Patent ID: 7125005

Claim:
A contact tray arrangement for an elongated, upright mass transfer or heat exchange column having an internal tray receiving space, said tray arrangement comprising: first and second vapor liquid contact trays, each having an upper surface, said trays being mountable in the internal space of a said column with the first tray disposed above the second tray in vertically spaced relationship thereto and with said upper surfaces extending laterally across the internal space, said first tray having an opening therein and said second tray including a support segment disposed to extend laterally of the internal space beneath said opening, said support segment including an upper portion with an upper surface area that is a part of the upper surface of the second tray and a lower portion comprising a downwardly extending panel; and a downcomer located at said opening and extending downwardly from the first tray toward said support segment, said downcomer including a support bracket having a lower end sector arranged to contact said upper surface area of the support segment and provide vertical support for the downcomer.