# US 10,371,553 B2 · Transducer apparatus as well as measuring system formed therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,553 B2 - Document ID: US10371553B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/125,315 - Filed: 2015-02-23 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-13 - Assignees: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG - Applicants: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG - Inventors: Alfred Rieder; Hao Zhu; Ennio Bitto; Gerhard Eckert; Josef Hubensteiner; Michael Wiesmann; Yaoing Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371553B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/8413: {means for influencing the flowmeter's motional or vibrational behaviour, e.g., conduit support or fixing means, or conduit attachments} - G01F 1/8409: {constructional details} - G01F 1/849: {having straight measuring conduits} - G01F 15/02: Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature - G01F 15/14: Casings, e.g. of special material - G01N 9/002: {using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis (G01N9/34 takes precedence)} - G01N 11/16: by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body - G01N 2009/006: {vibrating tube, tuning fork} - G01N 2011/0013: {Temperature compensation} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract transducer apparatus comprises a transducer housing, a tube, a temperature sensor as well as a temperature sensor. The tube is arranged within a cavity of the transducer housing, in such a manner that an intermediate space is formed between a wall of the transducer housing facing the cavity inner surface and an outer surface of a wall of the tube facing the cavity. Furthermore, the tube is adapted to guide a fluid in its lumen, in such a manner that an inner surface of the wall of the tube facing the lumen is contacted by fluid guided in the lumen. Each of the temperature sensors is formed by means of a temperature detector arranged within the intermediate space as well as by means of a coupling body coupling the respective temperature detector thermally conductively with the wall of the tube and is additionally adapted to register a particular measurement location temperature, and to transduce such into a corresponding temperature measurement signal, namely an electrical measurement signal representing the particular measurement location temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transducer apparatus, comprising: a transducer housing exhibiting a cavity encased by a wall; a tube exhibiting a lumen surrounded by a wall, said tube is arranged within the cavity of said transducer housing in such a manner that between an inner surface of the wall of said transducer housing facing the cavity and an outer surface of the wall of said tube facing the cavity an intermediate space is formed, and said tube is adapted to guide in its lumen a fluid, in such a manner that said inner surface of the wall of said tube facing the lumen is contacted by the fluid guided in the lumen in order to form a first interface of a first type, wherein the first interface of the first type is an interface between the fluid guided in the lumen of the tube and the wall of said tube; a first temperature sensor including a first temperature detector arranged within said intermediate space and a first coupling body coupling said first temperature detector thermally conductively with the wall of said tube, said first temperature sensor being adapted to register a first measurement location temperature, wherein a temperature at a first temperature measurement location is formed by means of said first temperature detector, and to transduce said first measurement location temperature into a first temperature measurement signal, said first temperature measurement signal is a first electrical measurement signal representing the first measurement location temperature; a second temperature sensor including a second temperature detector spaced from said first temperature detector and arranged within said intermediate space and a second coupling body coupling said second temperature detector thermally conductively with the wall of said tube, said second temperature sensor being adapted to register a second measurement location temperature, wherein a temperature at a second temperature measurement location is formed by means of said second temperature detector, and to transduce said second measurement location temperature into a second temperature measurement signal, said second temperature measurement signal is a second electrical measurement signal representing the second measurement location temperature; wherein: said transducer housing and said tube are adapted to hold a fluid in said intermediate space in order to form a fluid volume surrounding said tube, in such a manner that said outer surface of the wall of said tube facing said intermediate space is contacted by the fluid held in said intermediate space in order to form a second interface of the first type, wherein the second interface of the first type is an interface between the fluid held in said intermediate space and the wall of said tube; said first temperature sensor contacts by means of said first coupling body the outer surface of the wall of said tube forming a first interface of a second type, wherein the first interface of the second type is an interface between the first coupling body and the wall of said tube and said second temperature sensor contacts by means of said second coupling body the outer surface of the wall of said tube forming a second interface of the second type, wherein the second interface of the second type is an interface between the second coupling body and the wall of said tube, in such a manner that: a first thermal resistance, R1, opposes a first heat flux, resulting from a temperature difference between said first interface of the second type and said first temperature measurement location, totally passing through the first interface of the second type and flowing further to the first temperature measurement location; a second thermal resistance, R2, opposes a second heat flux, resulting from a temperature difference between said second interface of the second type and the second temperature measurement location, totally passing through the second interface of the second type and flowing further to the second temperature measurement location; and the fluid volume surrounding said tube contacts said first temperature sensor to form a third interface of the first type as well as contacts said second temperature sensor to form a fourth interface of the first type, in such a manner that: a third thermal resistance, R3, opposes a third heat flux, resulting from a temperature difference between said third interface of the first type and the first temperature measurement location, flowing from the first temperature measurement location totally to said third interface of the first type, equally as well totally passing through said third interface of the first type; and a fourth thermal resistance, R4, opposes a fourth heat flux, resulting from a temperature difference between said fourth interface of the first type and the second temperature measurement location, flowing from the second temperature measurement location totally to said fourth interface of the first type, equally as well totally passing through said fourth interface of the first type; and said first thermal resistance, R1, said second thermal resistance, R2, said third thermal resistance, R3, as well as said fourth thermal resistance, R4, are so dimensioned that a condition 0.005 < 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 4 R ⁢ ⁢ 2 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 3 R ⁢ ⁢ 1 < 1 is fulfilled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first thermal resistance, R1, is less than 1000 K/W; and said second thermal resistance, R2, is less than 1000 K/W. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first thermal resistance, R1, is less than 30 K/W. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said third thermal resistance, R3, and said fourth thermal resistance, R4, fulfill a condition R3=R4. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first thermal resistance, R1, said second thermal resistance, R2, said third thermal resistance, R3, as well as said fourth thermal resistance, R4 fulfill a condition 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 4 R ⁢ ⁢ 2 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 3 R ⁢ ⁢ 1 < 0.9 ; and/or wherein said first thermal resistance, R1, said second thermal resistance, R2, said third thermal resistance, R3, as well as said fourth thermal resistance, R4, fulfill a condition 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 4 R ⁢ ⁢ 2 1 + R ⁢ ⁢ 3 R ⁢ ⁢ 1 > 0.01 . ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first coupling body is composed at least partially of a material of which a specific thermal conductivity is greater than a specific thermal conductivity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or greater than 1 W/(m·K), and of which a specific heat capacity is less than a specific heat capacity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or less than 2000 J/(kg·K). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The transducer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said second coupling body is composed at least partially of a material of which material a specific thermal conductivity is greater than the specific thermal conductivity of the material of said first coupling body and/or greater than 10 W/(m·K), and/or of which material a specific heat capacity is less than the specific heat capacity of the material of said first coupling body and/or less than 1000 J/(kg·K). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said third thermal resistance, R3, is greater than 500 K/W, and/or less than 20000 K/W; and/or said fourth thermal resistance, R4, is greater than 500 K/W, and/or less than 20000 K/W. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first temperature sensor includes a third coupling body coupling said first temperature detector thermally with the fluid volume surrounding the tube and contacting the fluid volume surrounding the tube to form said third interface of the first type. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said second temperature sensor includes a fourth coupling body coupling said second temperature detector thermally with the fluid volume surrounding the tube and contacting the fluid volume surrounding the tube to form said fourth interface of the first type. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said third and fourth coupling bodies are constructed equally to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The transducer apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said fourth coupling body is composed at least partially of a material of which a specific thermal conductivity is greater than a specific thermal conductivity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or greater than 0.1 W/(m·K), and of which a specific heat capacity is less than a specific heat capacity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or less than 2000 J/(kg·K). ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said fourth coupling body is formed by means of a synthetic material applied on the second temperature detector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said fourth coupling body is formed by means of a textile band or tape applied on said second temperature detector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said fourth coupling body is formed by means of sheet metal applied on said second temperature detector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said third coupling body is formed by means of a synthetic material applied on said first temperature detector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said third coupling body is formed by means of a textile band or tape applied on said first temperature detector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said third coupling body is formed by means of sheet metal applied on said first temperature detector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said third coupling body is composed at least partially of a material of which a specific thermal conductivity is greater than a specific thermal conductivity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or greater than 0.1 W/(m·K), and of which a specific heat capacity is less than a specific heat capacity of the fluid in the intermediate space and/or less than 2000 J/(kg·K). ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first coupling body shows a heat capacity, C1, which is less than 200 J/K; and said second coupling body shows a heat capacity, C2, which is less than 200 J/K, wherein 1 10 < C ⁢ ⁢ 1 C ⁢ ⁢ 2 < 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said heat capacity, C1, of said first coupling body and said second heat capacity, C2, of said second coupling body fulfill a condition 1 1000 < C ⁢ ⁢ 1 C ⁢ ⁢ 2 < 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the wall of the tube has a wall thickness which is greater than 0.5 mm and/or less than 10 mm; and/or said tube has an inner diameter which is greater than 0.5 mm and/or less than 200 mm; and/or said tube is so dimensioned that it has an inner diameter to wall thickness ratio, defined as a ratio of an inner diameter of said tube to a wall thickness of the wall of said tube, which is less than 25:1 and/or greater than 5:1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first temperature sensor is connected with the outer surface of the wall of said tube to form said first coupling body by the bonding of materials. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first coupling body is formed by means of a synthetic material located between the wall of said tube and said first temperature detector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein: the synthetic material is a silicone rubber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said second coupling body is formed by means of a disk located between the wall of said tube and said second temperature detector and composed of a metal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein: said disk has a passageway having an inner surface facing the outer surface of the wall of said tube. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are spaced azimuthally from one another with reference to an imaginary longitudinal axis of said tube; and/or said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, are spaced axially with reference to the imaginary longitudinal axis of said tube. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said tube is further adapted to be flowed through by the fluid and during that to be caused to vibrate. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an oscillation exciter for exciting and maintaining mechanical oscillations of the said tube about an associated static resting position; as well as an oscillation sensor for registering mechanical oscillations of said tube. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A measuring system for measuring at least one measured variable of a flowing fluid, which measuring system comprises: for the guiding of the fluid, a transducer apparatus as claimed in claim 1; and a measuring and operating electronics. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The measuring system as claimed in claim 31, wherein: an oscillation sensor is adapted to deliver an oscillatory signal representing oscillations of said tube; and said measuring and operating electronics is adapted, using both the first temperature measurement signal as well as also the second temperature measurement signal, as well as the oscillation signal, to generate a density measured value. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The measuring system as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said measuring and operating electronics is adapted, using both the first temperature measurement signal generated by means of said transducer apparatus as well as also the second temperature measurement signal generated by means of the transducer apparatus, to generate a measured value, which represents the at least one measured variable. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The measuring system as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said measuring and operating electronics is adapted, using both the first temperature measurement signal as well as also the second temperature measurement signal, to generate at least one temperature measured value representing a target temperature, which target temperature is a temperature at an apparatus reference point predetermined for the measuring system and fixed within said transducer apparatus. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The measuring system as claimed in claim 34, wherein: the apparatus reference point is located within said transducer apparatus.