Strainer and Strainer Control System

Abstract

A screening apparatus that includes a strainer element used for the purpose of retaining particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, a support structure for the strainer element to enable rotation of the strainer element between opposed 180 degree positions, and a control member coupled with the strainer element for controlling the rotation of the strainer element. The strainer element, in both opposed positions thereof impedes any particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid. The control member is constructed so that, in a first state thereof, the rotation of the strainer element is periodically controlled to rotate the strainer element between said opposed 180 degree positions, and in a second state thereof, inhibits rotation of the strainer element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a strainer element that is used for the purpose of retaining particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, comprising
 controlling the strainer element so as to rotate between opposed 180 degree positions,   controlling the strainer element so that the strainer element, in both opposed positions thereof, impedes any particulate matter while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element,   controlling, in a first state, the rotation of the strainer element so that the strainer element is periodically rotated between said opposed 180 degree positions, and   controlling in a second state thereof, so as to inhibit rotation of the strainer element.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including providing a first valve disposed downstream of said strainer element and having open and closed positions, controlling said first valve to be in the open position in the first state, and controlling said first valve to be in the closed position in the second state. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  including providing a second valve disposed downstream of said strainer element and having closed and open positions, controlling said second valve to be in the closed position in the first state, and controlling said second valve to in the open position in the second state. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  including providing an upstream processing device that generates a fault signal in response to a fault condition that has occurred, said fault signal for controlling said first and second valves. 
     
     
         23 . A method of controlling a strainer element that is used for the purpose of retaining particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, comprising: controlling the strainer element by means of an electrical controller, so as to rotate between opposed 180 degree positions, controlling the strainer element so that the strainer element, in both opposed 180 degree positions thereof, impedes any particulate matter while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, controlling, in a first state, the rotation of the strainer element so that the strainer element is periodically rotated between said opposed 180 degree positions, and controlling in a second state thereof, so as to inhibit rotation of the strainer element, providing an upstream processing device that generates a fault signal in response to a fault condition that has occurred, providing a first valve disposed downstream of said strainer element and having open and closed positions, controlling said first valve from the electrical controller to be in the open position in the first state, and controlling said first valve from the electrical controller to be in the closed position in the second state, and providing a second valve disposed downstream of said strainer element and having closed and open positions, controlling said second valve from the electrical controller to be in the closed position in the first state, and controlling said second valve from the electrical controller to in the open position in the second state. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  including providing alternate sites to which the first and second valves connect. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein one of the alternate sites is a fault collection site. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  including connecting the second valve to the fault collection site. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein another of the alternate sites is a discharge site. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  including connecting the first valve to the discharge site. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein one of the alternate sites is a discharge site. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  including connecting the first valve to the discharge site. 
     
     
         31 . A method of controlling a strainer element that is used for the purpose of retaining particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, comprising controlling the strainer element by means of an electrical controller, so as to control the movement of the strainer element between alternate positions including a retaining position in which particulate or objects are impeded by the strainer element and a release position in which particulate or objects are released through the strainer element, providing a piping system from the strainer to alternate separate sites including a discharge site and a collection site, sensing a fault condition upstream of the strainer element to provide either a fault signal or a no fault signal depending on whether there is a fault upstream or not, said electrical controller being responsive to the sensed fault condition to perform one of, connect the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the collection site responsive to the fault signal, and connect the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the discharge site responsive to the no fault signal. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the step of connecting the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the discharge site is by means of a first valve controlled from said electrical controller. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the step of connecting the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the collection site is by means of a second valve controlled from said electrical controller. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  including controlling at the electrical controller by means of one of a timer and pressure sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the step of connecting the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the discharge site is by means of a first valve controlled from said electrical controller; wherein the step of connecting the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the collection site is by means of a second valve controlled from said electrical controller; and wherein the fault condition provides a fault material to be collected upon detection of the fault signal. 
     
     
         36 . A method of controlling a strainer element that is used for the purpose of retaining particulate while permitting the passage of a liquid through the strainer element, comprising controlling the strainer element so as to control the movement of the strainer element between alternate positions including a retaining position in which particulate or fault objects are impeded by the strainer element and a release position in which particulate or fault objects are released through the strainer element, providing a fault collection site in a piping system coupled from the strainer element, sensing a fault condition upstream of the strainer element to provide either a fault signal or a no fault signal depending on whether there is a fault upstream or not, and in response to a fault signal that is sensed, releasing the strainer element so as to convey any fault object retained at the strainer element to the fault site. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  including connecting the strainer element in the release position via the piping system to the fault collection site by means of a control valve. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  including providing a second valve connected from the piping system to a discharge site that is different than the collection site.