Patent ID: 8651181

Claim:
An apparatus for connection in a tubing string for use to filter solids from the wellbore fluids located in the wellbore annulus surrounding the tubing string, comprising: a) a mandrel forming a central passageway therethrough; connectors on said mandrel for connecting said mandrel to a tubing string in fluid communication with the interior of the tubing string; b) a filter sleeve mounted exterior of said mandrel to form an interior filter annulus between said mandrel and said filter sleeve, said interior filter annulus is open at one end to receive fluids, filter openings in said filter sleeve providing a flow path between the interior filter annulus and the wellbore, and whereby fluids entering the one end of said interior filter annulus flow through said openings to retain solids in said interior filter annulus; c) a discharge passageway adjacent the other end of said interior filter annulus, said passageway connecting the interior filter annulus with the wellbore annulus for discharging fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus, wherein the passageway is a port in the filter sleeve; and d) a valve member mounted on said mandrel for movement between a first position blocking flow through said passageway and a second position permitting flow from said interior filter annulus to discharge fluids and solids from said interior filter annulus.