Granted Patent B2

US 12,678,837 · App. 18/073,797 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Inventors: Aaron C. Grode (Brookfield, WI); Justin Miller (Richfield, WI); Ka Seng Lim (Milwaukee, WI); Bradley A. Seymour (Wauwatosa, WI)

Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

B08B9/045B65H75/403B65H75/4486E03C1/302E03F9/005B65H75/364B65H75/4468

Abstract

Claims (48)

1 . A drain cleaning device comprising:

a frame;

a drum assembly supported by the frame, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween, the drum assembly configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft;

a flexible cable stored within the space, the flexible cable defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end coupled to the output shaft to receive torque from the motor; and

a battery receptacle supported by the drum assembly, the battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack that supplies power to the motor; and

a control panel supported by the frame to control operation of the drain cleaning device;

wherein the second end of the flexible cable extends through an outlet on the control panel.

2 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle is positioned within the inner drum.

3 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle is configured to receive the battery pack in a direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation.

4 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a first motor, and the drain cleaning device further comprises a second motor to rotate the drum assembly about the axis of rotation.

5 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the control panel supports a foot pedal operable to remotely activate the motor.

6 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft defines a motor axis that is oblique to a plane defined by the axis of rotation.

7 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly is supported on the frame by a support shaft.

8 . The drain cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein the drum assembly is operable to freely rotate on the support shaft.

9 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein a vertical plane defined by the axis of rotation extends through the battery receptacle.

10 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising wheels and a handle assembly coupled to the frame to facilitate transporting the drain cleaning device across a surface.

11 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a guide housing that guides the flexible cable from the motor to the space.

12 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a modular storage bin supported by the frame.

13 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to and operable to rotate the drum assembly.

14 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible cable is coupled to the motor through a transmission.

15 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned within the space of the drum assembly.

16 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cable includes a flexible portion adjacent the first end that is more resilient than the rest of the flexible cable.

17 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the flexible cable includes an optical sensor configured to detect clogs in a drain.

18 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cable includes indicia corresponding to the amount of cable payed out from the drum assembly.

19 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cable includes a wound cable and a sheath disposed around the wound cable, and wherein the wound cable is rotatable relative to the sheath.

20 . The drain cleaning device of claim 19 , wherein the flexible cable further includes a seal member between the wound cable and the sheath positioned at either the first end or the second end.

21 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cable includes a ground wire that is detectable with an external device.

22 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly includes a plurality of projections extending into the space configured to align the flexible cable.

23 . The drain cleaning device of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of projections includes offset teeth on opposing sides of the space.

24 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly includes a closed rear end and an open front end opposite the rear end.

25 . The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising

a control housing supported by the drum assembly;

control electronics disposed within the control housing; and

a slip ring disposed between the control panel and the control housing to guide electrical wires from the control panel to the control housing.

26 . A drain cleaning device comprising:

a frame;

a drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween, the drum assembly configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;

a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft;

a control panel supported by the frame, the control panel configured to control operations of the drain cleaning device;

an electronics housing supported by the drum assembly for rotation with the drum assembly relative to the frame;

control electronics disposed within the electronics housing;

a slip ring disposed between the control panel and the electronics housing to guide electrical wires from the control panel to the electronics housing; and

a flexible cable stored within the space, the flexible cable receiving torque from the motor to rotate.

27 . The drain cleaning device of claim 26 , further comprising a shroud surrounding the slip ring.

28 . The drain cleaning device of claim 26 , further comprising a battery receptacle supported by the drum assembly configured to receive a battery pack to supply power to the motor.

29 . The drain cleaning device of claim 26 , wherein the drum assembly is supported on the frame with the slip ring.

30 . The drain cleaning device of claim 29 , wherein the slip ring supports a front end of the drum assembly on the frame and a support shaft supports a rear end of the drum assembly on the frame.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (381)