Patent Publication Number: US-2021187570-A1

Title: Drain snake drill with interchangable drums

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to drain snakes, and more particularly, to a drill tool that offers variable length cables using interchangeable cable drums selectively fitted to the drill, which advances and retracts the drain snake in a controlled operation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units are critical components of most buildings. They are necessary to maintain proper environmental comfort for any specific reason—be it for a storage unit, a laboratory running experiments, or just someone&#39;s home. The United States alone uses more air conditioning than all other nations, with 84% of all homes containing some form of air conditioning. 
     The machinery resembling the modern HVAC originated in the early 1900s. These units were extremely costly which only the wealthiest could afford to purchase. As the technology improved and became more accessible, its downsides also became widely apparent. For one, repair requiring new, undamaged parts were constantly in demand and often costly. In addition, maintenance of the technology was mostly delegated to technicians familiar with its inner workings, as fear of damages prevented many of its owners from conducting the necessary upkeep. In fact, 42% of homeowners call professionals for routine maintenance on their HVAC, while the rest do not participate in its conservation. 
     One universal problem with these units is the susceptibility to clogging, especially within its condensate pipe. HVAC condensate pipes may clog for various reasons, be it environmental debris, algae growth due to moisture build-up, or other less common causes. The effects of the clogs can range from elevated humidity inside a home, the permeation of musty odor, and to potentially costly water damage throughout the facility. If the HVAC is connected to a main drain line that joins multiple units in a condominium, the problems intensify, as its effect becomes much more widespread and expenses likely skyrocket. 
     Part of the accessibility of these units emerged from the ways in which its maintenance became more practical, but are unfortunately still far from perfect. Suppose the condensate pipe clog is substantial due to the lack of awareness by the owners of the facility to upkeep the unit on a regular basis—this example is a rather common occurrence. Upon calling a technician to care for the problem, a vacuum may be used to suck whatever debris is preventing the pipe from performing its function adequately. This may not work since the clog may be stuck too firmly to the pipe to be susceptible to the vacuum&#39;s power output. 
     To treat the drawbacks of using a vacuum, an air compressor usually has more than enough power to rid the pipe of debris. Unfortunately, this method may potentially lead to the damaging or bursting of the pipes along its entire foundation, affecting the walls in which it runs through and introducing a threat to the safety of the inhabitants. Utilizing solvents can temporarily alleviate the problem, but not without damage to the inside of the pipe, eventually leading to its complete deterioration. This latter process is also time consuming, wasting about 15-20 minutes of the technician&#39;s time waiting for the solvent to chew through the debris. 
     Therefore, a solution that makes it more reasonable and accessible for homeowners to perform the maintenance while simultaneously allowing technicians to be more efficient with their time is largely in need. Some solutions that are available perform its intended function, but not without major drawbacks that can be resolved with a unique design. 
     Accordingly, there is an established need for a drain snake drill capable of accommodating variable length snake cables. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an electric powered, drain snake drill. The drill includes an elongate body and a column-type handle extending downward from the body, equipping the drill for hand-held use. The body has a front end, a rear end, and a bore-type barrel guide extending between the front end and the rear end. The body includes an open-ended receptacle formed at its rear end. The receptacle includes a front opening and a rear opening and defines a compartment space. The front opening of the receptacle is disposed in communication with the barrel guide. A cartridge drum unit can be selectively installed in the compartment space of the receptacle. The drum unit includes a drum and a snake cable loaded inside the drum, such as in a coiled, conical spiral configuration. The drum unit includes a front aperture defining a cable feed port that is disposed in communication with the front opening of the receptacle during installation. The drum unit further includes an open, rear end providing access to the snake cable loaded inside the drum. A detachable rotary drive motor unit is mounted to the body at its rear end and coupled to the cartridge drum unit. The motor unit is configured to apply a rotary driving action to the cable to induce passage of the cable through the cable feed port, either in an uncoiling operation (cable advances or unwinds) or a coiling operation (cable retracts or winds). The motor unit can be detached from the drill body to permit another drum to be installed having a different cable length, customizing the drill to the plumbing application. The motor unit is a universal driving tool that can be used with any of the interchangeable drum units. The drill can be equipped with various control features and settings to permit the user to select the appropriate operating mode. 
     Introducing a first embodiment of the invention, the present invention consists of a drain snake drill, comprising: 
     an elongate body having a front end, a rear end, and a bore guide extending between the front end and the rear end of the body; 
     a receptacle formed at the rear end of the body and including a front opening and a rear opening, the front opening disposed in communication with the bore guide, the receptacle defining a compartment space; 
     a cartridge drum unit selectively removably installed in the compartment space, the drum unit including a drum, a cable loaded inside the drum, and a cable feed port in communication with the front opening of the receptacle; and 
     a rotary driving tool disposed at the rear end of the body proximate the cartridge drum unit and configured to apply a rotary driving action to the cable to induce a selectively controllable bidirectional translation of the cable through the cable feed port and bore guide. 
     In a second aspect, the rotary driving tool is selectively attachable to, and detachable from, the body at the rear end thereof. 
     In another aspect, the rotary driving tool includes a motor drive unit. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a front perspective view showing a first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a front perspective, exploded view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  presents a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, illustrating further advancement of the snake cable relative to its partially advanced position depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  presents a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, illustrating full retraction of the snake cable into the drill; and 
         FIG. 5  presents a cross-sectional, partially diagrammatic, side view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, taken along the longitudinal plane  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  presents an enlarged section view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, expanding the section marked  6  in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  presents a partial, fragmented rear perspective view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, illustrating the mounting process for coupling the detached motor unit to the installed cable drum unit; 
         FIG. 8  presents a partial, fragmented side view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, illustrating how the cleaning head penetrates a pipe during advancement of the drain snake; and 
         FIG. 9  presents a partial, fragmented top diagrammatic view of the first embodiment of the drain snake drill of the present invention, illustrating how the drain snake and accompanying cleaning head attachment are able to navigate a series of curved pipe sections. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward an electric powered, drain snake drill adapted to support installation of a removable drum unit pre-loaded with a snake cable. A detachable motor drive unit is configured to power movement of the cable. The drain snake drill permits interchangeable drum units having variable length cables to be used in the drill. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 , a drain snake drill  100  is provided in the form of a portable, hand-held tool including a body  102  and a handle  104  extending downwardly from body  102 . The drain snake drill  100  further includes a modular, removable cable drum cartridge unit  200  and a detachable motor unit  300 . As discussed further, the body  102  is adapted at a back end to receive cable drum cartridge unit  200 , which in turn is powered by motor unit  300  mounted behind the installed cartridge unit  200 . Following installation, when cable drum cartridge  200  is installed in body  102  and motor unit  300  is mounted to body  102  in driving relationship to cable drum cartridge  200 , the drain snake drill  100  operates to dispense a snake cable  202  loaded into cable drum cartridge  200 , in order to facilitate a pipe cleaning operation. The cable drum unit  200  is considered a fungible or interchangeable resource because it can be swapped out or exchanged (substituted) for another such drum unit  200  loaded with a different sized snake cable  202 , making the drain snake drill  100  adaptable to a variety of plumbing applications requiring different-length cable snakes. In this manner, the cable drum unit  200  forms a cartridge-type device. 
     The body  102  has an elongate, generally cylindrical shape having a front, cable-dispensing end  106  and a rear, cartridge-loading end  108 . In one form, the body  102  has a generally reduced radius tapering from rear end  108  to front end  106 . The body  102  includes a generally central, cable-guiding barrel or interior guide  110  that extends between the front end  106  and the rear end  108  of body  102 . The guide  110  has a hollow, bore-type configuration that guides and supports the passage of snake cable  202  through it, in either direction. The guide  110  has a front, generally circular opening or mouth  112  and a rear, generally circular opening or mouth  114 . The guide  110  extends axially between its front opening  112  and rear opening  114 . The front opening  112  of guide  110  forms the forward-most section of the front end  106  of body  102 . The body  102  has the functionality and configuration of a housing or case. The leading section of the front end  106  of body  102  forms a drill head  116 . 
     The rear end  106  of body  102  includes an open-ended receptacle feature  126  adapted to receive and house cable drum cartridge unit  200 . In this manner, the receptacle feature  126  has a female-type functionality, while the drum cartridge unit  200  has a male-type functionality. The receptacle feature  126  defines a cartridge-receiving compartment space or chamber  120  that permits drum cartridge unit  200  to be rear end loaded into drill  100  by insertion into space  120 . The receptacle feature  126  is located immediately behind, and in communication with, the bore-type cable guide  110 . In one form, the receptacle feature  126  has a generally concave, dome-type shape to accommodate a similar shape of cable drum unit  200 . The receptacle feature  126  includes a front opening  122  (disposed opposite and in communication with the rear opening  114  of guide  110 ) and a rear opening  124 , which forms a mouth-like feature defining the rear terminus of body  102 . In its exemplary concave form, receptacle  126  extends, in a hemispherical shape or profile, from its front opening  122  to its rear opening  124 . During assembly, the cable drum cartridge unit  200  is loaded into compartment  120  through rear opening  124 . In this manner, the compartment  120  serves as a loading chamber or cartridge holding area into which the cable drum unit  200  is placed and situated during installation and subsequent drill operation. 
     The bore-type cable guide  110  and cartridge-receiving receptacle feature  126  are arranged in an integral, adjacent relationship to one another so that the compartment space  120  (defined by receptacle feature  126 ) is in communication with the hollow space defined by cable guide  110 . In this manner, the combination of bore-type cable guide  110  and the compartment space  120  defined by receptacle feature  126  forms a type of breech-loader in which the cartridge-type drum unit  200  is inserted or loaded into a chamber (compartment space  120 ) that is integral to the rear portion of the barrel-type feature defined by cable guide  110 . The receptacle feature  126  immediately transitions to cable guide  110 , so that snake cable  202  loaded into drum cartridge unit  200  can be moved directly into cable guide  110  for further guiding and eventual dispensing from drain snake drill  100  via front opening  112  of guide  110 . The immediate transition from compartment space  120  to cable guide  110  occurs at the interface between front opening  122  of receptacle feature  126  and the coextensive rear opening  114  of cable guide  110 . In one form, this transition between receptacle feature  126  and cable guide  110  defines a continuous throat area integrally connecting these structures together. 
     The cable drum cartridge unit  200  includes a container or drum  204  having a dome-type shell or body  210  adapted to house snake cable  202  and from which snake cable  202  can be dispensed and then returned. The body  210  of drum  204  defines an open-ended compartment space to receive and hold snake cable  202 . The drum  204  includes a front opening  206  and a rear opening  208  providing access to the snake cable  202  loaded inside the drum  204 . The front opening  206  of drum  204  defines a cable feed port through which cable  202  can pass or travel from its location inside drum  204 . 
     The snake cable  202  can take a variety of forms in its loaded (wound) condition in drum  204 . Generally, the wound snake cable  202  has a configuration that facilitates ease of unwinding and winding. In particular, the snake cable  202  is preferably wound in a manner that promotes ease of unwinding (cable dispensing) and winding (cable retraction). The loaded snake cable  202  can have a helix or spiral configuration in its packed condition. Other suitable winding configurations are possible for snake cable  202 . One exemplary winding configuration is a conical spiral. For this purpose, in order to accommodate the placement of cable  202  having such a conical spiral shape, body  210  of drum  204  tapers in a progressively wider cross-section from its front opening  206  to its rear opening  208 . In an exemplary form, the body  210  of drum  204  can have a concave shape, such as a hemispherical profile. 
     During assembly, the cable drum unit  200  is loaded into the compartment space  120  of receptacle feature  126  at the rear end  108  of body  102 . The cable drum unit  200  is oriented for installation by positioning the narrow end proximate front opening  206  as the leading nose that first enters compartment space  120 . In order to facilitate this placement, the shape of receptacle  126  (defining the rear end compartment space  120  of body  102 ) is made to accommodate the shape of drum container  204  of cable drum cartridge unit  200 , so that cable drum cartridge unit  200  can be loaded or inserted into compartment  120  in a nesting relationship. The installation of cable drum cartridge  200  into compartment  120  (at the rear end  108  of body  102  of drain snake drill  100 ) produces an alignment of front opening  206  of drum  204  of cable drum cartridge unit  200  with front opening  122  of receptacle feature  126 . Since the front opening  122  of receptacle feature  126  is aligned with the rear opening  114  of barrel guide  110 , the front opening  206  of drum  204  of cartridge unit  200  is likewise aligned with rear opening  114  of barrel guide  110 . In this manner, snake cable  202  is able to be unwound from its packed location in drum  204  and directly maneuvered into barrel guide  110 . During this maneuvering, cable  202  uncoils and exits drum container  204  via its front opening  206 , where it passes into the rearmost end of cable guide  110  via its rear opening  114 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 , motor unit  300  is configured as a rotary driving mechanism that mounts to the rear end  108  of drill body  102  immediately behind the installed cable drum cartridge unit  200 . In this mounted position, motor unit  300  applies a rotary driving action to snake cable  202  that induces it to selectively unwind (wind) from its coiled (uncoiled) condition. Motor unit  300  includes, in combination, a drive motor  302 , driven shaft  304  connected to drive motor  302 , and a driven rotary coupling device  306  connected at an input end to shaft  304  and coupled at an output end to snake cable  202  loaded inside cable drum cartridge unit  200 . The drive motor  302  rotates shaft  304 , which in turn rotates coupling device  306 . The rotation of coupling device  306 , by virtue of its driving connection to snake cable  202 , causes the snake cable  202  to uncoil or unwind in response to a first direction of rotation (e.g., clockwise) and causes the snake cable  202  to coil or wind in response to a second direction of rotation opposite to the first (e.g., counterclockwise). The rotary power applied by coupling device  306  to snake cable  202  impels the snake cable  202  to undergo both a translation (forward or reverse motion) and a rotation. The forward translational movement works to dispense snake cable  202  from drill  100  (via guide  110 ) and advance it through a pipe designated for cleaning, while the reverse translational movement works to retract the snake cable  202  once the cleaning operation is finished and to return it to its storage location in drum  204  in a wound, coiled condition. The rotational movement imparted to snake cable  202 , concurrent with its translation, facilitates the cleaning operation due to the boring effect created when a bristle attachment  400  adapted for connection to the leading end of snake cable  202  is made to rotate. 
     Any type of suitable motor unit  300  can be used to provide the needed driving action to uncoil and drive snake cable  202 . In one form, motor unit  300  includes a housing  310  constructed as a dome-like or hemispherical capsule including a dome shell  312  and a generally circular, planar end face, cover or lid  314  mounted to dome shell  312  to form an interior enclosure space  316 . The drive motor  302  is supported and carried by housing  310  at a general apex section of dome shell  312 . The driven shaft  304  extends from drive motor  302  in an axial direction generally coincident and aligned with the longitudinal axis of cable guide  110  in drain snake drill  100 , once motor unit  300  is mounted to drill  100  behind the installed drum cartridge unit  200 . In this manner, the driving action developed by the combination of driven shaft  304  and coupling device  306  engages snake cable  202  and imparts a motive effect that appropriately guides snake cable  202  through guide  110 . The drive motor  302  and driven shaft  304  are suitably configured, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, to enable the drive motor  302  to rotate shaft  304  in a controlled operation. 
     The coupling device  306  of motor unit  300  is adapted for concurrent rotation with the rotation of shaft  304 . For this purpose, shaft  304  extends through an opening  320  formed in face  314  of housing  310  and connects at an output end to coupling device  306 . The coupling device  306  is configured to suitably engage and induce an uncoiling (coiling) of snake cable  202  in response to rotation of coupling device  306 . In one form, coupling device  306  has the shape of a cone in conformity with the conical spiral configuration of snake cable  202 . The output end of shaft  304  (distal from its input end directly powered by drive motor  302 ) is connected to the base of cone-shaped coupling device  306 , which is mounted to face  314  of housing  310  of motor unit  300 . In the assembled configuration depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the drum cartridge unit  200  is loaded into the rear end of drill  100  and motor unit  300  is mounted behind drum cartridge unit  200 , the rotary coupling device  306  is located within the interior of the wound snake cable  202 . In this position, the exterior sloped surface  308  of rotary coupling device  306  is disposed in opposing, facing engagement with the windings of snake cable  202 . As drive motor  302  operates and drives shaft  304  into rotation, this rotational activity is coupled or transferred via coupling device  306  to snake cable  202 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , any suitable means can be used to removably attach motor unit  300  to the body  102  of drill  100  at its rear end  108 , so that motor unit  300  is in appropriate driving relationship to snake cable  202  loaded into the installed drum cartridge unit  200 . In one exemplary arrangement, motor unit  300  is fitted with a pair of diametrically opposite, L-shaped male projections or fittings  330 ,  332  that are insertable and receivable within a corresponding pair of female slots  130 ,  132  formed in a rear peripheral surface of body  102  of drill  100 . The male projections  330 ,  332  each have a first section extending axially from a peripheral edge of face  314  of housing  310  of motor unit  300 , and a second section extending radially outward from the first section. The female slots  130 ,  132  each extend for a length in a circumferential direction. During assembly, cartridge unit  200  is installed in drill  100  at its rear end  108  ( FIG. 7 ). The motor unit  300  is then mounted to body  102  of drill  100  by aligning male projections  330 ,  332  (of motor unit  300 ) with female slots  130 ,  132  (of drill body  100 ). The male projections  330 ,  332  are inserted into the female slots  130 ,  132  and then motor unit  300  is turned to enable the male projections  330 ,  332  to slide through female slots  130 ,  132  until the male projections  330 ,  332  are temporarily seated in a suitable catch or latch formed in female slots  130 ,  132 . The engagement between male projections  330 ,  332  and female slots  130 ,  132  is adapted to enable a temporary lock between motor unit  300  and the body  102  of snake drill  100 . The female slots  130 ,  132  are suitably configured to receive the male projections  330 ,  332 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an electrical circuit generally illustrated at  500  controls the operation of drill  100 . The circuit  500  includes a battery  502 , a controller  504 , and a user-activated switch  506 . The battery  502  is carried by a removable base  508  attached to a lower end of handle  104 , forming a rechargeable battery pack. In one exemplary arrangement, controller  504  functions to route input power signals from battery  502  (on electrical lines  510 ,  512 ) to drive motor  302  of motor unit  300  (on electrical lines  514 ,  516 ) in response to control signals received from switch  506  (on control line  518 ). The power lines  340 ,  342  of drive motor  302  of motor unit  300  are connected to the output electrical lines  514 ,  516  of controller  504  of circuit  500  by a temporary connection, as discussed further. In motor unit  300 , a periphery of face  314  of housing  310  includes a pair of exposed, diametrically opposite electrical contacts  344 ,  346  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ). These electrical contacts  344 ,  346  are electrically connected to power lines  340 ,  342  of drive motor  302 . In drill  100 , at the rear peripheral surface  128  of body  102 , a pair of diametrically opposite, recessed electrical terminals  134 ,  136  are formed ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). These electrical terminals  134 ,  136  are electrically connected to output electrical lines  514 ,  516  of controller  504  of circuit  500 . During assembly, when motor unit  300  is mounted to the back end of drill  100 , the electrical contacts  344 ,  346  of motor unit  300  are seated in recessed electrical terminals  134 ,  136  of drill  100 , establishing a secure electrical connection between controller  504  and drive motor  302 . This temporary electrical connection is interrupted when motor unit  300  is removed. 
     The drill  100  can be equipped with various controls and settings to direct and support its operation. For example, drill  100  can include a setting  140  to select the direction of rotation of the unwinding snake cable  202  ( FIG. 2 ). Additionally, drill  100  can be equipped with a set of light sources  142 ,  144  disposed at appropriate locations on body  102  and/or handle  104  of drill  100  to enhance viewing, especially in enclosed operating environments lacking accessible illumination. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art than these optional controls and settings can be readily integrated into electrical circuit  500 . Optionally, the front end  106  of drill  100  (at drill head  116 ) can incorporate a twist feature to facilitate the forward and reverse motion of snake cable  202 . Alternately, this functionality can be performed with a thumb switch for right and left-handed persons gripping handle  104 , such as a click-type switch using an up-down setting to make a selection. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9 , in operation, cartridge unit  200  is installed in drill  100  and motor unit  300  is mounted behind cartridge unit  200 . The leading end of snake cable  202  is adapted in any suitable manner to accommodate the temporary attachment of a removable cleaning tool such as a bristle attachment  400 . The bristle attachment  400 , for example, can include a bristled head  402  and an adapter or attachment arm  404  extending from head  402  and removably attachable to, and detachable from, snake cable  202  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ). The removable connection between bristle attachment  400  and snake cable  202  can be realized in any suitable conventional manner, such as a snap-fit or screw-type fitting. The removable feature of bristle attachment  400  supports the use of various cleaning heads with different types of bristle schemes for different types of pipe blockages. In order to secure bristle attachment  400  to snake cable  202 , snake cable  202  is dispensed an appropriate length so that bristle attachment  400  can be attached ( FIG. 4 ). 
     In operation, the fully assembled drill  100  (including cable drum cartridge unit  200  and motor unit  300 ), as fitted with bristle attachment  400 , is suitably positioned at the entrance of a pipe section  600  where a cleaning operation is desired ( FIG. 8 ). By suitable operation of drill  100 , the snake cable  202  is advanced ( FIGS. 3 and 8 ) so that it can travel through the pipe section  600  to reach the area of blockage. Due to the flexibility of snake cable  202 , the drill  100  is able to navigate and route snake cable  202  through bends and curves in pipe section  600  ( FIG. 9 ). As the cable  202  uncoils and spins during operation of drill  100 , the bristle cleaning head  402  spins, cleaning the interior of pipe  600 . For example, the bristles of cleaning head  402  scrub away material  602  ( FIG. 8 ) located on the interior of pipe  600 . After completion of the cleaning operation, snake cable  202  can be withdrawn from pipe section  600  and further retracted until it is recoiled in cable drum cartridge unit  200 . 
     One optional feature includes an extender  700  that enables drill  100  to reach pipes that are difficult to access. The extender  700  includes a tube  702  having a flared mouth section  704  that conforms to the shape of drill head  116 , so that the front end  106  of drill  100  can be seated to maintain a stable positioning of drill  100  during use. A leading end of tube  702  is smaller than pipe section  600  so that it can be inserted into pipe section  600  to ensure safe passage of snake cable  202  into pipe section  600 . The extender  700  functions as a bridge to create a passageway for snake  202  to travel before it enters pipe section  600 . 
     The interchangeable cable drum cartridge unit  200  may include cable lengths of any size, such as 5, 10, 15 or 25 ft., depending on the application. The configuration of the drum cartridge unit  200  is universal and would not change even as the length of the snake cable  202  loaded into drum container  204  changes. A snake cable  202  of longer length would simply be wound more compactly/tightly inside drum  204  than one of shorter length. 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.