| 摘要 |
<p>SPRING FEEDING MECHANISM Disclosed is a spring feeding mechanism for use with plumbing tools of the type having an elongated coiled spring wire, or plumber's snake and means for rotating the snake about its longitudinal axis. The mechanism includes a snake engaging element movable into and out of driving engagement with the snake for feeding the snake axially of itself. The engaging element includes first and second hingeably interconnected jaws movable from a first open position to a second closed position proximate the snake, a pair of feed rollers being rotatably carried by the second jaw. At least one feed roller is rotatably carried by the first jaw, each of the feed rollers being adapted to rotate about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the snake and each having helical grooves formed therein adapted to operably engage the coils of the snake when the jaws are in the second position so as to urge axial movement of the snake relative to the feed rollers. Latching elements are operably coupled with the snake engaging element for moving the first and second jaws from the first position to the second position and for latching the jaws together in the second closed position. The latching elements include biasing means for yieldably urging against separation of the jaws while at the same time being responsive to forces opposing axial feeding of the snake so that the feed rollers will automatically move out of driving engagement with the snake in response to such forces.</p> |
