US Patent 7850860 Plate settler with angular support members

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a plate settler comprising: a plurality of plates, each plate defining a first end, a second end, and a settling surface there between; a plurality of angular support members extending from and structurally supporting the first ends of respective ones of the plurality of plates, each angular support member defining a first lateral flow encouraging surface and a second lateral flow encouraging surface; and a plurality of headloss control gaps defined by the plurality of angular support members. The first lateral flow encouraging surface of each angular support member may combine with the second lateral flow encouraging surface of an adjacent angular support member to define a generally v-shaped lateral flow channel.