Resonant Sensors For Fluid Properties Measurement
AssigneeRheonics GmbH
InventorJoseph H. Goodbread
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A resonator that includes an elastic tube defining an interior surface and a conductor threaded through the elastic tube. Solid material fills space between the conductor and the elastic tube interior surface, such that motion of the conductor is directly transferred to the elastic tube. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic tube 14 is electrically conductive and said solid material insulates said conductor from said elastic tube.
Claims29
A resonant sensor for measuring properties of a fluid, comprising:
- (a) an elastic tube defining an interior surface;
- (b) a conductor threaded through said elastic tube;
- (c) solid material joining said conductor to said elastic tube interior surface, so that force exerted on said conductor is directly transferred to said elastic tube;
- and
- (d) a magnet assembly that creates a magnetic field, thereby providing a Lorentz force on said conductor when a current is passed through said conductor.
A fluid properties sensor, comprising:
- (a) a solid structure defining a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourth aperture;
- (b) a first extent of elastic tube extending from said first aperture to said second aperture, extending along a first plane, and being attached to said solid structure about said first and second apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner;
- (c) a second extent of elastic tube, extending from said third aperture to said fourth aperture, extending along a second plane that is parallel to said first plane, and being attached to said solid structure about said third aperture third and fourth apertures, in a fluid impermeable manner;
- and
- (d) a conductor threaded through said first and second extents of elastic tube.
A fluid properties measurement device, comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) a torsional resonator, supported by said base and driven by a torsional resonator current source and magnet assembly enclosed in said base;
- and
- (c) a translational motion resonator that is also supported and driven by a translational motion resonator current source and magnet assembly enclosed in said base.
A method for measuring properties of a fluid by means of a resonant tubular sensor immersed in said fluid, comprising:
- (a) providing a sensor, having:
- (i) at least one elastic tube defining a lumen, said tube having an outer surface, an inner surface, and two opposed ends;
- (ii) a conductor threaded through said lumen;
- (iii) insulation surrounding said conductor to prevent flow of current from said conductor to said tube;
- (iv) pliable material filling space between said conductor and said inner surface of said tube such that any force exerted on said conductor is transmitted to said inner surface of said tube;
- (v) a support assembly joined hermetically to said two ends of said tube so as to provide a vibrational nodal support impermeable to said fluid in which said tube is immersed;
- (vi) a source of electrical energy connected to said conductor;
- (vii) a magnet assembly;
- and
- (viii) a signal sensing and processing system, connected to said conductor;
- and
- (b) introducing said tube into a fluid and using said magnet assembly to produce a magnetic field across said conductor, while said electrical energy source is used to produce an alternating current through said conductor, said Lorentz forces thereby created on said conductor causing said tube to resonate in said fluid, and using said signal sensing and processing system to measure the response signal produced by the motion of said conductor in said magnetic field;
- and
- (c) calculating fluid properties from said response measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.