# US 2017/0284841 A1 · Sensor Assembly for a Sensor, Sensor, and 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 2017/0284841 A1 - Document ID: US20170284841A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/507,350 - Filed: 2015-08-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-01 - Assignees: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG - Applicants: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG - Inventors: Christian Lais; Andreas Strub; Dominique Wiederkehr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284841A1 ## CPC - G01F 1/3259: {for detecting fluid pressure oscillations} - G01F 1/3209: {using Karman vortices} - G01F 15/16: Diaphragms; Bellows; Mountings therefor - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract The sensor assembly (11) comprises: a bowl shaped, namely at least sectionally dished, membrane (111), with a curved surface (111+) and an oppositely lying surface (111#); and a sensor blade (12) extending from the surface (111+) of the membrane. The membrane (11) is so formed that at least one region of the surface (111+) adjoining the sensor blade is convex. A sensor formed by means of such a sensor assembly and by means of a transducer element (12) coupled therewith and serving for generating a sensor signal representing movements of the sensor blade changing as a function of time and/or deformations of the membrane changing as a function of time, respectively a measuring system formed by means of the sensor and a measuring electronics connected thereto, can be used for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, such as, for instance, a 400 C hot steam, for instance, in order to measure a flow parameter of the fluid. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-26. (canceled) ### Claim 27 A sensor assembly for a sensor, especially for a sensor for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in a flowing fluid, which sensor assembly comprises: a bowl shaped, namely at least sectionally dished, membrane, with a curved, first surface and an oppositely lying, second surface, especially a curved, second surface and/or a second surface at least partially parallel and/or at least partially non parallel, to the first surface; and a sensor blade extending from said first surface of said membrane, especially a rod-shaped or plate-shaped or wedge-shaped, sensor blade, wherein: said membrane is so formed that at least one region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is convex. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is so formed that the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is aspherical; and/or said membrane is so formed that the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is axially symmetric relative to at least one imaginary axis of symmetry, especially in such a manner that the symmetry axis is parallel to a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade and/or in such a manner that the symmetry axis is perpendicular to a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is so formed that the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is axially symmetric relative to exactly two imaginary axes of symmetry, which are perpendicular to one another, especially in such a manner that at least one of the axes of symmetry is parallel to a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade and/or in such a manner that a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade is perpendicular to one of the imaginary axes of symmetry and parallel to the other imaginary axis of symmetry. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is so formed that a region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is rotationally symmetric, especially spherical. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: a segment of said membrane carrying said sensor blade has a first zone forming a center of said membrane and having a first thickness and a second zone adjoining said first zone, especially surrounding said first zone, and having a second thickness different from said first thickness, especially in such a manner that said first thickness is less than said second thickness; and/or at least one region of said second surface lying opposite the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is concave; and/or said membrane is so formed that a membrane height, measured as a minimum separation of a center of area of said first surface from an imaginary projected area inscribed by a peripheral outer edge of the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is less than a membrane diameter, measured as a greatest diameter of the projected area, especially in such a manner that said membrane diameter is less than a greatest semi axis, respectively less than a radius, of said projected area, and/or that a diameter to-height ratio of said membrane, defined as a ratio of the membrane diameter to the membrane height is less than 30 and/or greater than 2, especially less than 20 and/or greater than 5, and/or in such a manner that a ratio of said membrane diameter to a length of said sensor blade, measured as the minimum separation between a proximal end of said sensor blade, namely an end adjoining said membrane, and a distal end of said sensor blade remote from said membrane, or its surface, amounts to less than 2 and/or greater than 0.5. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is at least partially conical. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is so formed that at least the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade corresponds to a surface of a spherical zone, especially in such a manner that a top area of said spherical zone corresponds to a cross sectional area of said sensor blade. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is so formed that at least the region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade corresponds to a lateral surface of a frustum. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: the membrane is so formed that at least the region of the first surface adjoining the sensor blade corresponds to a segment of a surface of an ellipsoid. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said sensor blade and said membrane are so positioned and oriented relative to one another that a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade is parallel to or coincides with a principle axis of inertia of said sensor assembly, and/or said sensor blade and said membrane are so positioned and oriented relative to one another that a principle axis of inertia of said membrane, when lengthened, extends parallel to a principle axis of inertia of said sensor assembly, especially coincides therewith. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane is composed, at least partially, especially predominantly or completely, of a metal, especially a stainless steel, or a nickel based alloy; and/or said sensor blade is composed, at least partially, especially predominantly or completely, of a metal, especially a stainless steel, or a nickel based alloy; and/or said membrane and said sensor blade are of the same material; and/or said membrane and said sensor blade are components of one and the same, monolithic, molded part, for example, one cast or manufactured by 3D laser melting. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane and said sensor blade are connected with one another by material bonding, especially welded, respectively soldered or brazed. ### Claim 39 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, further comprising: a compensating body extending from said second surface of the membrane, especially a rod-shaped or plate-shaped or sleeve-shaped, compensating body, for compensating forces and/or moments resulting from movements of the sensor assembly. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 39, wherein: at least one region of said second surface adjoining said compensating body is concave; and/or said membrane and said compensating body are connected with one another by material bonding, especially welded, respectively soldered or brazed; and/or said sensor blade and said compensating body are arranged aligned with one another; and/or said membrane is so formed that the region of said second surface adjoining said compensating body is rotationally symmetric; and/or said compensating body and said membrane are so positioned and oriented relative to one another that a principle axis of inertia of said membrane, when lengthened, extends parallel to a principle axis of inertia of said compensating body, especially coincides therewith; and/or said sensor blade, said compensating body and said membrane are so positioned and oriented relative to one another that a principle axis of inertia of the sensor assembly is parallel both to a principle axis of inertia of said sensor blade as well as also to a principle axis of inertia of said compensating body, as well as also to a principle axis of inertia of said membrane, respectively the principle axis of inertia of said sensor assembly coincides both with the principle axis of inertia of the sensor blade as well as also with the principle axis of inertia of said compensating body, as well as also with the principle axis of inertia of said membrane; and/or said membrane and said compensating body are components of one and the same, monolithic, molded part, especially in such a manner that said sensor blade, said membrane and said compensating body are components of the molded part; and/or said compensating body is composed at least partly, especially predominantly or completely, of a metal, especially a stainless steel, respectively a nickel based alloy; and/or said membrane and said compensating body are of the same material, especially in such a manner that said sensor blade, said membrane and said compensating body are of the same material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 27) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said membrane has an external edge segment, especially an annular external edge segment and/or one equipped with a sealing surface. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The sensor assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein: said outer edge segment is adapted to be connected, especially by material bonding and/or hermetically sealedly, with a seat serving for mounting of said membrane to a wall of a tube, especially in such a manner that said membrane covers, especially hermetically seals, an opening provided in the wall of said tube and/or in such a manner that the first surface of said membrane is facing a lumen of said tube, so that said sensor blade protrudes inwardly into the lumen; and/or said at least one sealing surface, especially a surrounding and/or circular ring like, sealing surface, is embodied in said outer edge segment; and/or said outer edge segment forms a peripheral outer edge of the convex region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade. ### Claim 43 A sensor for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, especially for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in the flowing fluid, which sensor comprises: a sensor assembly comprising: a sensor assembly for a sensor, especially for a sensor for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in a flowing fluid, which sensor assembly comprises: a bowl shaped, namely at least sectionally dished, membrane, with a curved, first surface and an oppositely lying, second surface, especially a curved, second surface and/or a second surface at least partially parallel and/or at least partially non parallel, to the first surface; and a sensor blade extending from said first surface of said membrane, especially a rod-shaped or plate-shaped or wedge-shaped, sensor blade, wherein: said membrane is so formed that at least one region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is convex; and a transducer element for generating a sensor signal, especially an electrical or optical, sensor signal, representing movements of said sensor blade changing as a function of time, especially movements, which are at least at times periodic, and/or deformations of said membrane changing as a function of time, especially deformations, which are at least at times periodic. ### Claim 44 A measuring system for measuring at least one flow parameter, especially a flow parameter varying as a function of time, especially a flow velocity and/or a volume flow rate, of a fluid flowing in a pipeline, which measuring system comprises: a sensor, comprising: a sensor for registering pressure fluctuations in a flowing fluid, especially for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in the flowing fluid, which sensor comprises: a sensor assembly comprising: a sensor assembly for a sensor, especially for a sensor for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in a flowing fluid, which sensor assembly comprises: a bowl shaped, namely at least sectionally dished, membrane, with a curved, first surface and an oppositely lying, second surface, especially a curved, second surface and/or a second surface at least partially parallel and/or at least partially non parallel, to the first surface; and a sensor blade extending from said first surface of said membrane, especially a rod-shaped or plate-shaped or wedge-shaped, sensor blade, wherein: said membrane is so formed that at least one region of said first surface adjoining said sensor blade is convex; and a transducer element for generating a sensor signal, especially an electrical or optical, sensor signal, representing movements of said sensor blade changing as a function of time, especially movements, which are at least at times periodic, and/or deformations of said membrane changing as a function of time, especially deformations, which are at least at times periodic for registering pressure fluctuations in the flowing fluid, especially for registering pressure fluctuations in a Kármán vortex street formed in the fluid flowing; and measuring electronics, which is adapted to receive said sensor signal and to process such, especially to generate measured values representing at least one flow parameter. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The measuring system as claimed in claim 44, further comprising: a tube insertable into the course of the pipeline and having a lumen, which is adapted to guide the fluid flowing in the pipeline. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The measuring system as claimed in claim 45, wherein: said sensor blade has a length, measured as the minimum separation between a proximal end of said sensor blade, namely an end adjoining said membrane, and a distal end of said sensor blade, namely an end remote from said membrane, or its surface, which length corresponds to less than 95% of a caliber (DN) of the tube and/or greater than half the caliber (DN). ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The measuring system as claimed in claim 45, wherein: there is embodied in the wall of the tube an opening, especially an opening having a seat serving for the mounting of said membrane to the wall; and said sensor is inserted into said opening in such a manner that said membrane covers said opening, especially hermetically seals said opening, and that said first surface of said membrane faces the lumen of the tube, so that said sensor blade protrudes inwardly into the lumen. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The measuring system as claimed in claim 47, wherein: said opening has a seat serving for mounting of said membrane to the wall. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The measuring system as claimed in claim 48, wherein: said seat at least one sealing surface is embodied, especially a surrounding and/or circular ring like, sealing surface. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The measuring system as claimed in claim 48, wherein: said membrane has an external edge segment, especially an annular, external edge segment, in which at least one sealing surface is embodied, especially a surrounding and/or circular ring like, sealing surface; and said sealing surface and said sealing surface of the seat are adapted to close, or to seal hermetically, said opening, especially with interpositioning of at least one seal. ### Claim 51 (depends on 44) The measuring system as claimed in claim 44, further comprising: a bluff body arranged in the lumen of said tube and adapted to bring about a Kármán vortex street in the flowing fluid. ### Claim 52 (depends on 44) Use of a measuring system as claimed in claim 44 for measuring a flow parameter, especially a flow velocity and/or a volume flow rate and/or a mass flow rate, of a fluid, especially a vapor, flowing in a pipeline, especially vapor having a temperature greater than 400° C. and/or acting on said membrane of said sensor with a pressure greater than 140 bar.