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US 6,308,580 B1Granted
Coriolis flowmeter having a reduced flag dimension
AssigneeMicro Motion, Inc.
InventorsMatthew T. Crisfield, Steven James Johnston, John Richard McCarthy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Coriolis flowmeter sensor having a reduced flag dimension. In order to have a reduced flag dimension, the entire length of the flow tubes must vibrate to make the flowmeter sensor more sensitive to Coriolis effects. When the entire length of the flow tubes vibrate, a first set of brace bars connected to the flow tube separates the frequencies of vibration in the flow tubes. A second set of brace bars connected to the flow tubes enhances the zero stability of the flowmeter.
Claims15
A Coriolis flowmeter comprising:
- a pair of parallel oriented flow tubes wherein each of said flow tubes is divided into a plurality of segments including:
- in-line segments defining opposing end portions of each of said flow tubes wherein said in-line segments have a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of a pipeline and is contained in a first plane containing said pipeline,
- bending segments in each of said flow tubes that extend from an end of said in-line segments and define a bend that changes said longitudinal axis of each of said flow tubes from being oriented in said first plane to being oriented substantially perpendicular to said first plane, and
- a substantially u-shaped segment that extends between said bending segments on opposing end portions of said flow tubes, wherein said substantially u-shaped segment in each of said flow tubes defines a curve in each of said flow tubes that changes said longitudinal axis of said flow tube to be oriented in a direction that is substantially parallel to said first plane to traverse between said bending segments;
- a first set brace bars affixed to each of said flow tubes at points in said bending segments where said longitudinal axis of said flow tubes is substantially forty-five degrees from being parallel with said first plane;
- said first set of brace bars providing frequency separation between modes of vibration in said flow tubes;
- and
- a second set of brace bars affixed to said flow tubes at points in said bending segments on said opposing ends of said flow tubes between said in-line segments and said first set of brace bars wherein said second set of brace bars enhance zero stability for each of said flow tubes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.