. first and second ratchet gripping means, said first ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said base member, and said second ratchet gripping means being carried so as to be stationary with respect to said cage means and said reel and movable with respect to said base member; said first and second ratchet gripping means having movable holding means for determining whether or not said ratchet gripping means will grip and hold said cable and in what direction of relative movement against which they will hold such that said cage means on said support means may be moved reciprocally and effect advance of said cable from said reel and into said conduit when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a first position and effect return of said cable from said conduit and into said reel when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises an upright support means that is pivotally carried by said base member so as to allow reciprocal movement of said cage means and said mounting means also pivotally connects said cage means with said upright support means for properly carrying said cage means during pivotal reciprocal movement of said upright support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upright support means comprises first and second upright support members that are pivotally mounted on said base member; said mounting means is adjustably connectable with one of said support members such that the central Longitudinal axis of said cage means can be positioned at different angles with respect to said base member; and wherein said upright support members, said mounting means, and said base member form a multilateral figure with four pivotal connections from a side view for properly carrying said cage means during said reciprocal movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mounting means is pivotally connected with said first upright support member and is connectable at a desired height with said second upright support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first ratchet gripping means has means for adjusting its height and angle to accommodate said cable fed at a predetermined angle without increasing the tendency of the cable to bend as it is forced into said conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first ratchet gripping means is carried by a third upright member mounted on said base member, said cage means is readily disconnectable from said two upright support members, said rotating means is readily disconnectable, and said two upright support members can be folded flat with said base member to form a substantially flat, readily transportable subassembly; said cage means is a readily transportable subassembly; said reel and cable form a readily transportable subassembly; and said rotating means is a readily transportable subassembly; such that one worker can easily transport, assemble, use and disassemble said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said third upright member is also pivotally mounted on said base member so as to be folded flat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said ratchet gripping means comprises a handle and holding means mounted for pivotal movement about a mounting shaft, a cam surface having surfaces for maintaining at least three positions of said handle and holding means, biased cam follower means for maintaining said handle and holding means in a set position; said holding means comprises a neutral portion allowing free rotation of said cable when said first and second ratchet gripping means are in a third position; and having on each side of said neutral portion a ratchet portion having respective ratchet pawls that have respective radii with respect to said mounting shaft that increase as the distance of said pawl from said neutral portion increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises a power drive assembly that is drivingly connectable with said cage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said power drive assembly is adjustably and readily connectable with and disconnectable from said mounting means for easy assembly and disassembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |