Planar vibratory densitometer, densitometer member, and related method
AssigneeMicro Motion, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Alexander MACDONALD, Jonathan James GOFF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A planar vibratory member (300, 400) is provided, being operable for use in a vibrating densitometer (500). The planar vibratory member (300, 400) comprises a body (302) and a vibratable portion (304) emanating from the body (302), wherein the vibratable portion (304) comprises a plurality of vibratable projections, and wherein the plurality of vibratable projections are cantilevered. The vibratable portion is operable to be vibrated by a driver (504).
Claims8
A planar vibratory member (300, 400) affixed to a base (502) by a border (512) thereof of and operable for use in a vibrating densitometer (500), comprising:
- a body (302) comprising the border and a vibratable portion, wherein the vibratable portion (304) emanates from the body (302), wherein the vibratable portion (304) comprises a cantilevered paddle (616) nested within an outer paddle (618), and wherein the border (512) of the body (502) is substantially rigidly affixed to the base, and surrounds the vibratable portion (504);
- and
- wherein the vibratable portion is operable to be vibrated by a driver coil magnetically opposed to a pickoff sensor coil.
A densitometer (500) operable to determine a density of a fluid therein, comprising:
- a driver (504);
- a planar vibratory member (300, 400) vibratable by the driver (504), comprising a body (302) and a vibratable portion (304) emanating from the body (302), wherein the vibratable portion (304) comprises cantilevered inner paddle (616) nested within an outer paddle (618);
- a border (512) of the body (502) surrounding the vibratable portion (504);
- a base having the border substantially rigidly affixed thereto;
- at least one pickoff sensor (506) configured to detect vibrations of the vibratory member (300, 400);
- meter electronics (700) comprising an interface (701) configured to send an excitation signal to the driver (504) and to receive a vibrational response from the at least one pickoff sensor (506), and to measure a density (725) of the fluid therein, wherein a driver coil and a pickoff coil are magnetically opposed.
A method for operating a vibratory densitometer comprising the steps of:
- providing a vibratory densitometer comprising a base and meter electronics in communication with a first coil and a second coil;
- affixing a planar vibratory member to the base;
- vibrating the planar vibratory member by the first coil and the second coil, wherein the planar vibratory member comprises a body further comprising a border and a vibratable portion emanating from the body, wherein the vibratable portion comprises an inner paddle nested within an outer paddle;
- surrounding the vibratable portion of the body with the border, wherein the border is substantially rigidly affixed to the base;
- receiving an excitation signal by the first coil and the second coil;
- outputting a detection signal from the first coil and the second coil, wherein the first coil and the second coil are operable to alternately act as either a driver or pickoff;
- controlling a timing of the excitation signal and the detection signal with a switching circuit with the meter electronics, such that the excitation signal is provided to the first coil and the second coil by meter electronics, followed by meter electronics receiving a detection signal from the first coil and the second coil, wherein the first and second coil are magnetically opposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.