Measuring transducer of vibration-type

• US 20070234822A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Bitto, Ennio, Lorenz, Rainer, Bernhard, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.355
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8409 constructional details
• 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 1/8477 with multiple measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/185 Connecting means, e.g. bypass conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49874 Prestressing rod, filament or strand

Abstract

The measuring transducer includes at least one measuring tube communicating with a line connected during operation for conveying a medium to be measured, and a support element oscillatably holding the at least one measuring tube. Additionally, it is provided that the support element contains at least two passageways, via which the at least one measuring tube communicates with the line, and that the at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, at at least one end to the support element by means of a screwed-fitting at one of the passageways. Alternatively or in supplementation thereof, it is further provided that the at least one measuring tube is, at least in part, made of cold-strengthened, for instance cold-stretched or autofrettaged, material. As required, the measuring transducer can further include at least two measuring tubes communicating with the line for conveying the medium; each of these two measuring tubes is to be connected to an inlet-side distributor element and an outlet-side distributor element. In such case, at least one of the two distributor elements can be embodied as an integral component of the support element, so that the support element can be kept, at least in the area of this at least one distributor element, free of materially bonded, joined locations, especially free of solder, braze or weld connections. The measuring transducer of the invention is especially provided also for applications in which the medium to be measured acts with a pressure of more than 500 bar, especially over 700 bar, on the measuring tube.

Claims

1. A measuring transducer of a vibration-type, especially a Coriolis mass flow measuring transducer, for an inline measuring device serving for measuring a medium flowing in a line, which measuring transducer comprises:

at least one measuring tube, especially a metal measuring tube, communicating with the line and serving for conveying the medium; and

a support element serving for oscillatable holding of said at least one measuring tube, said support element containing at least first and second passageways, wherein;

said at least one measuring tube communicates with the line via said at least first and second passageways; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, at least a first end to said support element at said first passageway by means of a first screwed-fitting.

2. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least said first passageway has an internal screw thread for said first screwed fitting.

3. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least a first end of said at least one measuring tube is essentially one of;

cone-shaped and tapering outwardly.

4. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said first end of said at least one measuring tube, especially a first end embodied as an inner cone, is received by a sealing seat of said first screwed-fitting.

5. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said sealing seat of said first screwed-fitting includes a sealing surface, which contacts, at least sectionally, a first sealing surface of said at least one measuring tube essentially complementary thereto, provided at the first end of said at least one measuring tube.

6. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said first sealing surface of said at least one measuring tube, especially a conically shaped, first sealing surface, is, at least in part, convexly shaped.

7. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said sealing surface of said sealing seat of said first screwed fitting, especially a conically shaped sealing surface, is, at least in part, concavely shaped.

8. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said sealing surface of said sealing seat of said first screwed fitting, especially a conically shaped sealing surface, has an included angle, which differs from a complementary included angle of the sealing surface, especially a conically shaped sealing surface, of the first end of said at least one measuring tube.

9. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said included angle of the sealing surface of said sealing seat is smaller than the included angle of the sealing surface of the first end of said at least one measuring tube.

10. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sealing seat is provided by a connecting element of the screwed fitting; and

said connecting element is connected, especially releasably, with said support element at the first passageway.

11. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said at least one connecting element is screwed into the first passageway.

12. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sealing seat is provided by a connecting element of the screwed fitting; and

said connecting element is formed in said support element at the first passageway and is, therefore, an integral part of said support element.

13. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first screwed fitting includes at least one thrust collar affixed at the first end of said at least one measuring tube, especially a thrust collar which is screwed on and/or metal.

14. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sealing seat is provided by a connecting element of the screwed-fitting and the connecting element is arranged at the first passageway; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, to said connecting element of the first screwed fitting by means of a screw sleeve, which acts against a thrust collar affixed to said at least one measuring tube, especially a thrust collar which is screwed on and/or metal.

15. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first screwed-fitting comprises a cutting-ring connection.

16. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the at least one screwed fitting comprises at least one cutting ring, especially a metal cutting ring, contacting said at least one measuring tube.

17. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said sealing seat is provided by a connecting element of the screwed-fitting;

said connecting element is arranged at the first passageway; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, to said connecting element by means of a screw sleeve, which acts against a cutting ring contacting the at least one measuring tube.

18. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first screwed fitting is embodied as a clamping ring connection.

19. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said at least one screwed-fitting comprises at least one clamping ring, especially a metal clamping ring, contacting said at least one measuring tube.

20. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said sealing seat is provided by a connecting element of the screwed-fitting; and

said connecting element is arranged at the first passageway; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, to said connecting element by means of a screw sleeve, which acts against a clamping ring, especially a metal clamping ring, contacting said at least one measuring tube.

21. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, at a second end, especially an outlet end, to said support element at the second passageway by means of a second screwed-fitting.

22. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one measuring transducer comprises two measuring tubes of essentially equal construction, especially two measuring tubes extending essentially parallel to one another.

23. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one measuring tube, includes a central tube segment, which comprises a cold-strengthened material, especially a cold-stretched or autofrettaged material.

24. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an inner diameter of said at least one measuring tube and a wall thickness of said at least one measuring tube are selected such that a ratio of said inner diameter to said wall thickness lies in a range between 1.2 and 8.

25. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said support element is a metal component, especially a solid and/or monolithic, metal component, containing passageways, via which said at least one measuring tube communicates with the line connected to the measuring transducer.

26. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one measuring tube is curved, especially in U- or V-shape.

27. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one measuring tube is connected, especially releasably, with said support element by means of screwed-fittings, especially high pressure resistant fittings.

28. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said at least one of the screwed-fittings is embodied as one of;

a screw-, clamping- or cutting-ring, and a screwed-fitting.

29. The measuring transducer as claimed in claims 1, used for measuring a medium flowing in a pipeline, wherein:

the medium acts with a pressure of more than 500 bar, especially of more than 700 bar, on the measuring tube.

30. An inline measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring at least one parameter, for example a mass flow, density, viscosity, etc., of a medium flowing in a pipeline, which inline measuring device comprises a measuring transducer:

at least one measuring tube, especially a metal measuring tube, communicating with the line and serving for conveying the medium; and

a support element serving for oscillatable holding of said at least one measuring tube, said support element containing at least first and second passageways, wherein;

said at least one measuring tube communicates with the line via said at least first and second passageways; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, at least a first end to said support element at said first passageway by means of a first screwed-fitting.

31. A method for manufacturing a measuring transducer:

at least one measuring tube, especially a metal measuring tube, communicating with the line and serving for conveying the medium; and

a support element serving for oscillatable holding of said at least one measuring tube, said support element containing at least first and second passageways, wherein;

said at least one measuring tube communicates with the line via said at least first and second passageways; and

said at least one measuring tube is affixed, especially releasably, at least a first end to said support element at said first passageway by means of a first screwed-fitting;

said method comprising a step of;

autofrettaging the measuring tube.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the step of:

mounting the measuring tube in the support element.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the step of autofrettaging the measuring tube is performed after the mounting of the measuring tube in the support element.