Patent ID: 8060968
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: B08B,B65H,E03F,F16H

Abstract:
1. A drain cleaning device comprising: a frame; a motor and drive pulley, the motor secured to the frame and adapted for poweredly rotating the drive pulley about a first axis; a rotatable drum rotatably secured to the frame, the drum rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, the drum adapted to receive and administer a drain cleaning cable; a belt extending between the drive pulley and the drum for rotating the drum upon rotation of the drive pulley; an idler pulley assembly including a support arm and a positionable idler pulley affixed to the support arm and in contact with the belt, the support arm engaged with the frame; a belt tensioning assembly including (i) a spool engaged with the frame, the spool being rotatable about a center axle and (ii) a biasing member having a first end affixed to the spool and a second end affixed to the support arm of the idler pulley assembly; wherein tension of the belt can be changed by rotating the spool about the axle and displacing the first end of the biasing member through an arc also about the axle, such that the effective length of the biasing member is changed thereby resulting in the force applied to the support arm by the biasing member also being changed.