# US 2019/0170553 A1 · Coriolis flow sensor assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170553 A1 - Document ID: US20190170553A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,473 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Philipp Lang; Jens Rütten; Charles Erklin Seeley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170553A1 ## CPC - G01F 1/8418: {motion or vibration balancing means} - G01F 1/8413: {means for influencing the flowmeter's motional or vibrational behaviour, e.g., conduit support or fixing means, or conduit attachments} - G01F 1/8472: {having curved measuring conduits, i.e. whereby the measuring conduits' curved center line lies within a plane (G01F1/8481 takes precedence)} - G01F 1/849: {having straight measuring conduits} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract Provided is a Coriolis flow sensor assembly that includes a fluid flow assembly, including a flow tube, wherein the fluid flow assembly is configured to provide a flow path through the flow tube. The flow tube has at least one region of increased stiffness, which may be a result of a structural support component coupled to the flow tube. In another embodiment, the increased stiffness is caused by integral properties of the flow tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly comprising: a structural support component configured to receive a flow tube, the flow tube being configured to provide a flow path for a fluid; and a mechanical drive assembly configured to drive an oscillation of the flow tube and the structural support component while fluid is flowing through the flow path, wherein oscillation of the flow tube in at least one plane is decreased when the flow tube is coupled to the structural support component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component comprises a body that extends away from the flow tube when the flow tube is coupled to the structural support component, wherein a first portion of the body extends away from the flow tube a first distance and wherein a second portion of the body extends away from the flow tube a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component forms a partial annulus about the flow tube when coupled to the flow tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component extends along an entire length of the flow tube when coupled to the flow tube such that the flow tube is in direct contact with at least a portion of the structural support component along the entire length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component is different in a first and a second region relative to a third region, wherein the third region is flanked by the first region and the second region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow tube is configured to be reversibly coupled to the structural support component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component comprises a plurality of ribs distrubuted along its length, wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to receive the flow tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component comprises at least one fin that extends in a lateral direction away from the flow tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, comprising the flow tube coupled to the structural support component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the flow tube comprises a first location having increased stiffness relative to a second location of the flow tube. ### Claim 11 An assembly comprising: a flow tube configured to provide a flow path through the flow tube, wherein the flow tube has a first region and a second region, the first region and the second region both having a greater stiffness than a third region; and a mechanical drive assembly configured to drive an oscillation of the flow tube while fluid is flowing through the flow path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the flow tube is formed from a material having variable wall thickness and wherein a first wall thickness of the first region and a second wall thickness of the second region are greater than a third wall thickness of the third region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first region or the second region is 25% or less of a total length of the flow tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the third region is longer than the first region and the second region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the third region is flanked by the first region and the second region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region are arranged along a flow axis of the flow path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the flow tube defines a generally straight flow path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the flow tube is disposable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, comprising a structural support component reversibly coupled to the flow tube, wherein the structural support component couples to the flow tube to result in the greater stiffness of the first region and the second region relative to the third region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the stiffness is a bending stiffness. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a fluid flow assembly, the fluid flow assembly comprising a flow tube, wherein the fluid flow assembly is configured to provide a flow path through the flow tube, wherein the flow tube is formed from a material having a first stiffness at a first location and a second stiffness at a second location, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness; a mechanical drive assembly configured to drive an oscillation of the flow tube while fluid is flowing through the flow path; and a sensor configured to sense the oscillation of the flow tube and generate a signal indicative of the oscillation.