Vertical pre-dewatering screen

Claim 1

In combination with a device for separating solids from liquid in a slurry including a vertically disposed, elongated annular screen having a gravity slurry feed inlet and hopper communicating with the upper end thereof, an inclined screen having a portion underlying the lower end of said annular screen to receive solids and liquid after a substantial quantity of liquid has been removed by passing laterally through the annular screen with the inclined screen enabling passage of additional liquid downwardly therethrough while conveying solids laterally to further dewater the solids, that improvement comprising a baffle disposed in said annular screen, said baffle comprising a pair of imperforate baffle members supported centrally of said annular screen with each baffle having a straight inner edge and an outer edge conforming with the interior of the annular screen and a planar top surface, said outer edges being spaced from the inner surface of the annular screen, said straight inner edges of the baffle members extending generally diagonally of the annular screen and intersecting with each other adjacent the center of the annular screen thereby providing a pair of upwardly facing oppositely inclined flat surfaces on which the downwardly flowing slurry impinges with generally equal portions of the slurry flow stream being deflected toward opposite peripheral portions of the annular screen for passage of liquid therethrough and downward flow of solids between the inner surface of the annular screen and the lower edge portions of the baffle members onto the inclined screen.