Blocking Elements for Ball Trap Screen

Abstract

A ball trap screen for use with “T” type ball traps having a ball trap extension in which the ball trap screen includes a cone shaped inlet; an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; a first screen section extending between the cone shaped inlet and the elbow; and a second screen section extending from the elbow into the ball trap extension; wherein at least a portion of the cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, the first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and the second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element. Also described are a ball trap for collecting cleaning balls, blocking elements for a ball trap screen and a method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of a closed fluid flow system by blocking portions of a ball trap screen deployed within a ball trap housing so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball trap screen for use with “T” type ball traps having a ball trap extension, the ball trap screen comprising:
 (a) a cone shaped inlet; 
 (b) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; 
 (c) a first screen section extending between said cone shaped inlet and said elbow; and 
 (d) a second screen section extending from said elbow into the ball trap extension; 
 
       wherein at least a portion of said cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, said first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and said second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element. 
     
     
         2 . The ball trap screen of  claim 1 , wherein said elbow is configured as a 90° elbow. 
     
     
         3 . The ball trap screen of  claim 1 , wherein said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking elements are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe said planer solid area of said elbow. 
     
     
         4 . The ball trap screen of  claim 1 , wherein said solid cone blocking element, said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are integrally formed with the ball trap screen. 
     
     
         5 . The ball trap screen of  claim 1 , wherein said solid cone blocking element, said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are individually formed and deployed on the ball trap screen. 
     
     
         6 . A ball trap for collecting cleaning balls, the ball trap comprising:
 (a) a ball trap housing with a water inlet opening, a water outlet and a ball trap extension   (b) the ball trap screen having at least a:
 (i) a cone shaped inlet; 
 (ii) an elbow, at least a portion of which includes a substantially planer solid area; 
 (iii) a first screen section extending between said cone shaped inlet and said elbow; and 
 (iv) a second screen section extending from said elbow into the ball trap extension; 
   
       wherein at least a portion of said cone shaped inlet includes a solid cone blocking element, said first screen section includes a solid first screen blocking element and said second screen section includes a solid second screen blocking element. 
     
     
         7 . Blocking elements for a ball trap screen, the blocking elements comprising:
 (a) a solid cone blocking element configured for deployment on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen,   (b) a solid first screen blocking element configured for deployment on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and   (c) a solid second screen blocking element configured for deployment on a second screen section of the ball trap screen.   
     
     
         8 . The blocking elements of  claim 7 , wherein said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are configured for deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen. 
     
     
         9 . A method of enhancing the movement of the cleaning ball through the ball trap of a closed fluid flow system by blocking portions of a ball trap screen deployed within a ball trap housing so as to modify the fluid flow through the ball trap, the method comprising:
 (a) deploying a solid cone blocking element on a cone shaped inlet of the ball trap screen;   (b) deploying a solid first screen blocking element on a first screen section of the ball trap screen; and   (c) deploying a solid second screen blocking element on a second screen section of the ball trap screen   (d) initiate a flow of fluid in the closed fluid flow system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said deploying said solid first screen blocking element and said deploying said solid second screen blocking element is implemented such that said first screen blocking element and said second screen blocking element are deployed so as to substantially circumscribe a planer solid area of an elbow of the ball trap screen.