Patent ID: 7784359
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A Coriolis effect mass flow meter comprising: a) a housing defining an interior chamber having a central axis, an inlet and an outlet; b) a leading disc supported for oscillatory movement within the interior chamber of the housing, the leading disc defining a leading flow path in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein a portion of the leading flow path extends radially with respect to the central axis so that fluid passing therein generates a first Coriolis force on the leading disc; c) a leading sensor to produce a leading oscillating signal representative of the oscillatory movement of the leading disc; d) a trailing disc axially spaced from the leading disc and supported for oscillatory movement within the interior chamber, the trailing disc defining a trailing flow path in fluid communication with the leading flow path and the outlet, wherein a portion of the trailing flow path extends radially with respect to the central axis so that fluid passing therein generates a second Coriolis force on the trailing disc; and e) a trailing sensor to produce a trailing oscillating signal representative of the oscillatory movement of the trailing disc, wherein a phase difference between the leading and trailing oscillating signals can be used to determine a mass flow rate of fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.