Flowmeter

• US 20100005906A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Makino, Kazuhiro, Shimizu, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.357
• 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 1/8422 exciters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8427 detectors
• 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 1/8477 with multiple measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8481 having loop-shaped measuring conduits, e.g. the measuring conduits form a loop with a crossing point

Abstract

A flow meter of Coriolis type includes a supporting base that supports a pair of fluid pipes in a manner capable of being vibrated, and a frame fixed to the supporting base. The frame is integrally formed with a mounting portion disposed between the fluid pipes and having a thickness that does not interfere with the fluid pipes, a reinforcing portion disposed at the outer circumference of the mounting portion and enhancing the rigidity of the mounting portion, and a fixing portion for being fixed to the supporting base. The reinforcing portion has an outer wall portion that protrudes at least to one side of the thickness direction of the mounting portion, and substantially continuously surrounds the outer circumference of the fluid pipes. Penetrating portions for disposing the coils corresponding to respective magnetic substances mounted on the fluid pipe are formed in the mounting portion.

Claims

1. A flowmeter comprising:

a pair of fluid pipes forming a flow path for allowing a measurement fluid to flow therethrough, having a substantially equal shape and equal size with each other, and arranged to be substantially mirror-symmetric and parallel;

an oscillator including a coil and a magnetic substance for oscillating the fluid pipes;

a plurality of detectors disposed to be spaced apart from each other along the flow path of the fluid pipes and including a coil and a magnetic substance for detecting a state of vibration of the fluid pipes; and

a calculator that calculates a mass flow rate of the measurement fluid that passes through the flow path of the fluid pipes based on each vibration that is detected by the plurality of detectors,

the flowmeter further comprising;

a supporting base to which an end portion of each of the fluid pipes is mounted and which supports each of the fluid pipes in a manner capable of being vibrated; and

a frame fixed to the supporting base,

wherein the frame is integrally formed with a mounting portion disposed between the pair of fluid pipes and having a thickness that does not interfere with the pair of fluid pipes, a reinforcing portion disposed at an outer circumference of the mounting portion and enhancing a rigidity of the mounting portion, and a fixing portion for being fixed to the supporting base,

the reinforcing portion has an outer wall portion that protrudes at least to one side of a thickness direction of the mounting portion, and substantially continuously surrounds an outer circumference of the fluid pipes, and

penetrating portions for disposing the coils corresponding to the respective magnetic substances mounted on the fluid pipe are formed in the mounting portion.

2. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the penetrating portions are formed with through-holes.

3. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the penetrating portions are formed with cut-out portions, and further comprise a reinforcing section for reinforcing the cut-out portions.

4. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion has a plate-shaped plate portion having a thickness smaller than a distance between the pair of fluid pipes, and a width of the outer wall portion relative to the thickness direction is larger than the distance between the pair of fluid pipes.

5. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall portion is formed by interconnection of a pair of first portions extending in a direction away from the supporting base and a second portion disposed at a position distant from the supporting base and connecting the pair of first portions.

6. The flowmeter according to claim 5, wherein the second portion is bent or warped and formed so as to be arranged along the three coils.

7. The flowmeter according to claim 5, wherein the mounting portion connects the first portions with each other in an inside of the outer wall portion.

8. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein an opening obtained by cutting out the mounting portion is formed in the vicinity of the supporting base, and the mounting portion is not in contact with the supporting base because of the cutting out.

9. The flowmeter according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of connection members that connects between the pair of fluid pipes at a position between the supporting base and the detectors, for regulating a distance between the pair of fluid pipes at the connection portions, wherein the mounting portion has a cut-out opening so as not to interfere with the pair of connection members.

10. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the frame further has, between the supporting base and the penetrating portions, a second reinforcing portion formed on the mounting portion, enhancing the rigidity of the mounting portion and having a thickness that does not interfere with the pair of fluid pipes.

11. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the frame is constituted in such a manner that a pair of leg portions disposed to stand on the supporting base and a beam portion disposed to bridge between the pair of leg portions are integrally formed, and the penetrating portions are formed in the mounting portion at the beam portion.

12. The flowmeter according to claim 11, wherein the beam portion is formed to have a convex shape.

13. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the supporting base is composed of a member made of metal, and a resin member that is made of a resin having a thick plate shape and serves to weaken transmittance of vibration to the supporting base is disposed on a surface of the supporting base opposite to a surface to which the frame is fixed.

14. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein a cut-out portion for wiring for passing a wiring member connected to the coil through the outer wall portion is formed in the outer wall portion, and a guiding chip for guiding the wiring member penetrating through the cut-out portion in a space inside the outer wall portion and preventing the wiring member from being brought into contact with the fluid pipe is provided.

15. The flowmeter according to claim 14, wherein the guiding chip is integrally formed with the frame so as to be connected to the outer wall portion and/or the mounting portion.

16. The flowmeter according to claim 1, further comprising a bobbin for winding the coil and a yoke for attaching the magnetic substance, wherein

a positioning portion for positioning the yoke relative to the bobbin is formed in the bobbin,

the fixing portion protrudes to both sides of a thickness direction of the mounting portion, and

the fixing portion is provided with an insertion hole for inserting a fastening tool for fastening the fixing portion to the supporting base, where the insertion hole is made to be a long hole capable of moving the frame in the thickness direction.

17. The flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the pair of fluid pipes comprises:

an inner pipe made of a fluororesin in which inner circumferential surface is in contact with the flow path; and

an outer pipe having fibers that are arranged in order to surround an outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe and a resin that is cured in a closely adhering state between the fibers that are arranged in order, and having an elastic modulus larger than that of the inner pipe.