US Patent 10487639 Sandguard for a progressive cavity pump

A sand guard system having an outer housing, a wedge assembly disposed in the outer housing, and an inner tube disposed in the outer housing such that an annulus is formed between the inner tube and the outer housing. The wedge assembly comprises a plurality of wedges coupled together by one or more flexible retaining members such that the wedges are movable radially outward and inward relative to the outer housing. The inner tube has a plurality of slots configured to filter out solids from fluids flowing from the annulus into the inner tube through the slots.