Sample valve

Claim 1

A FLUID SAMPLING VALVE COMPRISING A PROBE-LIKE STATOR MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH AN OPENING OF A FLUID CONTAINER AND INTO A BODY OF FLUID TO BE SAMPLED THEREIN; A PLUG-RETAINING CAVITY FORMED WITHIN THE TIP PORTION OF SAID STATOR AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID CAVITY DEFINING A FORWARD PISTON CHAMBER, AN INTERMEDIATE SAMPLING CHAMBER AND A REAR PLUG GUIDING BORE; A SAMPLE INTAKE PORT THROUGH THE STATOR WALL CONNECTING WITH SAID SAMPLING CHAMBER AND PROVIDING OPEN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID BODY OF FLUID; A PAIR OF SPACED CARRIER GAS PORTS FORMED IN THE LONGITUDINAL WALL OF SAID PLUG GUIDING BORE; SUCTION CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID PISTON CHAMBER WITH THE SAMPLING CHAMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID INTAKE PORT; A RECIPROCABLE PLUG WITHIN SAID CAVITY HAVING FORWARD AND REAR ADJUSTED PLUG POSITIONS AND BEING IN SLIDING, SUBSTANTIALLY FLUID-TIGHT CONTACT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL WALLS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID PISTON CHAMBER AND SAID PLUG GUIDING BORE; AND A METERING PORT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PLUG LOCATED TO PROVIDE A FLUID FLOW PATH THERETHROUGH AND ACROSS SAID SAMPLING CHAMBER FROM THE INTAKE PORT TO THE SUCTION CONDUIT DURING A PORTION OF THE PLUG TRAVEL FROM FORWARD TO REAR ADJUSTED POSITIONS, AND TO REGISTER WITH SAID CARRIER GAS PORTS WHEN THE PLUG IS IN ITS REAR ADJUSTED POSITION.