# US 11,441,934 B2 · Multichannel flow tube with supports > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,934 B2 - Document ID: US11441934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/637,494 - Filed: 2017-08-23 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-23 - Assignees: Micro Motion, Inc. - Applicants: Micro Motion, Inc. - Inventors: Mark James Bell; Joel Weinstein; Mitalee Nayan Desai; Clinton R. Griffin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441934B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/8404: {details of flowmeter manufacturing methods} - G01F 1/8409: {constructional details} - G01F 1/8468: {vibrating measuring conduits} - G01F 1/8477: {with multiple measuring conduits} - G01F 15/00: Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus - G01F 1/8486: {with multiple measuring conduits} - G01F 1/8495: {with multiple measuring conduits} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract A multichannel flow tube (300) for a vibratory meter (5), and a method of manufacturing the multichannel flow tube are provided. The multichannel flow tube comprises a tube perimeter wall (304), a first channel division (302b), and a first support structure (308a). The first channel division is enclosed within and coupled to the tube perimeter wall, forming a first channel (306b) and a second channel (306c). The first support structure is coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multichannel flow tube (300) printed via a 3D printer, the multichannel flow tube comprising: a tube perimeter wall (304); a first channel division (302b) enclosed within and coupled to the tube perimeter wall, the first channel division and the tube perimeter wall forming a first channel (306b) and a second channel (306c) in the multichannel flow tube; and a first support structure (308a) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division, wherein the first support structure includes a straight edge oriented at a predetermined acute angle (314) or less with respect to the first channel division towards a first adjoining tube perimeter section (310) of the tube perimeter wall, the predetermined acute angle (314) being a maximum angle printable on the 3D printer with respect to a normal of a printer bed of the 3D printer without support material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second support structure (308b) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first channel division is a substantially planar wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second channel division (302c) enclosed by and coupled to the tube perimeter wall, the second channel division separating the second channel (306c) and a third channel (306d) in the multichannel flow tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a third support structure (308c) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the second channel division. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a fourth support structure (308d) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the second channel division. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first channel division and the second channel division are oriented to be substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second support structure (308b) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division, wherein the second support structure is oriented at the predetermined acute angle or less with respect to the first channel division towards a second adjoining tube perimeter section of the tube perimeter wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is between 35-50 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is 45 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A multichannel flow tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube perimeter wall is substantially circular. ### Claim 12 A vibratory meter (5) printed via a 3D printer, a multichannel flow tube comprising: a pickoff (170l, 170r) attached to a multichannel flow tube; a driver (180) coupled to the multichannel flow tube, the driver being configured to vibrate the multichannel flow tube; and the multichannel flow tube (300) further comprising: a tube perimeter wall (304), a first channel division (302b) enclosed within and coupled to the tube perimeter wall, the first channel division and the tube perimeter wall forming a first channel (306b) and a second channel (306c) in the multichannel flow tube, and a first support structure (308a) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division, wherein the first support structure includes a straight edge oriented at a predetermined acute angle (314) or less with respect to the first channel division towards a first adjoining tube perimeter section (310) of the tube perimeter wall, the predetermined acute angle (314) being a maximum angle printable on the 3D printer with respect to a normal of a printer bed of the 3D printer without support material. ### Claim 13 A method for manufacturing a multichannel flow tube via a 3D printer, the method comprising: forming a tube perimeter wall; forming a first channel division; and coupling the tube perimeter wall to the first channel division with a first support structure, the first channel division and the tube perimeter wall forming a first channel and a second channel in the multichannel flow tube, wherein the first support structure includes a straight edge oriented at a predetermined acute angle (314) or less with respect to the first channel division towards a first adjoining tube perimeter section (310) of the tube perimeter wall, the predetermined acute angle (314) being a maximum angle printable on the 3D printer with respect to a normal of a printer bed of the 3D printer without support material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: coupling the tube perimeter wall to the first channel division with a second support structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: forming a second channel division separating the second channel and a third channel in the multichannel flow tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: coupling the tube perimeter wall to the second channel division with a third support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: coupling the tube perimeter wall to the second channel division with a fourth support structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first channel division is a substantially planar wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first channel division and the second channel division are oriented to be substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a second support structure (308b) coupled to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division, wherein the second support structure is oriented at the predetermined acute angle or less with respect to the first channel division towards a second adjoining tube perimeter section of the tube perimeter wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined angle is between 35-50 degrees. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined angle is 45 degrees. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tube perimeter wall is substantially circular. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein forming the tube perimeter wall, forming the first channel division, and coupling the first support structure to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division further comprises printing the tube perimeter wall, the first channel division, and the first support structure via an additive process. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein forming the tube perimeter wall, forming the first channel division, and coupling the first support structure to the tube perimeter wall and the first channel division further comprises removing material between the tube perimeter wall, the first channel division, and the first support structure via a subtractive process.