Drain cleaning device

Abstract

A drain cleaning device includes a housing, a drum assembly supported by the housing, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween configured to store a flexible cable. The drum assembly is configured to rotate about a rotation axis. A drain cleaning device may include a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft, a battery receptacle supported by the drum assembly, the battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack that supplies power to the motor. The drum assembly defines an outer diameter measured through the rotation axis, wherein the drum assembly defines a height measured in a direction parallel to the rotation axis; and wherein a ratio defined by the outer diameter of the drum assembly over the height of the drum assembly is between 2.5 and 3.5.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain cleaning device comprising:
 a housing;   a drum assembly supported by the housing, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween configured to store a flexible cable, the drum assembly configured to rotate about a rotation axis;   a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft; and   a battery receptacle supported by the drum assembly, the battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack that supplies power to the motor;   wherein the drum assembly defines an outer diameter measured through the rotation axis;   wherein the drum assembly defines a height measured in a direction parallel to the rotation axis; and   wherein a ratio defined by the outer diameter of the drum assembly over the height of the drum assembly is between 2.5 and 3.5.   
     
     
         2 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the drum assembly is less than 18 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the space is configured to maintain the flexible cable stacked in a single row. 
     
     
         4 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle supported by the housing, the handle moveable between a storage position, in which the handle is flush with or recessed relative to the housing, and a use position, in which the handle extends from the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cage-like frame assembly including a plurality of bars that supports the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer drums are cylindrical-shaped with an open front end and a closed rear end. 
     
     
         7 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle is moveable between a first position, in which the battery pack may be coupled to the battery receptacle, and a second position, in which the battery pack and/or the battery receptacle are inhibited from interfering with operations of the drain cleaning device. 
     
     
         8 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the battery pack is parallel to the rotation axis when the battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle and the battery receptacle is in the first position, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the battery pack is perpendicular to the rotation axis when the battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle and the battery receptacle is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising;
 control electronics to control operation of the motor;   an actuator to actuate the motor; and   a reverse switch in communication with the control electronics.   
     
     
         10 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 9 , wherein the reverse switch is a toggle position switch. 
     
     
         11 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly is a first drum assembly that supports a cable of a first size, wherein the drain cleaning device further comprises a second drum assembly that supports a cable of a second size that is different than the first size, and wherein the first and second drum assemblies are interchangeable. 
     
     
         12 . A drain cleaning device comprising:
 a housing;   a drum assembly supported by the housing, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween, the drum assembly configured to rotate about a rotation axis, the drum assembly defining an outer diameter measured through the rotation axis;   a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft that defines a motor axis;   a transmission coupled to the output shaft and supported by the drum assembly;   a flexible cable stored within the space, the flexible cable operable to receive torque from the motor; and   a cable guide supported by the drum assembly, the cable guide configured to lead a portion of the flexible cable from the motor to the space, the cable guide defining an arc extending between the output shaft and the space, the arc including a radius extending from a virtual center of the arc;   wherein a ratio defined by the outer diameter of the drum assembly over the radius of the arc is between 2.0 and 6.0.   
     
     
         13 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein a length is defined between the output shaft of the motor and the cable guide, and wherein the length is between 1 and 4 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein the motor, the transmission, and the cable guide are supported on an inside surface of the inner drum. 
     
     
         15 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 14 , wherein the motor and the transmission are supported by the drum assembly at an angle relative to the inside surface. 
     
     
         16 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the motor axis defines an angle between 2 and 7 degrees relative to the inside surface of the inner drum. 
     
     
         17 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 12 , further comprising an electronic clutch that senses an output torque of the motor. 
     
     
         18 . A drain cleaning device comprising:
 a housing including a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a rear side, and a front side opposite the rear side;   a drum assembly supported by the housing, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween configured to store a flexible cable, the drum assembly configured to rotate about a rotation axis;   a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft;   a battery receptacle supported by the drum assembly, the battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack that supplies power to the motor; and   a foot pedal operable to activate the motor, the foot pedal being supportable within the drum assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 18 , further comprising a storage receptacle positioned within the drum assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 19 , wherein the foot pedal is removably supported by the storage receptacle. 
     
     
         21 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 19 , wherein the storage receptacle is disposed on a diametrically opposite side of the rotation axis from the motor. 
     
     
         22 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 18 , further comprising a motor housing supported by the drum assembly, wherein the motor is positioned in the motor housing. 
     
     
         23 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 22 , wherein the motor housing supports the foot pedal within the drum assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 control electronics to control operation of the motor;   an actuator to actuate the motor; and   a reverse switch in communication with the control electronics.   
     
     
         25 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator and the reverse switch are positioned on the foot pedal. 
     
     
         26 . The drain cleaning device of  claim 18 , wherein the housing supports a storage bar configured to support a cable accessory.