Patent ID: 7055697

Claim:
A system for separating fluid-borne material from a fluid that carries particulate matter along with the material, comprising: a screen arrangement including a support and a screen suspended from the support, wherein the screen defines an interior and an outlet, and is constructed of a flexible and pliable screen material formed of a series of interwoven strands that define drainage passages; a fluid supply arrangement configured to direct the fluid outwardly from within the interior of the screen onto the inner surface of the screen, wherein the fluid impinges on the inner surface of the screen at one or more impingement locations, and wherein the screen is configured to deflect outwardly at the one or more impingement locations, wherein the drainage passages are sized to retain the material on an inner surface defined by the screen and to allow the particulate matter to pass through the drainage passages; and means interconnected with the support for imparting movement to the screen through the support, wherein movement of the screen varies the one or more impingement locations while the fluid is directed outwardly onto the inside surface of the screen by the fluid supply arrangement; wherein the outward deflection of the screen upon movement of the screen past the one or more impingement locations functions to vary the configuration of the drainage passages to dislodge any particulate matter located within the drainage passages, and wherein pressure applied by the fluid supply arrangement at the one or more impingement locations functions to force the particulate matter located within the drainage passages through the drainage passages so as to prevent buildup of particulate matter within the drainage passages.