Single tube parallel flow coriolis mass flow sensor
AssigneeExac Corporation
InventorAndrew K. Levien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single tube parallel flow Coriolis mass flow rate sensor including a single continuous tube folded upon itself in a generally elongated helically looped fashion so that a straight input segment of the loop is positioned in parallel to a straight output segment and the fluid flowing through the loop flows in the same direction in both segments. The extremities of the two straight segments are rigidly joined together and affixed to an enclosing housing. An oscillatory drive mechanism is coupled between the straight segments at their mid-points and a pair of sensing mechanisms are coupled between the tubes at points intermediate the respective ends and their mid-points.
Claims21
A Coriolis mass flow rate sensor comprising:
- a single, continuous tubular conduit formed in a single loop configuration including first and second elongated straight portions which are joined together by a connecting portion, such that said first and second straight portions are mutually parallel and flow through said conduit passes through said first and second straight portions in the same direction;
- first and second vibration isolation plate means disposed near respective opposite ends of said straight portions, said isolation plate means being soley supported by, and rigidly connecting together, adjacent ends of said straight portions to define a pair of elongated straight sensor segments which have a shorter length than said connecting portion;
- drive means coupled to drive points located midway along the lengths of said sensor segments to apply substantially equal but oppositely directed oscillatory forces thereto;
- and
- sensing means coupled between said sensor segments at sensing points located on opposite sides of said drive points to sense relative motion between the sensing points of said segments and to develop corresponding output signals.
In a Coriolis mass flow rate measuring apparatus including a mass flow rate sensor for in-line connection in a flow stream, means for applying actuating power to the sensor to cause it to generate Coriolis force related output signals, and means for receiving and processing said output signals to develop mass flow rate information, an improved mass flow rate sensor, comprising:
- a single continuous tubular conduit formed in a single loop configuration having adjacent parallel first and second elongated straight portions joined together by a connecting portion such that flow through said conduit passes in the same direction through said first and second straight portions;
- vibration isolation plate means solely supported by, and rigidly connecting together, adjacent ends of said first and second straight portions to define between said plate means a pair of elongated sensor segments which are shorter than said connecting portion and to define outside said plate means a pair of distal ends of said straight portions;
- drive means coupled to drive points located midway along the lengths of said sensor segments to apply substantially equal but oppositely directed oscillatory forces thereto;
- and
- sensing means coupled between said sensor segments at sensing points located on opposite sides of said drive points to sense relative motion between said sensor segments and develop said output signals.
A Coriolis mass flow rate sensor comprising:
- a tubular conduit configured as a single loop including elongated first and second straight members in adjacent parallel relationship and joined together by a curved connecting member such that flow through said conduit passes in the same direction through said first and second straight members;
- first and second vibration isolation plate means solely supported by, and rigidly connecting together, adjacent ends of said first and second straight members to define between said plate means a pair of elongated sensor segments and to define outside said plate means said connecting member with a length longer than said straight members;
- drive means coupled to drive points located midway along the lengths of said sensor segments to apply substantially equal but oppositely directed oscillatory forces thereto;
- and
- sensing means coupled between said sensor segments at sensing points located on opposite sides of said drive points to sense relative motion between said segments and develop corresponding output signals.
A Coriolis mass flow rate sensor comprising:
- a tubular conduit configured as a single loop including a first J-shaped member having an elongated straight first portion and a second portion at least a part of which is curved, and a second J-shaped member having an elongated straight third portion and a fourth portion at least a part of which is curved, the distal ends of said second and fourth portions being joined together such that said first and third portions are disposed in adjacent parallel relationship to each other;
- vibration isolation plate means solely supported by, and rigidly connecting together, adjacent ends of said first and third portions to define a pair of elongated straight sensor segments and to define said second and fourth portions as a connecting portion longer than said sensor segments;
- means coupled to drive points located midway along the lengths of said sensor segments to apply thereto substantially equal but oppositely directed oscillatory forces;
- and
- sensing means coupled between said sensor segments at sensing points located on opposite sides of said drive points to sense relative motion between said sensor segments and develop corresponding output signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.