Fluid parameter sensor and meter

• US 9,752,911 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concentric Meter Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concentric Meter Corporation
• Inventors: Cage, Donald R., Schott, Michael N., Schartau, Kristian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US14/981,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 73861355-861357
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8422 exciters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8459 vibrating means being located inside the measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/849 having straight measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/022 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/16 by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/002 using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis G01N9/34 takes precedence

Abstract

An example fluid parameter sensor and meter is disclosed to measure at least one parameter of a fluid. In an example, the fluid parameter meter includes an outer conduit. A sensor element assembly is disposed in the outer conduit and has at least one straight uniform sensor element with an open interior to convey the fluid inside of the sensor element assembly. At least one mounting flexure is fixedly attached to the sensor element assembly and to the outer conduit. The at least one mounting flexure is configured to enable the sensor element assembly to vibrate in a natural radial mode shape of vibration. At least one vibration driver causes the sensor element assembly to vibrate. At least one vibration sensor senses the vibration of the sensor element assembly.

Claims

1. A fluid parameter meter to measure at least one parameter of a fluid, comprising:

an outer conduit;

a sensor element assembly disposed in the outer conduit and having at least one straight uniform sensor element with an open interior to convey the fluid inside of the sensor element assembly;

at least one mounting flexure fixedly attached to the sensor element assembly and to the outer conduit, the at least one mounting flexure configured to enable the sensor element assembly to vibrate in a natural radial mode shape of vibration;

at least one vibration driver to cause the sensor element assembly to vibrate; and

at least one vibration sensor to sense the vibration of the sensor element assembly.

2. A vibrating element type meter to measure at least one parameter of a fluid, comprising:

an outer conduit for conveying the fluid;

a sensor element assembly disposed in the outer conduit and comprised of at least one substantially straight uniform sensor element having an interior configured to convey the fluid inside of the sensor element assembly, and being separated from the outer conduit by a substantially uniform annular space configured to convey the fluid outside of the sensor element assembly;

one or more mounting flexures fixedly attached to the at least one sensor element and to the outer conduit, the one or more mounting flexures being configured so that the at least one sensor element to vibrate in a natural radial mode shape of vibration;

at least one vibration driver to cause the sensor element assembly to vibrate;

at least one vibration sensor to sense the vibration of the sensor element assembly; and

control electronics cooperating with the vibration sensor and the vibration driver to controllably vibrate the sensor element assembly in at least one prescribed mode of vibration, at a prescribed magnitude;

wherein the control electronics being operable to produce at least one output signal from the control electronics proportionally related to the at least one parameter of a fluid.

3. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the one parameter of a fluid is selected from the group comprising at least one of:

fluid density, Mass concentration, Volume concentration, Reynolds Number;

fluid viscosity, absolute and kinematic;

fluid flow rate; and

fluid calculated result.

4. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the vibration driver and the vibration sensor each includes one of:

a permanent magnet mounted in association with the sensor element assembly and an electrical coil mounted in association with the outer conduit; and

an armature mounted in association with the sensor element assembly and an electrical coil mounted in association with the outer conduit.

5. The meter according to claim 2, further including a temperature sensor where the temperature sensor provides a temperature related signal to the control electronics proportionally related to the temperature of the sensor element assembly.

6. The meter according to claim 2, further comprising a wear guard associated with the sensor element assembly to protect the sensor element assembly from damage.

7. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the sensor element further includes openings for the fluid to flow between the interior of the sensor element, and the annular space.

8. The meter according to claim 7, wherein the openings are shaped to induce fluid to flow there through.

9. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the sensor element assembly is comprised of one of:

a plurality of sensor elements arranged concentrically, and a plurality of sensor elements arranged in parallel.

10. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the at least one prescribed mode of vibration inverts its shape at least once along the length of the sensor element assembly.

11. A vibrating element type sensor for a meter to measure at least one parameter of a fluid, comprising:

an outer conduit for conveying the fluid;

a sensor element assembly disposed in the outer conduit and comprised of at least one straight uniform sensor element having an open interior configured to convey the fluid inside of the sensor element assembly, and being separated from the outer conduit by a substantially uniform annular space configured to convey the fluid outside of the sensor element assembly;

one of more mounting flexures fixedly attached to the at least one sensor element and to the outer conduit , the one or more mounting flexures being configured so that the at least one sensor element to vibrate in a natural radial mode shape of vibration;

at least one vibration driver to cause the sensor element assembly to vibrate; and

at least one vibration sensor to sense the vibration of the sensor element assembly.

12. The sensor according to claim 11, capable of operating in conjunction with controlling electronics, wherein the one parameter of a fluid is selected from the group comprising fluid density, fluid viscosity, fluid flow rate, and fluid calculated result.

13. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein the vibration driver includes a permanent magnet mounted in association with the sensor element assembly and an electrical coil mounted in association with the outer conduit.

14. The sensor according to claim 11, further including a temperature sensor where the temperature sensor provides a temperature related signal to control electronics proportionally related to the temperature of the sensor element assembly.

15. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein the vibration sensor includes a permanent magnet mounted in association with the sensor element assembly and an electrical coil mounted in association with the outer conduit.

16. The sensor according to claim 11, further comprising a wear guard associated with the sensor element assembly to protect the sensor element assembly from damage.

17. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein the sensor element further includes openings for the fluid to flow between the interior of the sensor element, and the annular space.

18. The sensor according to claim 17, wherein the openings are shaped to induce fluid to flow there through.

19. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein the sensor element assembly is comprised of one of:

a plurality of sensor elements arranged concentrically, and a plurality of sensor elements arranged in parallel.

20. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein the at least one prescribed mode of vibration inverts its shape at least once along the length of the sensor element assembly.