Coriolis flow sensor assembly

• US 10,422,678 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lang, Philipp, Rutten, Jens, Seeley, Charles Erklin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowtin, Jewel V
• Application Number:
  US15/832,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20190170553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8413 means for influencing the flowmeter's motional or vibrational behaviour, e.g., conduit support or fixing means, or conduit attachments
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8418 motion or vibration balancing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8472 having curved measuring conduits, i.e. whereby the measuring conduits' curved center line lies within a plane G01F1/8481 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/849 having straight measuring conduits

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

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.

2. 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.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural support component forms a partial annulus about the flow tube when coupled to the flow tube.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow tube is configured to be reversibly coupled to the structural support component.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The assembly of claim 1, comprising the flow tube coupled to the structural support component.

10. 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.

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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the third region is longer than the first region and the second region.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the third region is flanked by the first region and the second region.

16. 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.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the flow tube defines a generally straight flow path.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the flow tube is disposable.

19. 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.

20. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the stiffness is a bending stiffness.

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.