Patent ID: 8093917

Claim:
A sampling apparatus for sampling a fluid from a fluid source, comprising: a first fluid passage device disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid source; a second fluid passage device disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the first fluid passage device; and a fluid by-pass disposed downstream of the fluid source and upstream of the second fluid passage device, the fluid by-pass being in fluid communication with and between the fluid source and the second fluid passage device and operative to cause a first portion of the fluid from the fluid source to flow through the first fluid passage device and to cause a second portion of the fluid to by-pass the first fluid passage device so that the second portion of the fluid flows from the fluid source to the second fluid passage device without flowing through the first fluid passage device, wherein the first portion of the fluid and the second portion of the fluid rejoin each other after the first portion of the fluid flows through the first fluid passage device and the second portion of the fluid flows through the fluid by-pass and before the second fluid passage device so that the rejoined first and second portions of the fluid flow through the second fluid passage device and wherein the first fluid passage device is one of a sensor assembly and a three-way valve assembly and the second fluid passage device is a remaining one of the sensor assembly and the three-way valve assembly.