Patent Publication Number: US-6655228-B1

Title: Dual directional power feed

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a power feed device for sewer and drain cleaning cables. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dual directional power feed device for feeding a cable in a first direction out of the device, or in a second direction into the device. Further, the dual directional power feed device can be mounted to a power unit, such as a stationary frame power unit or a handheld power unit. Additionally, a support plate is provided for coupling the power feed device to the power unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rotary powered drain cleaners are well known in the art. Generally, they have employed a power source, attached to a housing unit containing a sewer and drain cleaning cable having a small diameter. Generally, one end of the cable has been fed from inside the housing unit, through a feed device, which could control the speed and direction in which the cable could be fed, i.e., into or out of a sewer drain or into or out of the housing. 
     Rotary powered drain cleaners can be either handheld devices or stand-alone devices, i.e., frame mounted devices. Handheld power feed devices have commonly employed an electric drill or similar device as the power source, while stand-alone devices have commonly used rotatable drums as the power source. In either case, the power source has rotated the cable, enabling the cable to feed into or out of the housing unit. In addition to being fed by the power source, the cable could generally additionally been fed from the housing unit by hand. 
     Compared to unidirectional feed devices, the dual directional feed devices increased the number of moving components, thereby increasing the cost of the device, as well as increasing the amount of maintenance the device required, such as cleaning, greasing, and replacing worn parts. For example, rotary powered drain cleaners that have achieved dual directional feeding have used a plurality of rotating rollers that needed to be reconfigured or repositioned for dual directional feeding. Previous devices have included a pair of rotating rollers to engage a threaded cable such that rotation of the cable in a first direction causes the cable to translate along it&#39;s axis in a first direction. In order for these devices to cause the threaded cable to translate in a second direction opposite the first direction, each of the rollers that engage the cable must be reconfigured by individually rotating each roller to a new position. 
     Prior rotary powered drain cleaners have been coupled to power sources by mounting directly to the frame or structure of the power source. However, previous mounting methods and devices have been a source of safety concerns for rotary powered drain cleaner operators. For example, in the past, when a guide tube for a rotating cable had been attached to the power source, the guide tube could bind and wrap around an operator&#39;s hand when the rotating cable within the guide tube would snag. Thus, previous rotary powered drain cleaners posed a safety hazard to their operators. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the principal objectives of the present invention to provide a power feed device capable of dual directional operation. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a power feed device capable of dual directional operation wherein the cable need only rotate in one direction to accomplish dual directional feeding. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a power feed device capable of regulating the speed at which the cable feeds through the device. 
     It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a dual directional power feed device capable of being used with either a handheld drill or a stationary frame mounted power source. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a bearing and support assembly for coupling a device to a power unit whereby the assembly can be configured such that the power unit may rotate without causing the device to rotate as well. 
     It is still further an objective of the present invention to provide a bearing and support assembly for coupling a device to a power unit whereby the assembly can be configured such that both the power unit and the device may rotate independently of each other. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dual direction power feed device with fewer moving components that require less maintenance than prior dual directional power feed devices. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will become apparent upon examining the drawings and figures together with the accompanying written description thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the dual directional power feed. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the dual directional power feed. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel carrier assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a cap. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the cap. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cap. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the dual directional power feed with the cap in the forward position and a threaded cable located therein. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the dual directional power feed with the cap in the reverse position and a threaded cable located therein. 
     FIG. 9 is a partially exploded side view of a system including the dual directional power feed, a guide hose assembly, a bearing and support assembly, and a drum assembly. 
     FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the dual direction power feed device and a power feed collar of a guide hose. 
     FIG. 11 is a partially exploded side view of a system including the guide hose assembly, the dual directional power feed, the bearing and support assembly, and a drum assembly. 
     FIG. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view of the dual direction power feed and a guide hose sleeve of a guide hose. 
     FIG. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of a system including the dual direction power feed and the bearing and support assembly. 
     FIG. 14 is a back perspective view of the support plate. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention relates generally to a power feed device  10  for sewer and drain cleaning cables. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dual directional power feed device  10  for feeding a cable in a first direction, or in a second direction opposite the first direction. The following detailed description of the drawings describes the use of the present invention with a stationary frame power unit. The present invention can also be used with a handheld power unit. 
     FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the power feed device  10 . As shown in FIG. 1, the power feed device  10  has a housing assembly  12  and a cap assembly  14 . The housing assembly  12  includes a housing  16 . The housing  16  is generally cylindrical with a male end  18 , as shown in FIG. 1, and a female end  20 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The housing  16  is preferably constructed of aluminum. However, the housing  16  may be constructed of any material as would be apparent to one with skill in the art. For example, the housing  16  may be constructed of a rigid synthetic material such as a plastic. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the housing assembly  12  further includes an end cap  22  that attaches to the male end  18  of the housing  16 . The end cap  22  is preferably constructed of an engineering plastic such as the acetal resin sold under the trademark Delrin®. Alternatively, the end cap  22  can be constructed of rubber, plastic, or other synthetic material suitable to prevent the power feed device  10  from marring the finish of the sink, toilet, or other drain in which the power feed device  10  is to be operated. In the embodiment shown, the end cap  22  is permanently secured to the aluminum housing  16  using an adhesive such as an epoxy. The housing  16  and the end cap  22  may be attached using other materials or methods as long as the material or method used to secure the end cap  22  to the housing  16  is capable of permanently binding together the materials the end cap  22  and the housing  16  are constructed from. When the end cap  22  is secured to the male end  18  of the housing  16 , the male end  18  of the housing  16  is configured to couple with a guide hose assembly  26  (FIGS. 11 and 12) or similarly configured device or attachment. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the female end  20  of the housing  16  has an annular wall  21  with and annular surface  23  for coupling the housing  16  to an attachment as described below. A thumbscrew  24  can be threaded through a screw hole  30  in the annular wall  21  so that it extends into the area bound by the annular wall  21  of the female end  20  of the housing  16 . The female end  20  of the housing  16  is configured to couple with a guide hose assembly  26  (as shown in FIGS.  9  and  10 ), a support plate  28  (as shown in FIGS.  11  and  13 ), or similarly configured device or attachment as described below. The female end  20  of the housing  16  further includes a guide tube notch  25  for engaging the support plate  28  as described below. 
     The housing  16  has a cap cutout  32  for attaching the cap assembly  14  to the housing  16 . The housing  16  has a rod hole  34  located in an inner surface  36  of the cap cutout  32 . The rod hole  34  as shown is ¾ of an inch deep, ¼ of an inch in diameter, and threaded for attaching a threaded rod  38 . The threaded rod  38  is secured within the rod hole  34  with an adhesive such as the adhesive sold under the trademark Loctitet® Liquid Threadlockers, or similar binding product. The threaded rod  38  is used for securing the cap assembly  14  to the housing  16  using an adjusting knob  40 . In addition to securing the cap assembly  14  to the housing  16 , the adjusting knob  40  regulates the speed at which a threaded cable  42 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, may be fed through the power feed device  10 . 
     Additionally, two stop engaging holes (not shown) are located in the inner surface  36  of the cap cutout  32 . A reverse drill bushing  37  and a forward drill bushing  39  can be tapped or pressed into the stop engaging holes. The drill bushings  37  and  39  can be constructed from hardened steel or similar wear resistant material. The stop engaging holes and the drill bushings  37  and  39  are part of a positive stop mechanism formed between the cap assembly  14  and the housing  12  as described below. Alternatively, the stop engaging holes can be used without the drill bushings  37  and  39 . However, the drill bushings  37  and  39  are used to prevent grooves from forming around the stop engaging holes due to wear from the positive stop mechanism. 
     Four wheel carrier assemblies  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  are mounted within four wheel carrier assembly holes  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  within the housing  16 . The wheel carrier assemblies  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  are secured within the holes  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  by four internal snap rings  60 ,  61 ,  62 , and  63  that mount within four grooves  64 ,  65 ,  66 , and  67  located within the wheel carrier assemblies  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50 . Each of the wheel carrier assembly holes  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  includes a locating notch  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74  for mounting the wheel carrier assemblies  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  within the housing  16  at a predetermined angle. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel carrier assemblies  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  are mounted at forty-five degree angles. The selection of the mounting angle will be discussed below. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, each wheel carrier assembly  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  has a wheel housing  76 , an axle  78 , two washers  80  and  81 , and a wheel bearing  82 . The wheel housing  76  is generally a solid cylinder with a wheel cutout  86  and two axle mounting holes  88  and  90 . Additionally, the wheel housing  76  includes a locating piece  92  extending from the generally cylindrical form for use in conjunction with a locating notch  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74  for mounting the wheel carrier assembly  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  within the housing  16  at a predetermined angle as described above. In the embodiment shown, the wheel housing  76  is formed of brass, however the wheel housing  76  may be formed of another material apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 , the cap assembly  14  includes a cap  94 , a thrust bearing  96 , a biasing bearing axle  98  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ), a cap rotating lever  100 , two roll pins  102  and  104 , a switch direction indicator  106 , a cable guide assembly  107 , a forward stop  121 , and a reverse stop  123 . The cable guide assembly  107  further includes a cable roller guide  110 , a biasing bearing  112 , and two flat washers  114  and  116 . 
     The cap  94  has a top surface  118 , a side surface  115 , and a bottom surface  120 . A rod hole  122  extends from the top surface  118  to the bottom surface  120 , through the center of the cap  94 . The rod hole  122  is used to mount the cap assembly  14  to the housing assembly  12 . Referring to FIG. 5, the thrust bearing  96  is mounted within the portion of the rod hole  122  closest to the top surface  118  of the cap  94 . 
     The cap  94  is mountable within the cap cutout  32  of the housing  16  by fitting the threaded rod  38  through the rod hole  122  in the cap  94 . The cap  94  is then secured to the housing  16  by screwing the adjusting knob  40  onto the portion of the threaded rod  38  extending from the top surface  118  of the cap  94 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94  includes a cable guide assembly cutout  124 . The biasing bearing axle  98  is mounted through the cutout  124 , generally along the radius of the cap  94 . The cable guide assembly  107  is mounted to the biasing bearing axle  98  (FIGS. 1 and 2) within the cable guide assembly cutout  124  such that a portion of the cable guide assembly  107  protrudes beyond the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The mounting configuration of the cable guide assembly  107  is designed to engage the threaded cable  42  as described below. 
     Now referring to FIG. 5, the cap rotating lever  100  is mounted radially into the side surface  115  of the cap  94 . The cap rotating lever  100  extends outwardly from the side surface  115  of the cap  94  such that an operator can rotate the cap assembly  14  within the cap cutout  32  as described below. 
     As shown in the side view of the cap  94  in FIG. 4, the two roll pins  102  and  104  are mounted into the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94  such that the roll pins  102  and  104  prevent the cap assembly  14  from exceeding a predetermined degree of rotation in either direction. The switch direction indicator  106  is located above the cap rotating lever  100  and is used to indicate the direction the threaded cable  42  will feed through the power feed device  10  when the cap assembly  14  is rotated in either direction as will be described below. 
     The cap  94  has a forward stop locating hole  117  and a reverse stop locating hole  119  extending from the top surface  118  to the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94  on either side of the cap rotating lever  100 . The stop locating holes  117  and  119  may or may not be threaded holes. The stop locating holes  117  and  119  may or may not extend through the top surface  118  of the cap  94 . Further, the stop locating holes  117  and  119  may be configured in any other manner apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     A forward stop  121  and a reverse stop  123  are located in the portions of the corresponding stop locating holes  117  and  119  closest to the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94 . The stops  121  and  123  extend beyond the bottom surface  120  of the cap  94  such that the stops  121  and  123  can engage the drill bushings  37  and  39  to form an engagement mechanism between the cap assembly  14  and the housing  12 . The stops  121  and  123  can be ball-nose spring plungers that are threaded into the corresponding stop locating holes  117  and  119  such that the ball-nose portion of the stops  121  and  123  can engage the drill bushings  37  and  39 . Similarly, the stops  121  and  123  may be any other engagement device apparent to one with skill in the art capable of being utilized in conjunction with the drill bushings  37  and  39  to form a positive stop mechanism as described below. 
     Now referring to FIG. 7, with the cap assembly  14  mounted to the housing assembly  12  and rotated to the forward position, the biasing bearing  112  of the cable guide assembly  107  engages the threaded cable  42  such that the threaded cable  42  is engaged by the biasing bearing  112  and the two wheel bearings  82  and  83  of the two wheel carrier assemblies  46  and  50  located nearest the female end  20  of the housing  16 . In this position, clockwise rotation of the threaded cable  42 , from the perspective of one looking along the axis of the threaded cable  42  towards the female end  20  of the housing  16 , causes the wheel bearings  82  and  83  to rotate towards the male end  18  of the housing  16  and thereby causes the threaded cable  42  to move along its longitudinal axis towards the male end  18  of the housing  16 . 
     Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, with the cap assembly  14  mounted to the housing assembly  12  and rotated to the reverse position, the biasing bearing  112  of the cable guide assembly  107  engages the threaded cable  42  such that the threaded cable  42  is engaged by the biasing bearing  112  and the two wheel bearings  84  and  85  of the two wheel carrier assemblies  44  and  48  located nearest the male end  18  of the housing  16 . In this position, clockwise rotation of the threaded cable  42 , from the perspective of one looking along the axis of the threaded cable  42  towards the female end  20  of the housing  16 , causes the wheel bearings  84  and  85  to rotate towards the female end  20  of the housing  16  and thereby causes the threaded cable  42  to move along its longitudinal axis towards the female end  20  of the housing  16 . 
     The cable roller guide  110  prevents the threaded cable  42  from locking up and bunching behind the biasing bearing  112  when the cap assembly  14  is rotated between the forward position and the reverse position. When the biasing bearing  112  disengages the threaded cable  42 , the cable roller guide  110  limits the movement of the threaded cable  42  and allows the biasing bearing  112  to properly reengage the threaded cable  42  when the cap assembly  14  is rotated towards the forward or reverse position. 
     The speed of translation of the threaded cable  42  in the forward and rearward directions can be varied by the amount of pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 . Increasing the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 , increases the translation speed of the threaded cable  42  by decreasing the slippage that may occur between the biasing bearing  112  and the threaded cable  42 . Conversely, decreasing the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42  decreases the speed of translation of the threaded cable  42  by increasing the amount of slippage that may occur between the biasing bearing  112  and the threaded cable  42 . 
     The amount of pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42  can be controlled by two mechanisms of the embodiment of the power feed device  10  illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. First, the adjusting knob  40  can be used to control the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 . Second, the cap assembly  14  position can control the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 . 
     Tightening the adjusting knob  40  increases the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 . Conversely, loosening the adjusting knob  40  decreases the pressure the biasing bearing  112  exerts on the threaded cable  42 . Additionally, the cap assembly  14  may be rotated to the forward position, the reverse position, or any position in between. As the cap assembly  14  rotates further towards the forward or reverse position, the biasing bearing  112  exerts more pressure on the threaded cable  42 . Thus, the further towards the forward or reverse position the cap assembly  14  is rotated, the faster the speed of translation of the threaded cable  42  in either the forward or reverse direction, respectively. The thrust bearing  96  is implemented between the adjusting knob  40  and the cap  94  to allow the cap assembly  14  to be rotated between the forward position and the reverse position without affecting the tightness of the adjusting knob  40 . Accordingly, an operator may use the tightness of the adjusting knob  40 , the degree of rotation of the cap assembly  14 , or a combination of both to control the speed of translation of the threaded cable  42 . 
     The stops  121  and  123  and the drill bushings  37  and  39  work together to provide a positive stop mechanism that engages the cap assembly  14  in either the forward or the reverse position with respect to the housing  16 . The positive stop engagement is capable of holding the cap assembly  14  in either the forward or reverse position against the force of the vibrations that occur during the normal operation of the device  10 . However, the positive stop engagement is also capable of being easily disengaged by an operator intending to rotate the cap assembly  14  around the axis of the threaded rod  38  away from the position of engagement to any other position. 
     For example, an operator may rotate the cap assembly  14  to the forward position until the forward stop  121  engages the forward drill bushing  39 . Similarly, an operator may rotate the cap assembly  14  to the reverse position until the reverse stop  123  engages the reverse drill bushing  37 . In the engaged forward and reverse positions, the cap assembly  14  is secured in position by the positive stop formed by the stops  121  and  123  and the drill bushings  37  and  39 . However, an operator may disengage the positive stop mechanism by applying force to the cap rotating lever  100  in the direction the operator would like to rotate the cap assembly  14 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 9,  11 , and  13 , a bearing and support assembly  125  comprising a bearing  126  and the support plate  28  can be configured for various mounting configurations. For example, the bearing and support assembly  125  can be used to couple the power feed device  10  to a power unit the power unit may rotate without causing the power feed device  10  to rotate as well, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. Alternatively, the bearing and support assembly  125  can be used to couple the power feed device  10  to a power unit whereby both the power unit and the power feed device  10  may rotate independently of each other, as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG.  9  illustrates a system in which the power feed device  10  may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 9, the power feed device  10  is coupled to a guide hose assembly  26 , which is coupled to the bearing  126 , which is coupled to a drum assembly  128 . The guide hose assembly  26  includes a power feed collar  130 , which is coupled to a first hose barb  132 , which is coupled to a conduit  134 , which is coupled to a second hose barb  136 , which is coupled to a guide hose sleeve assembly  138 . As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the thumbscrew  24  operates through the screw hole  30  in the female end  20  of the housing  16  to secure the power feed device  10  to the guide hose assembly  26 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the thumbscrew  24  couples the female end  20  of the housing  16  to the power feed collar  130 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the power feed collar  130  is a cylindrical tube with an up interior diameter A and an exterior diameter B. The exterior. diameter B of the power feed collar  130  as shown is approximately {fraction (4/100)} of an inch smaller than the interior diameter  21  of the housing  16  allowing the power feed collar  130  to be inserted into the female end  20  of the housing  16 . There is a channel  146  in the power feed collar  130  for engaging the thumbscrew  24  to secure the power feed collar  130  to the housing  16 . The channel  146  as shown is approximately {fraction (1/10)} of an inch deep and approximately {fraction (6/16)} of an inch wide. The power feed collar  130  is preferably constructed from an engineering plastic such as the acetal resin sold under the trademark Delrin®. The power feed collar  130  is coupled to the conduit  134  by the first hose barb  132 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the guide hose assembly  26  couples to the bearing  126 , which is coupled to the drum assembly  128 . The bearing  126  allows the drum assembly  128  to rotate without causing the guide hose assembly  26  to rotate as well. Additionally, the bearing  126  allows the guide hose assembly  26  to rotate independently of any drum assembly  128  rotation. Allowing the guide hose assembly  26  to rotate independently of the drum assembly  128  provides an important safety feature for an operator in situations where the threaded cable  42  snags. In such a situation, the guide hose assembly continues to rotate independently of any rotation by the snagged threaded cable  42  and the drum assembly  128 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another system in which the power feed device  10  may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 11, the guide hose assembly  26  is coupled to the male end  18  of the power feed device  10 , which is coupled to the support plate  28 , which is coupled to the drum assembly  128 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the guide hose sleeve assembly  138  includes a guide hose sleeve  148  and a thumbscrew  150 . The guide hose sleeve  148  has a first end  152 , a second end  154 , an exterior diameter C, an annular wall  158 , and a screw hole  162 . The thumbscrew  150  operates through the screw hole  162  in the guide hose sleeve  148 . The thumbscrew  150  screws through the screw hole  162  and extends through the annular wall  158  of the guide hose sleeve  148 . The thumbscrew as shown is approximately ¼ of an inch in diameter. The guide hose sleeve assembly  138  is coupled to the conduit  134  by the second hose barb  136 . 
     Similar to the description of the coupling of the female end  20  of the housing  16  to the power feed collar  130  above, the thumbscrew  150  couples the first end  152  of the hose sleeve  148  to the male end  18  of the housing  16 . The male end  18  of the housing  16  is configured to provide an exterior diameter D and a channel  166  for coupling to the first end  152  of the guide hose sleeve  148 . The exterior diameter D of the male end  18  of the housing  16  as shown is approximately {fraction (4/100)} of an inch smaller the diameter of the annular wall  158  of the guide hose sleeve  148 , allowing the male end  18  of the housing  16  to be inserted into the first end  152  of the guide hose sleeve  148 . The channel  166  provides a surface for engaging the thumbscrew  150  to secure the housing  16  to the guide hose sleeve  148 , thus securing the power feed device  10  to the guide hose assembly  26 . The channel as shown is approximately ¼ of an inch in depth and approximately {fraction (3/10)} of an inch in width. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the female end  20  of the housing  16  of the power feed device  10  couples to the support plate  28 . The support plate  28  includes a guide tube  168 , a guide tube plate  170 , a bushing  172  (FIG.  14 ), and a spring pin  174 . The thumbscrew  24  of the power feed device  10  couples the female end  20  of the housing  16  to the guide tube  168 . The guide tube  168  is a cylindrical tube with an interior diameter E, a mounting diameter F (FIG.  14 ), and an exterior diameter G. The exterior diameter G of the guide tube  168  as shown is approximately {fraction (4/100)} of an inch smaller than the inside diameter of the housing  16  allowing the guide tube  168  to be inserted into the female end  20  of the housing  16 . There is a channel  184  in the guide tube  168  for engaging the thumbscrew  24 . The channel  184  as shown is approximately {fraction (1/10)} of an inch deep and approximately {fraction (5/16)} of an inch wide. The guide tube  168  is preferably constructed from aluminum. 
     A spring pin  174  is mounted to the channel  184  of the guide tube  168 . The spring pin  174  engages the guide tube notch  25  when the guide tube  168  is inserted into the female end  20  of the housing  16 . When engaged, the connection between the spring pin  174  and the guide tube notch  25 , as well as the connection between the thumbscrew  24  and the channel  184  of the guide tube  168 , prevent the power feed device  10  from rotating around a longitudinal axis  188  passing through the center of the guide tube  168  and the power feed device  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 14, the mounting diameter F of the guide tube  168  is designed for mounting the guide tube  168  to a guide tube plate  170 . The guide tube plate  170  is generally rectangular, with a front surface  192  (FIG.  13 ), a back surface  194 , and three holes passing from the front surface  192  to the back surface  194 ; a guide tube mounting hole  196 , and two frame mounting holes  198  and  200 . Additionally, a bushing  172  attaches to the interior diameter E of the guide tube  168  for reducing friction in the connection between the support plate  28  and the drum assembly  128 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the bushing is press fit into the guide tube  168 . 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the guide tube  168  is welded to the guide tube plate  170  such that the mounting diameter F of the guide tube  168  fits into the guide tube mounting hole  196 . The guide tube plate  170  is preferably constructed from aluminum and the bushing  172  is preferably constructed from bronze. The guide tube plate  170  attaches to a frame  204  of the drum assembly  128  using a thumbscrew and washer or similar securing means passing through the frame mounting holes  198  and  200 . Mounting the guide tube plate  170  to the frame  204 , as described above, prevents the guide tube plate  170 , and any device attached thereto, from rotating around the longitudinal axis  188 . 
     In both of the mounting configurations shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 a drum assembly  128  is shown coupled to the power feed device  10 . The drum assembly  128  shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 includes a drum  206  for rotating a threaded cable  42  clockwise through the power feed device  10 . A length of threaded cable  42  is stored within the drum assembly  128  for use with the power feed device  10 . The drum assembly  128  rotates the threaded cable  42  in a clockwise rotation, from the perspective of one looking along the axis of the threaded cable  42  towards the female end  20  of the housing  16 . As described above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, depending upon the position of the cap assembly  14  with respect to the housing assembly  12 , the length of threaded cable  42  will translate longitudinally either into or out of the drum  206 . An operator may choose the direction the threaded cable  42  translates by rotating the cap assembly  14  between a forward and a reverse position. 
     It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.