Patent Publication Number: US-6702939-B2

Title: Sewer cleaning tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
     There are no applications related to this application filed in this or any foreign country. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Water moving into storm water drainage openings may move debris and other foreign material into the storm water and sewage system. The foreign matter may include leaves and twigs from trees, litter, rocks, dirt, garbage and other undesirable waste. This and other foreign matter may over time accumulate within sewer and storm pipes, catch basins and the like, to the extent that it must be removed to prevent a malfunction of the sewer and storm water drainage system. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, Prior Art, a typical approach to removing the accumulated foreign material is to use a vacuum machine. Such vacuum machines draw the foreign material from the sewer system into the holding tank of a large truck. Due to the limited space within the tanker truck, the goal is to maximize the amount of foreign material while minimizing the amount of water. 
     The vacuum equipped tanker truck typically used has a hose terminating in a rigid vacuum pipe segment  100  that is lowered into the storm water pipe  150 , sewer pipe or catch basin. The end of the vacuum pipe is positioned near the bottom of the storm water pipe. A high-pressure water hose  110  is snaked into the storm water pipe. Water  120  released from the hose dislodges debris  160  on the bottom of the storm water pipe. A mixture of dislodged debris and water is then vacuumed into the vacuum pipe and stored in the tanker truck. Unfortunately, due to the design of known vacuum pipe segments, several problems result. 
     A first problem is that a substantial quantity of pass-by debris  130  passes the vacuum pipe as it moves down the storm water pipe under the influence of the water released from the hose. This debris is therefore simply relocated within the sewer and storm water pipe. 
     A second problem is that too much water and too little debris is vacuumed, and tanker trucks quickly become filled in this manner without contributing significantly to the problem of debris removal. 
     In view of this result, what is needed is a sewer-cleaning tool, which increases the amount of debris removed, while minimizes the amount of water removed from a storm water line, sewer line or catch basin. The sewer-cleaning tool must be readily adapted for installation on the vacuum pipe segment present on existing vacuum equipped tanker trucks, and must be easily installed and removed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above needs. A novel sewer-cleaning tool is easily installed on, and removed from, the tube segment present on existing vacuum equipped tanker trucks. During a cleaning process, the sewer-cleaning tool increases the amount of debris, and minimizes the amount of water, removed from a storm water line, sewer line or catch basin. 
     A preferred sewer-cleaning tool of the present invention provides some or all of the following structures. 
     (A) A sleeve  20  has an inside diameter sized incrementally greater than the outside diameter of a pipe  100 , and therefore may be installed over the end of the pipe. The sleeve defines left, right and rear adjustment slots that allow attachment to the pipe  100  that allows the tool to be adjusted to the amount of flow within the storm water line, or combined storm and sanitary lines, or sanitary sewer lines by bolts or similar fasteners. The sleeve also defines bolts holes that allow one of two different industry standard quick couplers to be connected, thereby allowing for rapid installation and removal of the tool from the existing tubes found on all existing vacuum equipped tanker trucks. The adjustments slots are oriented vertically, thereby allowing the sleeve to be slid up or down on the pipe to select a position which maximizes removal of debris, while minimizing water removal by allowing the distance between the main body  42  of the scoop  40  and the lower rim  110  of the pipe  100  to be changed. By regulating the adjustment slots in this manner, compensation may be made for the relative quantities of debris and water, as well as for the nature of the debris. 
     (B) A rounded rear wall  46  of the scoop  40  is attached to a lower rim  28  of the sleeve. This wall hydraulically directs both the suction from the vacuum tanker truck and the horizontal flow of debris and water in uniform patterns, which allows for single direction suction. 
     (C) The somewhat spoon-shaped main body  42  of the scoop catches debris and directs it rearward. The main body conforms to the circular shape of the pipes it is being used to clean. As a result, debris passes over an upper surface of the main body, while the lower surface of the main body prevents water flow beneath it, by fitting tightly against the bottom of the pipe being cleaned. 
     (D) A fence assembly  60  includes left and right segments. Each segment is welded along a lower edge to the left and right edges of the main body of the scoop, respectively. Additionally, the fence segments may be welded along a rear edge to a rear portion of the outer surface of the sleeve. The left and right fence segments allow water to pass, yet traps and redirects debris toward the debris inlet  34 , defined between the main body of the scoop and the lower rim of the pipe  100 . 
     (E) A reinforcement and adjustment assembly  80  includes left and right rods, each attached at a first end to an ear carried by an upper edge of each fence segment  60  and at a second end to a front side wall of the sleeve. Together, the rods prevent debris and the water moving the debris from bending the left and right fence segments. The adjustment portion of the rods allows the fence to have minor adjustments made to reflect the different pipe channels irregularities within the pipes being cleaned. 
     It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that includes an adjustable fence assembly having left and right fence segments which guide debris into an opening of the tube to which the sewer-cleaning tool is attached, but which allows water to pass through, thereby increasing the debris collected by the vacuum cleaning machine, while minimizing the water collected. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that allow vertical adjustment of a sleeve portion with respect to the pipe to which it is attached, thereby allowing the distance from a scoop portion of the sewer-cleaning tool to the pipe opening to be controlled. This allows the sewer-cleaning tool to be used in a variety of flow and debris conditions. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that provides a scoop having a generally spoon-shaped main body that conforms to the typical circular pipes bottom, that guides debris toward the opening of the tube to which the sewer-cleaning tool is connected. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck that provides a scoop that traps material too heavy for the vacuum portion of the mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck to remove, and allows for removal of heavy debris by using a hydraulic tube lift mechanism associated with the mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool that allows and draws water and debris from only one direction, thereby eliminating the inefficient removal of water from the downstream direction. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the specification and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1, PRIOR ART is a cross-sectional view illustrating the current technology and the problem addressed by the version of the sewer-cleaning tool disclosed. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sewer, and a version of the sewer-cleaning tool in use. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the version of the sewer-cleaning tool of FIG. 2, attached to a vacuum pipe extending from a mobile vacuum machine. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sewer-cleaning tool of FIG. 3, inverted to show the structure of the bottom of the sewer-cleaning tool. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the skimmer, taken along the  5 — 5  lines of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the sewer-cleaning tool, taken along the  6 — 6  lines of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring in generally to FIGS. 2 through 6, a sewer-cleaning tool  10  includes a vacuum tube adapter section  100 , which allows connection to the vacuum tube  11  extending from a mobile vacuum-cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention is seen. A sleeve  20  is sized to have an inside diameter incrementally greater than the outside diameter of the pipe  100 . Adjustment slots defined in the sleeve allow it to be moved along the pipe to a desired location and then connected to the pipe in a rigid manner. Connection holes allow the adapter sleeve to be quickly connected to one of two standard quick couplers found on all mobile vacuum-cleaning machines. A scoop  40 , having a main body that is generally spoon shaped, is carried by a lower portion of the sleeve. A fence assembly  60  includes left and right fence segments. In a preferred method of assembly, the fence segments are welded along their lower edges to the left and right side edges of the scoop. The fence segments are additionally welded to the sleeve along a rear edge or spot welded to the sleeve at an upper rear location of each fence segment. A reinforcement and adjustment assembly  80  includes left and right adjusting rods connected to a second upper location on the left and right fence segments, respectively. 
     In operation, the connection between the sewer-cleaning tool  10  and the end of a tube  100  is adjusted to result in the desired distance between the lower rim of the pipe and the main body of the scoop  40 . The cleaning tool is lowered to the bottom of a storm or sewer pipeline. A high-pressure water hose delivers water under high pressure to a jet nozzle upstream of the cleaning tool, dislodging and washing debris toward the tool. The fence segments guide debris carried by water into the scoop and up the pipe via the vacuum. A substantial quantity of water passes through the fence, thereby increasing the ratio of debris to water collected. The sewer-cleaning tool prevents removal of water from the down stream direction, thereby increasing overall efficiency. 
     The sewer-cleaning tool is adapted for installation on the standard vacuum cleaning machine by use of the connector tube  100  which is the same size as those carried by a vacuum cleaning truck. Such pipes are known in the prior art, and are generally standardized in construction. A typical adapter vacuum tube  100  is open at a lower rim  110  to allow entrance of debris and water, such as that typically used to remove debris from a storm drain manhole or catch basin. An outside diameter of 8″ is typical, resulting in a sleeve having an inside diameter of incrementally greater than 8″. In the method of operation known in the prior art, the tube would be lowered into the storm or sewer line. A partial vacuum generated by the mobile vacuum-cleaning machine would draw a mixture of solid debris and water up the tube. Due to the construction and design of the tube, the mixture would contain an excessively high quantity of water in relation to the debris collected. 
     An upper portion of the tube  100  carries a standardized coupler, to which the vacuum tube of a mobile vacuum unit could be attached. The coupler is held on the upper portion of the tube by four sets of ⅜″ bolts  112  with washers and nylon locking nuts, distributed at 90-degree intervals about an upper portion of the pipe. 
     Air holes  102  are typically 1.215″ in diameter and distributed at 90-degree intervals around the pipe, which allows the lifting ability to exceed the level that would otherwise result. 
     To adapt the tube so that the sleeve may be installed, the tube is typically drilled in three locations to form three boltholes to allow attachment of the sleeve  20 . Left, right and rear bolt holes  104 ,  106 ,  108  are best seen in FIG.  6 . The boltholes allow attachment to corresponding left, right and rear adjustment slots  21 , 22 , 23  defined in the sleeve  20 . Alternatively, four or more bolts or other fasteners could be used. 
     As seen particularly in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , a preferred sleeve  20  is sized to slide over a lower portion of the adapter tube  100 . In particular, the sleeve has an inside diameter sized incrementally greater than the outside diameter of the tube  100 , and therefore may be installed over the end of the lower end of the tube. As seen particularly in FIG. 5, a preferred sleeve includes an upper full cylinder  32  and a lower half cylinder  33 . A debris inlet  34  allows debris and water to enter. 
     A preferred sleeve has a length along its axis of 12 inches, between an upper rim  27  and a lower rim  28 . The length of a forward portion of the sleeve, between the upper rim  27  and the front lower rim  29  is approximately 7.5 inches. 
     The sleeve defines left, right and rear adjustment slots  21 ,  22 ,  23  allow attachment to the holes  104 ,  106 ,  108  defined in the tube by bolts  24 , 25 , 26  or similar fasteners. The slots are oriented vertically, thereby allowing the sleeve to be slid on the tube prior to tightening the fasteners. As a result, the adjustment slots allow the distance between the main body  42  of the scoop  40  and the lower rim  110  of the pipe  100  to be selected. A greater distance results in a larger debris inlet  34 , which will allow debris of greater size to enter the tube  100 , but also tens to result in additional water entering the tube. Therefore, the distance is generally selected to result in sufficient clearance for the debris to be removed, without excessive clearance that would result in the pick up of excessive amounts of water. 
     As is best seen in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5  and  6 , a generally spoon-shaped scoop  40  is carried by the lower rim  28  of the sleeve  20  and lower edges  64  of the left and right segments  61 ,  62  of the fence assemble  60 . A preferred scoop includes a generally spoon-shaped main body  42  and a sloping radial rear wall  46 . The spoon-shaped main body tends to collect, gather and transport debris toward the opening defined by the lower rim  110  of the tube  100 . Moreover, the bottom surface of the spoon-shaped main body has a curvature similar to that of the inside surface of a sewer or storm drainpipe, and therefore fits against the bottom of such a pipe, thereby preventing debris from passing under the scoop. The sloping radial rear wall  46  smoothly directs debris inward and upward with the least loss of energy into the tube  100 . 
     The dimensions of the scoop are variable which depending on the size of the storm or sewer pipe to be cleaned, and while a number of alternative dimensions would result in some of the same advantages, the preferred embodiment is illustrated. The preferred scoop is approximately 19 inches at its widest extent. At is narrowest, the scoop is approximately 7.5 inches wide, when measured between the intersection of the scoop and the lower and rear edges  64 ,  67  of the left and right fence segments  61 , 62 . 
     The front edge  41  of the scoop is a generally rounded shape that resists snagging on pipes, debris or other structures with which it comes into contact. The center portion of the front edge is 9.5 inches forward of the sleeve, i.e. 9.5 inches to the right of the edge of the sleeve in the view of FIG.  5 . 
     Left and right side edges  43 ,  44 , of the scoop are generally straight, and are welded to the lower edges  64  of the left and right fence segments, respectively. 
     The radial sloping rear wall  46  is welded to, or formed continuously with, the rear edge  48  of the main body of the scoop. The rear edge  47  of the rear wall is welded or otherwise attached to the lower rim  28  of the sleeve  20 . 
     As seen in FIG. 4, in a preferred version of the invention, a heal plate  45  is carried by the lower surface of the scoop. The heal plate provides a flat, stabile surface upon which to support the sewer-cleaning tool  10 , and tends to angle the scoop to allow the leading edge to make contact and seal between the pipe to be cleaned and the scoop. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fence assembly  60  includes left and right segments  61 ,  62 , each made of a screen or mesh sheet. The fence assembly gathers and directs debris into the opening defined by the rim  110  of the adapter tube  100 , while allowing water to pass through. As a result, the amount of debris gathered is maximized and the amount of water collected is minimized. 
     Each fence segment includes a lower edge  64  that is welded or otherwise attached to either the left or right side edge  43 ,  44  of the scoop. A rear edge  67  of each fence segment may be welded or otherwise attached to the sleeve  20 . Upper and front edges  65 , 66  of each fence segment are welded to a reinforcing trim  69  that provides adjustment and additional rigidity to the fence assembly. Such rigidity is particularly helpful where heavy debris and fast-moving water is encountered. 
     In the version of the invention seen in FIG. 4, the corner of each fence segment formed in the area of intersection of the upper edge  65  and rear edge  67  is attached to the sleeve  20 . As seen in FIG. 4, and upper weld  68  bonds the upper rear portion of the fence segment, the rear end of the trim  69  and an upper location of the sleeve together. Alternatively, the entire rear edge  67  could be welded to the sleeve. 
     An attachment ear  63  is carried at an upper and forward location on each fence segment, and is located at the intersection of the upper and front edges  65 ,  66  where the trim is bent at a approximately 90 degree angle. The attachment ear is typically welded to the corner of the fence segment and to the trim. Each reinforcement ear defines a hole through which the left or right rod  81 ,  82  or the adjustment assembly passes. The reinforcement assembly passes. The reinforcement assembly is thereby able to prevent debris from deforming the fence segments during operation and adjusts the fence to meet variable storm or sewer pipe irregularities. 
     A reinforcement assembly  80  includes left and right rods  81 ,  82 . Each rod is attached at a first end to an attachment ear  63  carried by an upper edge of each fence segment and at a second end to a front sidewall  30  of the sleeve. Together, the rods prevent debris and the water moving the debris from bending back the left and right fence segments. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, upper and lower center nuts  83 ,  84  are attached to the front sidewall  30  of the sleeve, typically by a welded connection. An inner end of left and right rods  81 ,  82  is each treaded into one of the center nuts. In a preferred embodiment, a threaded portion on the outer end of each rod carries a pair of nuts  85 ,  86 , one on each side of the attachment ear  63 . Alternatively, the end of the rod could be welded to the fence segment. 
     Due to the hostile environment in which the sewer-cleaning tool is used, in a typical application all parts are made of metal, typically stainless steel or aluminum. 
     In use, a known type of mobile vacuum cleaning machine is moved to a location on the pavement  140  above the storm water pipe  150  at the work site. The sewer-cleaning tool  10  along with its adapter tube  100  is attached to the vacuum tube extending from the cleaning machine. The sleeve is slid up or down, as desired, with the fasteners sliding in the slots  21 ,  22 ,  23 . When the distance between the lower rim  110  of the tube and the main body  42  of the scoop is correct, the fasteners are tightened. The distance should be determined by experience, typically taking into account the nature of the debris to be collected and the speed and depth of the water in which it is carried. The goal is to set the distance to a span that will maximize the amount of debris collected and to minimize the amount of water collected. Where the size of the debris is anticipated to be smaller, the sleeve may be raised to lessen the distance between the scoop and the opening defined by the rim  110  of the tube  100 . 
     The scoop  40  of the sewer-cleaning tool is positioned on the bottom of the storms or sewer pipe, with the open end of the scoop oriented toward the upstream direction. 
     A high-pressure water hose  110  is used to release a stream of high-pressure water via a nozzle  120  upstream of the cleaning tool  10 . The water will flow under gravity toward the cleaning tool, and will carry with it the debris  160  it has dislodged toward the sewer-cleaning tool  10 . The debris and some water is evacuated by the suction of the sewer-cleaning tool, while most of the water passes through the fence assembly  60 , and moves down the pipe. 
     Typically, the high-pressure water hose and nozzle are first extended only somewhat upstream of the cleaning tool  10 , thereby cleaning the area between the end of the water hose and nozzle and the tool. Once this is clean, the high-pressure water hose and nozzle are extended further, thereby cleaning additional sections of the pipe. 
     The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages, including a primary advantage of providing a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that includes an adjustable fence assembly having left and right fence segments which guide debris into an opening of the tube to which the sewer-cleaning tool is attached, but which allows water to pass through, thereby increasing the debris collected by the vacuum cleaning machine, while minimizing the water collected. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that allow vertical adjustment of a sleeve portion with respect to the pipe to which it is attached, thereby allowing the distance from a scoop portion of the sewer-cleaning tool to the pipe opening to be controlled. This allows the sewer-cleaning tool to be used in a variety of flow and debris conditions. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a suction tube extending from a mobile vacuum cleaning machine that provides a scoop having a generally spoon-shaped main body that conforms to the typical circular pipes bottom, that guides debris toward the opening of the tube to which the sewer-cleaning tool is connected. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool for attachment to a mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck that provides a scoop that traps material too heavy for the vacuum portion of the mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck to remove, and allows for removal of heavy debris by using a hydraulic tube lift mechanism associated with the mobile vacuum cleaning tanker truck. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel sewer-cleaning tool that allows the draws water and debris from only one direction, thereby eliminating the inefficient removal of water from the downstream direction. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail and with reference to certain preferred versions, other versions are possible. For example, while a preferred version of the reinforcement assembly has been disclosed, some variation could be made without seriously degrading the performance of the sewer-cleaning tool. One such variation includes the structure of a single bar, welded to each attachment ear  63  and to the center sidewall  30 . Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions disclosed. 
     In compliance with the U.S. patent laws, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to methodical features. The invention is not, however, limited to the specific features described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.