Patent ID: 6484591
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
A Coriolis mass flow rate/density sensor to be installed in a pipe through which a fluid flows at least temporarily, said Coriolis mass flow rate/density sensor comprising a single, V-shaped measuring tube bent in a plane with respect to an axis of symmetry and comprising:a straight inlet section with an inlet axis lying in the plane; a straight outlet section with an outlet axis lying in the plane and aligned with the inlet axis; an inlet bend; an outlet bend; a vertex bend, the inlet section being seamlessly connected with the inlet bend, and the outlet section being seamlessly connected with the outlet bend; a straight first tube section, which seamlessly connects the inlet bend with the vertex bend; and a straight second tube section, which seamlessly connects the outlet bend with the vertex bend, onto which first tube section a first and a second clamping body are clamped opposite each other near the inlet bend to define a first limit of a measuring length forming a tube section of the measuring tube, onto which second tube section a third and a fourth clamping body are clamped opposite each other near the outlet bend to define a second limit of the measuring length, each of the clamping bodies having an internal surface, which rests against the measuring tube, and an external surface, which is remote from the internal surface and the measuring tube, which external surfaces of the first and third clamping bodies have a first flat body attached thereto, and which external surfaces of the second and fourth clamping bodies have a second flat body attached thereto, which two flat bodies are screwed together and to the clamping bodies, with a first spacing element interposed at a first long side and a second spacing element interposed at a second long side, which two flat bodies have an opposed-action body fixed thereto which extends along the axis of symmetry up to the vertex bend, where it supports a first portion of an exciter assembly, which has a principal axis and a second portion of which is fixed to the vertex bend, which exciter assembly excites the tube section in a third mode of vibration at an associated natural frequency f3, to which first flat body are fixed an inlet-side first sensor support, a longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the first tube section, and an outlet-side second sensor support, a longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the second tube section, and to which second flat body are fixed an inlet-side first mount, a longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the first sensor support, and an outlet-side second mount, a longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the second sensor support, a first velocity or displacement sensor being fixed to the first tube section and the first sensor support and a second velocity or displacement sensor being fixed to the second tube section and the second sensor support at locations where, if the tube section is excited in the third mode of vibration, a deflection of the tube section caused by a disturbance originating from the pipe has a first and a second zero, respectively, and said inlet section and said outlet section being held by a supporting frame to which a housing is fixed which is attached to the mounts by means of a first spacer, lying opposite the first velocity or displacement sensor, and a second spacer, lying opposite the second velocity or displacement sensor, respectively.