Patent ID: 6840269

Claim:
A pressure reducer for dispensing a fluid sample from a fluid sample source at a constant low pressure comprising: a casing, said casing comprises an upper wall, a side wall, and a lower wall, wherein the side wall is disposed between and is integrally formed with the upper wall and the lower wall, said casing having a sample inlet for receiving the fluid sample from a fluid sample source, and a sample outlet for dispensing the fluid sample from the pressure reducer to another location, wherein the sample inlet is in communication with the sample outlet; a separation plate, said separation plate is integrally formed with the casing and is horizontally disposed between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the separation plate further comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a middle region disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface, a first bore disposed transversely through the separation plate for communication of fluid from the lower chamber to the upper chamber, a second bore longitudinally disposed through the middle region and the bottom surface, wherein th second bore is in communication with and is disposed between the sample inlet and the lower chamber for communication of slurry from the inlet through the second bore to the lower chamber, a third bore disposed longitudinally through the middle region and the top surface in communication with and disposed between the sample outlet and the upper chamber for communication of fluid from the upper chamber through the third bore to the sample outlet, and means for communication of fluid from an outer side portion of the lower chamber to an outer upper portion of the upper chamber; an upper chamber; a lower chamber, wherein the casing and the separation plate cooperate to define the lower chamber and the upper chamber, and wherein the lower chamber is in communication with the upper chamber; and means for reducing pressure of a fluid dispensed through the pressure reducer.