Patent ID: 6539811
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring the flow of a medium to be measured which flows through a measuring tube in the direction of a measuring tube axis, comprisinga magnetic arrangement which generates a magnetic field which permeates the measuring tube and runs essentially transversely with respect to the measuring tube axis, at least one measuring electrode which is arranged in a lateral region of the measuring tube and is coupled electrically or capacitively to the medium to be measured, and an evaluation/control unit which, using a measurement voltage induced in the at least one measuring electrode, yields information about a volumetric flow of the medium to be measured in the measuring tube, wherein at least one test electrode is provided in an upper region of the measuring tube, the evaluation/control unit passes a test signal to the at least one test electrode to produce a response signal, said response signal is received by the at least one measuring electrode when the medium is at least between the at least one measuring electrode and the at least one test electrode, and the evaluation/control unit uses the response signal to provide information about the degree of filling of the measuring tube.