Strainer device for liquids

Claim 2

Liquid strainer means comprising: a. strainer main body means having at least an inlet port, an outlet port and a debris sump chamber portion having an outlet port in open communication with said main body means; b. ball shaped foraminous strainer means rotatably mounted within said main body means and having an open fluid inlet port constructed and arranged for fitting flush with the inlet port of said body means and with the outlet port of the sump chamber portion of said main body means; c. swinging screen means rotatably mounted flush within said strainer means and being of a size and configuration sufficient to close off the inlet port of said strainer means; and d. means for rotating said strainer and screen means.

Claim 3

The liquid strainer means of claim 1 further characterized in that: said strainer and swinging screen means are rotatably mounted within said strainer main body means whereby when said swinging screen means is operably positioned over the fluid inlet port of said strainer means, said means as an assembly can be rotated through any number of revolutions to effect total backwashing with scrubbing.

Claim 4

The liquid strainer means of claim 2 further characterized as comprising: d. resilient sealing means operably positioned between said strainer main body means and the fluid inlet port of said ball shaped foraminous strainer means so as to form a fluid tight relationship between said means and to wipe the outer peripheral surface of said strainer means when said means is rotated.

Claim 5

The liquid strainer means of claim 3 further characterized as comprising: e. baffle means operably positioned between said strainer main body means and said ball shaped foraminous strainer means and upon which said resilient sealing means are operably positioned in contact with said strainer means, said baffle means thereby serving to direct fluid flow into the fluid inlet port of said strainer means.

Claim 6

The liquid strainer means of claim 4 further characterized as comprising: f. means for actuating said strainer and screen means.

Claim 7

The liquid strainer means of claim 5 further characterized as comprising: g. resilient sealing means operably positioned between the outer peripheRal surface of said strainer means and the inlet to said debris sump chamber portion of said strainer main body means.

Claim 8

The liquid strainer means of claim 6 further characterized in that: said strainer and screen actuating means is further defined as comprising a first actuating means operably attached to said strainer means whereby said strainer means can be rotated to any desired position, and a second actuating means operably connected to said screen means whereby said screen means can be operably rotated to any desired position within said strainer means.

Claim 9

The liquid strainer means of claim 7 further characterized in that: said first actuating means further comprises latching means; said strainer body means is further defined in that it is provided with a first index means permanently affixed to said body means; said first index means being provided with a first slot positioned in an upstream direction with which said latching means of said first actuating means is adapted to mate whereby said ball shaped foraminous strainer means can be rigidly positioned facing an upstream direction; said first index means also being provided with a second slot located essentially along the longitudinal axis of the debris sump chamber portion of said strainer main body means whereby upon aligning said ball shaped foraminous strainer means with said debris sump chamber portion for actuation of said first actuating means, the inlet to said ball shaped foraminous strainer means is rigidly fixed in alignment with said debris sump chamber portion whereby debris located in said ball shaped foraminous strainer means can be backwashed and debris collected in said debris sump chamber portion; said second actuating means further comprises latching means; and said strainer means is also further defined in that it is provided with a second index means rigidly attached thereto, said second index means being provided with a first slot located in a position such that said swinging screen means is maintained in a rigid position other than in alignment with the inlet to said ball shaped foraminous strainer means upon engagement of the latching mechanism of said second actuating means; said second index means also being provided with a second slot position in an upstream direction whereby upon engaging the latching mechanism of said second actuating means therein, said swinging screen means is rigidly fixed in a position covering the inlet to said ball shaped foraminous strainer means whereby said ball shaped foraminous strainer means can be rotated through any desired degrees of revolution to thereby effectuate backwashing and scrubbing of said ball shaped foraminous strainer means which is thereafter flushed of debris upon rotating said first actuating means and said second actuating means as an assembly to a position such that the inlet to said ball shaped strainer means is operably positioned over said debris sump chamber portion and whereafter said swinging screen means is rotatably moved out of position covering the inlet to said ball shaped foraminous ball strainer means whereupon debris is flushed from said ball shaped foraminous strainer means into said debris sump chamber portion.