Gas separators for well pumps

Claim 1

A GAS SEPARATOR COMPRISING A BODY ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BENEATH A WELL PUMP, SAID BODY FORMING A CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH WELL LIQUID IS DIRECTED IN PASSING TO SAID PUMP AND ACTING TO ACCUMULATE AND CONTAIN AN ENCLOSED COLUMN OF GASES SEPARATED FROM THE WELL LIQUID, FLUID DIRECTING MEANS FOR DIRECTING PARTIALLY LIQUID AND PARTIALLY GASEOUS WELL FLUID FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID BODY INTO THE GAS COLUMN IN SAID CHAMBER TO FLOW THROUGH SAID GAS COLUMN SO THAT THE LIQUID AND GASEOUS COMPONENTS OF THE WELL FLUID ARE SEPARATED BY CONTACT WITH SAID GASES OF THE COLUMN, CHECK VALVE MEANS ADAPTED TO VENT GASES FROM SAID GAS COLUMN TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY SEPARATELY FROM THE LIQUID, BUT PREVENTING REVERSE FLUID FLOW INTO THE BODY THROUGH SAID CHECK VALVE MEANS, AND LIQUID OUTLET MEANS FOR SEPARATELY DISCHARGING THE LIQUID TO SAID PUMP.