Particle separator

An apparatus for the separation of solid body particles (SBPs) from a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, and
• b) a fluid-tight vessel component in fluid communication with said fluid inlet port and said fluid outlet port;
• said vessel component defining a lumen therewithin, said lumen being substantially symmetrical in cross section along its length and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of fluid flow entering the fluid inlet port;
• said vessel component having
• a. a top portion,
• b. a middle portion comprising said fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port, and
• c. a bottom portion comprising a removable bottom cap;
• and
• c) a tongue component positioned within the lumen of the vessel component and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of fluid flow entering the fluid inlet port;
• said tongue component substantially fluid-sealingly dividing said lumen into two sections having substantially equal volumes along the length of the tongue component, each said lumen section being bounded by a surface of the tongue component and an inner lumen wall, said lumen sections comprising:
• A) a first lumen section in direct fluid communication with said fluid inlet port and extending downward along a first surface of said tongue component through the middle portion of said vessel component and extending partly into the bottom portion of the vessel component, and
• B) a second lumen section in direct fluid communication with said fluid outlet port and extending downward along a second surface of said tongue component through the middle portion of said vessel component and extending partly into the bottom portion of said vessel component;
• wherein a bottom tip of said tongue component extends into the bottom portion of the vessel component, but terminates above the bottom of the lumen.

30) A method for removing solid body particles (SBPs) from a fluid comprising

• a) introducing fluid containing (SBPs) into a fluid inlet port of a particule separator apparatus comprising
• i) said fluid inlet port,
• ii) a fluid outlet port,
• iii) a vessel component in fluid communication with said fluid inlet port and said fluid outlet port;
• said vessel component defining a lumen and being otherwise substantially fluid-tight, said lumen being substantially symmetrical in cross section along its length and being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of fluid flow entering the fluid inlet port;
• said vessel component having a top portion, a middle portion comprising said fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port, and a bottom portion comprising a removable bottom cap, and
• iv) a tongue component positioned within the lumen of the vessel component and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of fluid flow entering the fluid inlet port;
• said tongue component substantially fluid-sealingly dividing said lumen into two sections having substantially equal volumes along the length of the tongue component, each said lumen section being bounded by a surface of the tongue component and an inner lumen wall, said lumen sections comprising:
• A) a first lumen section in direct fluid communication with said fluid inlet port and extending downward along a first surface of said tongue component through the middle portion of said vessel component and extending partly into the bottom portion of the vessel component, and
• B) a second lumen section in direct fluid communication with said fluid outlet port and extending downward along a second surface of said tongue component through the middle portion of said vessel component and extending partly into the bottom portion of said vessel component;
• wherein a bottom tip of said tongue component extends into the bottom portion of the vessel component, but terminates above the bottom of the lumen;
• and
• b) collecting fluid depleted of solid body particles (SBPs) from the fluid outlet port of said particule separator apparatus.