Patent Publication Number: US-7718055-B2

Title: Automatic cleaning drain structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (a) Field of the Invention 
   The art of the present invention provides an automatic cleaning drain structure, and more particularly to a drain that uses the driving force of wind power and water power to drive and rotate strip members. 
   (b) Description of the Prior Art 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a drain A of prior art comprises a cover A 1  configured with a plurality of stop strips A 2 . The stop strips A 2  are joined to a bottom disk A 3 , and the bottom disk A 3  is joined to a bottom portion A 4 . When the drain A is used outdoors to channel water flow and separate foreign objects A 5 , then the foreign objects A 5  easily become intermixed with the water flow, and the intermixed foreign objects A 5  easily become entrapped on the cover A 1 , thereby resulting in an accumulating retention of the foreign objects A 5  on the cover A 1  and increasing thickness thereof, causing the drain A to become blocked and thereby losing effectiveness to allow unimpeded water flow.
         Hence, the inventor of the present invention proposes to resolve and surmount existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art.       

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The art of the present invention provides an automatic cleaning drain structure, and more particularly to a drain that uses the driving force of wind power and water power to drive and rotate strip members to effectively clean out foreign objects on a cover member, thereby enabling achieving an unclogged drain which enables unimpeded flow of a drainage channel. 
   To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an elevational view of prior art. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of prior art. 
       FIG. 3  shows an elevational view according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows an exploded elevational view according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows a first partial schematic view according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a second partial schematic view according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  shows an elevational view of another embodiment according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows an elevational view of another embodiment according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which show an automatic cleaning drain structure of the present invention, wherein a drain B is structured to comprise a cover member C, a base D, a fan blades set E and an object expeller set F. The cover member C is configured with a plurality of side strips C 1 , an end of each of which converges at a top end where they join together to form a through hole C 2 , and another end of each of the side strips C 1  is joined to a fixing disk C 3  that extends and joins to the base D. The base D comprises a bottom base D 1 , and a holding space D 2  is defined between the bottom base D 1  and the fixing disk C 3 . The fan blades set E, which is configured with a plurality of blades E 1 , is installed interior of the holding space D 2 , and each of the blades E 1  extend and set at a slant angle E 2  to enable the fan blades set E to rotate in the same direction. Moreover, an opening E 3  penetrates a center of the fan blades set E, and a bearing F 1  of the object expeller set F extends from the opening E 3 . A connecting head F 4  at one end of the bearing F 1  is fixedly joined to the opening E 3 , and a plurality of strip members F 2  are fixedly joined to a connecting head F 5  at another end of the bearing F 1 . Moreover, a wind power device F 3  configured with a plurality of strip members F 6  further extends from the bearing F 1 , and the plurality of strip members F 6  externally surround the cover member C. Accordingly, connection of the bearing F 1  to and rotation of the strip members F 2  are used to achieve the objective of cleaning the cover member C and enable unimpeded water flow. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which show an embodiment of the automatic cleaning drain structure of the preset invention, wherein each of the blades E 1  of the fan blades set E is configured at the slant angle E 2 , and when a water flow flows past the slant angles E 2 , then force of the water flow causes the blades E 1  to move in one direction. Moreover, the bearing F 1  extending from and joined to the fan blades set E is further joined to the object expeller set F and the wind power device F 3 , Hence, when the fan blades set E rotates in one direction, then the bearing F 1  is able to simultaneously rotate in the same direction, which further enables the bearing F 1  to drive the object expeller set F and the wind power device F 3 , and when the object expeller set F and the wind power device F 3  rotate, then the object expeller set F and the strip members F 6  of the wind power device F 3  rotate around the cover member C about the bearing F 6  as center. Hence, when a water flow is flowing, the drain B is able to use rotation of the strip members F 2  to achieve the objective of clearing away foreign objects H and allow unimpeded water flow. Moreover, when the wind power device F 3  is blown by the force of wind, then the strip members F 6  of the wind power device F 3  surrounding the cover member C simultaneously rotate around the cover member C about the bearing F 6  as center, and the bearing F 1  drives and rotates the strip members F 2  of the object expeller set F on the cover member C. Hence, when a water flow is flowing, the drain B is able to simultaneously use natural forces of water power and wind power to achieve the objective of clearing away the foreign objects H and allow unimpeded water flow. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a drive device G can be additionally disposed at a bottom portion of the fan blades set E, whereby if the foreign objects H have already accumulated on the drain B, and there is no water power and wind power to drive and rotate the strip members F 2 , then the drive device G can be activated to drive and rotate the bearing F 1 , thereby enabling rotation of the bearing F 1  to be used to drive the strip members F 2  surrounding the cover member C to rotate around the cover member C about the bearing F 6  as center and achieve the objective of clearing away the foreign objects H, thus allowing unimpeded water flow. Furthermore, installation of the drive device G is used to avoid the danger resulting from when a user wants to clean out the accumulated foreign objects H on the drain B, including the greater danger of wanting to clean out the foreign objects H on the drain B installed on a sloping rooftop. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a screen I can be additionally disposed on the cover member C of the drain B, whereby the screen I covers the cover member C, thus aiding the drain B in separating the foreign objects H and more effectively cutting off the foreign objects H from entering into the drain B. 
   In order to better explicitly disclose advancement and practicability of the present invention, a comparison with prior art is described hereinafter: 
   Shortcomings of Prior Art 
   1. Only a cover is used to separate foreign objects. 
   2. Foreign objects are easily entrapped on the cover. 
   3. The drain easily becomes blocked as foreign objects accumulate and become thicker on the cover, thereby impeding water flow. 
   4. There is a high risk of danger when cleaning out the drain installed on a sloping rooftop. 
   ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   1. After the cover member C separates foreign objects then the strip members F 2  are able to clear away the accumulated foreign objects. 
   2. Wind power and water power is used to drive the strip members F 2  and clear away foreign objects. 
   3. When there is no wind and water, then the drive device G can be used to drive the strip members F 2 . 
   4. Prevents ambulation of foreign objects. 
   5. Maintains clearance of the drain B, thereby facilitating unimpeded water flow. 
   6. Eliminates the danger resulting from cleaning out foreign objects in the drain B. 
   7. Provided with advancement and practicability. 
   8. Enhances industrial competitiveness. 
   In conclusion, the present invention in overcoming structural shortcomings of prior art has assuredly achieved effectiveness of anticipated advancement, and moreover, is easily understood by persons unfamiliar with related art. Furthermore, contents of the present invention have not been publicly disclosed prior to this application, and practicability and advancement of the present invention clearly comply with essential elements as required for a new patent application. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein. 
   It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.