The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for removing obstructions from sewers, and more specifically, to apparatus and methods for the removal of obstructions without the need for chemicals or cutters.
Prior methods for removing build-up or obstructions from sewer pipes and drain lines include the use of chemicals, mechanical cutters, and so-called "jetter" nozzles.
A jetter nozzle is connected to a hose and a cold water supply, and advances forwardly in a sewer line by spraying jets of water rearwardly and radially outwardly at an angle from horizontal. A jetter nozzle typically provides for a single forwardly directed stream of cold water, however, the bulk of the cleaning action is limited to along the walls of the sewer line rearwardly of the nozzle, such cleaning resulting from the rearwardly directed streams of water impinging the sewer wall. Although the forwardly directed stream is capable of eroding a hole through certain materials, such nozzles have difficulty advancing through a substantially or completely blocked sewer line since the cleaning action occurs behind the nozzle. Thus, jetter nozzles are typically limited to removing build-up that is relatively soft such as grease or organic waste, and have difficulty advancing through a blocked or substantially obstructed sewer line.
Mechanical cutters are capable of opening large or relative solid obstructions in sewer lines, however, such cutter arrangements tend to be relatively expensive, and to avoid damage to the walls of sewer pipe, mechanical cutters are typically used to open a blockage, not to completely clear the obstruction from the sewer line. Using mechanical cutters to opening a sewer line also tends to be a relatively slow operation.
The use of chemicals is typically limited to those instances where the sewer line is completely blocked since the chemicals will simply flow past the obstruction when an opening is created. It is possible to block a sewer line downstream of an obstruction with, for example, an inflatable plug commonly known as a cherne plug, thus preventing the loss of the chemicals when an opening is created through the obstruction. However, and particularly when dealing with relatively large diameter sewer lines, and considering the distance often encountered between the location of an upstream and a downstream manhole, the volume of chemicals needed to "fill" the closed portion of the line make such a solution relatively expensive and generally impractical. Moreover, it will typically be difficult to determine the time required for the chemicals to sufficiently dissolve the obstruction so as to eliminate the concern that the resulting waste will not become lodged downstream.
Thus, it is desirable to provide for new and improved apparatus and methods for cleaning build-up from sewer lines, for opening blocked sewer lines without the need to use chemicals or mechanical cutters, and for completely clearing the lines of both hard and soft matter such as grease, tree root structure, soap, and organic waste.