Patent ID: 8336617

Claim:
An apparatus for connection in a tubing string for use at a subterranean location in a wellbore to filter solids from fluids located in a wellbore annulus formed between the tubing exterior and wellbore wall interior, the apparatus comprising: a) a mandrel forming a central passageway there through; connectors on said mandrel for connecting said mandrel to a tubing string in fluid communication with the interior of said tubing string; b) a diverter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel, forming an inner diverter annulus between said mandrel and said diverter sleeve; c) a filter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel, forming an interior filter annulus between said mandrel and said filter sleeve, said interior filter annulus is open at one end to receive fluids, said filter sleeve having a filter opening of a size to provide a flow path for wellbore fluids to flow between said interior filter annulus and said wellbore annulus and said filter opening being of a size and shape to prevent solids from flowing from said interior filter annulus; and d) said filter sleeve mounted to move axially with respect to said mandrel between a bypass position, wherein said one end of said filter sleeve is spaced away from said diverter sleeve to form an axially extending gap whereby fluid flowing into said interior diverter annulus flows through said gap to bypass said filter sleeve and closed position, wherein said one end of said filter sleeve contacts said diverted sleeve to close said gap, whereby fluid flowing into said interior diverter annulus flows into said interior filter sleeve annulus and through said filter openings.