Patent ID: 7438191

Claim:
A screen assembly for collecting and distributing a process flow stream comprising: a plurality of wires spaced apart in a substantially parallel orientation and fixedly mounted to a support relative to each other and forming a screen, wherein the spaces define slots between neighboring wires for the passage of a fluid; and a plurality of angled rods, having a generally L shaped configuration, with a first edge at one end of the L shape and a second edge at the other end of the L shape, where the first edge is affixed to the plurality of wires in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the wires and providing the support, and the angled rods form a partially covered channel on one side of the screen with the second edge of the angled rods spaced apart from a neighboring angled rod to form a channel gap, and where the channel gap is greater than the slots between neighboring wires; and wherein the angled rods have apertures formed in the angled rods, and wherein the total open area of the apertures and the channel gaps is greater than the total open area of the slots between the wires.