Abstract:
A conduit cleaning or clearing apparatus and method has a housing assembly connectable to a pipeline. The housing has an inlet and outlet leg joined by a bight portion. A cleaning member is rotatably disposed within the housing and may be rotated from a first unobstructing position to a second cleaning position. In the cleaning position, a plurality of spaced apart blades are able to contact and loosen any build-up in the bight portion. A wiping paddle on the cleaning member urges the loosen build-up out the outlet leg and through the drain line. The paddle cooperates with a locator seat on the housing to retain the cleaning member in an unobstructing position when not cleaning or clearing the bight.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning the fluid flow path in a conduit. The present invention may be utilized to clean drain lines in any application, whether commercial or residential, and is not necessarily limited to sewage systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for clearing a build-up in a trap within a drainage system which may be impeding the flow of fluid from the system discharge. 
   In most drainage systems, traps are provided catch or collect materials passing through the system. In commercial and residential plumbing systems, traps are used to capture items falling into the drain, so that they do not pass directly through the drain line and into the main sewer system. They are also intended to block sewer gas bleed back into the building. However, the traps often accumulate excessive amounts of debris and build-up blocking the drainage flow through the system. 
   Numerous devices have been utilized to avoid the problems associated with removing the trap to clean or clear the build-up. Such devices include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,306,925; 2,610,696; 3,783,457; 3,872,521; 4,893,361; and 5,038,816. The existing devices are cumbersome and ineffective. Many of these “solutions” create other problems for the user, including actually interfering with the drainage flow when not in operation. Any device which restricts the full volume flow through the bight of a trap when not in use potentially will cause more problem than it solves. 
   The present invention allows the user to rotate a cleaning member through the trap bight without removing the trap from connected plumbing and to position the cleaning member such that the full volume flow through the bight diameter is not restricted when the cleaning member is not being rotated. The present invention may be manually operated or attached to a sensor system to periodically rotate the cleaning member either based simply on a selected time interval or dependent upon pressure or flow rate characteristics within the drain system. 
   While the present invention is described and illustrated in a preferred embodiment within a plumbing/sewer environment, it will be understood that the present invention could be adapted for use in industrial situations where product in a pipeline periodically may need to be flushed or wiped from the pipeline. In such situations, the present invention is not intended to function as a trap, but rather as an inline cleaning or clearing apparatus. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art, well-known drain trap connected to a sink and a drain line. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the present invention connected to a sink and a drain line and in a first unobstructing position. 
       FIG. 2B  shows one embodiment of the present invention in a second cleaning position. 
       FIG. 3A  is an outer perspective view of one half of a split housing assembly of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is an inside perspective view of the half of the split housing assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
       FIG. 4A  is an outer perspective view of a second half of a split housing assembly of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4B  is an inside perspective view of the second half of the split housing assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
       FIG. 5A  is a front, perspective view of a cleaning member of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5B  is a back, perspective view of the cleaning member of  FIG. 5A . 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the outer side of a rotation hub of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the inner side of the rotation hub of  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 6C  is a perspective view of a rotation knob with a detent tab. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a sensor system to activate the embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed, side elevation view of a portion of the outside of the axle side of the housing of the present invention showing the locator tabs. 
       FIG. 10A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  taken along line  10 — 10 . 
       FIG. 10B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  with the cleaning member rotated to the second cleaning position. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cleaning member of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention with dual rotation journals. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a typical drain trap  10  attached to a sink  12  and a drain line  14 . The J-trap  10  catches objects, such as rings, jewelry, tools, or other precious items, which fall into the sink drain and prevents gases in the sewer system from backing up through the drain line and entering the environment around the sink. The J-trap has a bight portion  16  which bends or curves and allows liquid to collect in the trap preventing gases from traveling from the drain line  14  and up through the inlet leg  18  of the trap. However, build-ups of sludge accumulate in the bottom of the bight portion and reduce the flow of liquids through the trap. In some cases, the build-ups completely block the flow. 
   Normally, in conventional J-traps, connecting unions  20  and  22  are loosened and the trap removed from the drain line for cleaning. This, however, results in having to take the drain “off line,” thereby exposing the environment to the back flow gases in the sewage system and downtime for other drainage applications. The present invention allows a trap to be cleaned without taking the drainage system off line. 
     FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention  30  installed in a drainage system.  FIG. 2A  shows the invention in a first position, while  FIG. 2B  shows it in a second position. 
   The apparatus  30  is provided with a transparent, split housing assembly  32  made up of first half  52  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and second half  50  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). The assembled housing  32  has an inlet leg  34  and an outlet leg  36 . Each leg is tubular in shape and is provided with an opening  38  and  40  for connection to a drainage system in a manner well known in the art.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a right-handed trap arrangement, but it should be understood that a left-handed trap could have been illustrated to embody the same invention. 
   The housing  32  is further provided with a trap section  42  ( FIG. 2A ) in the bight  44  connecting the inlet leg  34  and the outlet leg  36 . The trap section  42  has a fluid flow chamber  46  formed by the inner walls  48  of each housing half  50  and  52 . 
   When the present invention is used as a cleaning device in a pipeline or conduit not involving sewage, there is no need to ensure that no back flow gases flow upstream. There is no need to ensure that there is a blocking water/liquid level in the chamber. Thus, the present invention acts as a conduit cleaning apparatus. 
   Chamber  46  accommodates a rotatable cleaning member  54  ( FIGS. 5A and 5B ) which may be rotated by turning a rotational journal or axle  56  attached at one end to a first side  57  ( FIG. 5A ) of the body portion  58  of the member  54  and a second end to a rotation hub  60  ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ) on the outside of the axle side of the housing  32 . As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the second end of the journal extends through a journal opening  62  ( FIG. 4A ) in the side of the first housing half  50 . The opening  62  is provided with a journal bearing shoulder  64  and appropriate seals (not shown) to support the axle or journal  56  and prevent leakage around the journal and through the opening  62  ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). 
   The opposite side  59  ( FIG. 5B ) of the body portion  58  has a support shaft  66  which is axially aligned with the journal  56  and fits into a support shaft bearing shoulder  68  on the inside vertical wall  48  of the second housing half  52  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). Thus, the cleaning member  54  is supported for rotation within chamber  46 .  FIG. 2B  shows the member  54  rotated to a cleaning position. 
   It should be understood that the support shaft  66  could extend through an opening in side  59 , be provided with appropriate seals, and accept a rotation hub. This would enable the cleaning member to be rotated from either side of the house  32  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
   Turning to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , more details of one embodiment of the cleaning member  54  of the present invention are illustrated. The body portion  58  is generally cam shaped with the rotation journal  56  and the support shaft extending radially from the body member  57  and offset from the center. As will be discussed below, the cam shape allows the member  54  to rotate through the fluid flow chamber  46  yet be maintained in an unobstructing flow position when not being rotated to clean the flow path. 
   The body portion  58  has a plurality of spaced apart cleaning blades or teeth  70 ,  72 , and  74  extending radially outwardly from a portion of the outer, radial peripheral surface  76  of the body. Each blade has a triangular cross-sectional shape with the height (h 1 –h 3 ) of each blade successively increasing from the leading blade  70  to the trailing blade  74 . As will be described below, this progressive height increase enables the member  54  to shovel, scrape or scoop debris or build-up from the flow path in the bight of the trap. Each blade may be slightly pitched forward or in a shovel or chisel shape to increase its scraping capacity. 
   As  FIGS. 5A and 5B  further show, a unique arcuate flow channel  78  is provided in the remainder of the outer peripheral surface  77  of this embodiment of the body  58  to reduce flow resistance through the apparatus  30 . The diameter of the arcuate channel d c  is preferably equal to the diameter d i  and d o  of the inlet  34  and outlet  36  legs.  FIG. 2A  shows the cleaning member in a first, unobstructing position. The arcuate flow channel  78  in the outer surface  77  ensures a full volume flow path through the bight  44  in the trap section  42 . 
   A paddle member  80  is also provided on the cleaning member  54 . Paddle  80  may be rigid or flexible as it extends radially outwardly from surface  76 . The paddle  80  trails the final blade  74  and in operations, wipes the inner bight walls  82  during rotation moving the loosened sludge or build-up out of the trap section  42  and up the outlet leg  36  to the drain line. 
   As may be further seen in  FIG. 2A , the paddle  80  may itself act as a “locator” for ensuring that the cleaning member  54  is properly positioned within the housing  32  so as to not interfere with normal fluid flow through the apparatus. (Another “locator” system is described below which allows for the proper placement of the cleaning member when not rotating through the flow path.) When the paddle is of rigid composition, locator seat  86  on the upper inner wall section  87  of the housing halves are flexible. This enables the paddle to “lock” or snap between the flexing seat after rotation of the member and thereby hold the member body  58  with blades  70 – 74  out of the flow path. The user is informed that the paddle is in position by sound and the restriction in movement of the paddle. 
   When the paddle is “locked,” the arcuate channel  78  is thereby positioned in a first position (shown in  FIG. 2A ) to co-act with the bight walls to allow a full volume flow path through the trap section  42  of chamber  46 . When the paddle is of a flexible composition, the seat  86  may be rigid to allow the paddle to flex and “lock” into the first flow position. Seat  86  is formed by two inwardly depending ridges on the inside, upper chamber wall  87  as may be seen in  FIGS. 3B and 4B . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a simple rotation hub  60  which connects to the rotational journal  56  on the cleaning member  54 . The hub  60  is provided on the outer cap  62  with a connector  64  which may be affixed to any device to rotate the hub  60  and the journal  56 . The inner shoulder  67  of the hub  60  (see  FIG. 6B ) supports the end of the journal and has a key  69  to engage a keyway  71  on the journal to positively connect the two for rotation. One of the ordinary skill in the art will know of various ways to connect the journal with a device to rotate the cleaning member  54 . Alternatively, the cleaning member may be located in the first unobstructing position, by positioning a locator detent tip  187  (see  FIG. 6C ) on the backside of knob or handle  160  as will be described below. 
   In operation, the hub  60  is rotated, causing the cleaning member  54  to move from a first, unobstructing position, where paddle  80  is locked out of the flow path by the cooperation of paddle  80  and locator seat  86  ( FIG. 2A ) to a second, cleaning position wherein the leading blade  70  engages any build-up in the bight flow path ( FIG. 2B ). Since the leading blade  70  is of a first, lower height than the subsequent blades  72  and  74 , it removes or loosens only a portion of the build-up. The next blade  72 , being longer, removes or loosens more sludge and so on until the trailing blade  74  (having a height nearly equal to the paddle  80 ) passes through the bight. The height of the trailing blade  74  is short enough to pass beneath the locator seat  86  on the upper inner wall of the housing  32 . Finally, the paddle  80  passes through the bight wiping the inner walls and pushing the loosened build-up or sludge through the chamber and out toward the drain line. 
     FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram of a sensor system connected to the present invention to activate a rotation device RD connected to the cleaning member  54  within the housing.  FIG. 7  shows two sensors in the system which causes the cleaning member to rotate through the path shown in broken lines  53 . The first is a pressure sensing probe PS inserted into the inlet leg  34  of the housing  32 . The probe senses when a predetermined pressure has been reached (indicating a restriction in fluid flow through the apparatus  30 ) and activates a motor or other driver RD through a pressure transducer PT. In combination, or in the alternative, a timer T may be attached to the rotation device (motor/driver) RD to periodically activate the motor/driver to rotate the cleaning member within the chamber. The timer system has the advantage of activating the operation of the apparatus before large build-ups are accumulated. 
   It should be understood that the operation of the apparatus may be achieved manually by using the hub  60  itself to rotate the journal. 
   It has been shown effective to provide a transparent housing  32 , so that buildups may be readily observed. 
     FIGS. 8–11  illustrate a simplified embodiment  130  of the present invention wherein the cleaning member  154  has a generally flat, cam-shaped disk body member  158  ( FIG. 11 ). A locator for properly positioning the cleaning member is mounted on the outside of the housing  32  in the form of two small projecting tabs  186  ( FIG. 9 ) which cooperate with a detent tab  187  on the hub or dial knob  160  ( FIG. 6C ). 
   The transparent housing  132  of perspective view  FIG. 8  discloses the cleaning member  154  in the first, unobstructing position of an upper chamber  145 . By rotating the handle  160  in the counterclockwise direction of the arrow, the member  154  moves through the fluid flow path in lower chamber  146  to clear any buildup in the bight of the path. It should be understood from  FIG. 8 , that the cleaning member does not lie in the normal fluid flow path in this first position. 
   Two projecting tabs  186  ( FIG. 9 ) are formed into the outside surface of the axle side  150  of the housing  132 . These tabs cooperate with the detent tabs  187  ( FIG. 6C ) on the inner side of the handle  160  to locate the member  154  in the first position. When the handle is properly positioned or keyed to the axle or journal  156 , the detent tab  187  is retained between the two projecting tabs  186  in this first position. 
     FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment  130  of  FIG. 8 . It may be seen that the cleaning member  154  rotates out of upper chamber  145  and through lower flow chamber  146  by the rotation of the handle or knob  160 , attached to the axle or journal  156 . The journal  156  passes through the axle side  150  of the housing  132 . The journal  156  is attached to the body portion  158  of the member  154 , such that there is cam-like rotation about the axle&#39;s axis of rotation A—A.  FIG. 10A  illustrates how the cleaning member does not obstruct the fluid flow path through the lower chamber  146  when in this first position. 
     FIG. 10B  shows a cross-sectional view with the cleaning member  154  rotated to the second cleaning position. The paddle  180  is wiping the walls of the chamber  146  of debris. It should be noted that fluid flow may be fully maintained through upper chamber  145  during this cleaning process. Thus, an alternative fluid flow path is provided when the cleaning member rotates to the second cleaning position. 
   When the bight becomes clogged, the sink attached to the other end of the inlet feed line may fill with fluid. With the present invention, as soon as the cleaning member  80  or  180  begins to rotate, an alternative fluid flow path is opened through the upper chamber  145  and the sink may drain while the clog is cleaned. 
   Further, it has been noted that when the bight is not heavy with debris, the present invention may be used to assist in retrieving an item which has inadvertently fallen into the drain. The item will settle in the nadir of the flow path in chamber  146 . The operator may rotate the cleaning member in the opposite (clockwise) direction. The paddle  80  or  180  will urge the item back toward the inlet line. This will allow the operator to more easily insert a tool through the inlet line and retrieve the item. 
   The cleaning member  154  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, the body portion  158  is a thin, flat, cam-shaped disk with an axle extending from one side  157  thereof. Along an upper section of the outer peripheral surface  176  radially extend several teeth  170 ,  172 , and  174  of gradually increasing height. These teeth cut through any sludge buildup in the bight when the member  154  is rotated. The teeth are shown as pointed, triangularly shaped members, but it should be understood that any functional shape will suffice. 
   Further,  FIG. 11  shows a cleaning paddle  180  with a diameter D, which is attached to the body portion  158  behind the last tooth  174 . As discussed with the previous embodiment above, the paddle  180  may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible as it extends radially outwardly from surface  176 . The paddles wipes the inner bight walls  182  of the chamber  146  as the member  154  is rotated by the handle  160  attached to the axle or journal  156 .  FIG. 11  also illustrates a seal ring groove  173  for accommodating a seal ring when the unit is assembled. 
     FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment  130   a , wherein both sides  157   a  and  159   a  of the body portion  158   a  of cleaning member  154   a  are provided with axle or journals  156   a  and  156   b , which extend through the housing walls and are rotatable by handles or knobs  160   a  and  160   b . This allows for the installation of this embodiment of the present invention  130   a  in situations where gaining access to the handle may be restricted by the existing plumbing configuration. 
   All of the described embodiments discussed above provide a method for cleaning the fluid flow path between an inlet feed line and an outlet drain line. The method includes the steps of: a) providing an apparatus with a rotatable cleaning member within a housing adapted to be connected to an inlet feed line and an outlet drain line; b) connecting the apparatus to the inlet and drain lines to communicate the feed line with the drain line and form a normal flow path; c) accumulating debris in the flow path; d) first rotating the cleaning member from a first position wherein the cleaning member does not obstruct the normal fluid flow path from the inlet feed line through the apparatus to the outlet drain line to a second cleaning position; and e) further rotating the cleaning member back to the first position wherein the fluid flow path is unobstructed. The method may also include the step of opening an alternative flow path when the cleaning member is in the second cleaning position. 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications, alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.