Coriolis flowmeter having its flow calibration factor independent of material density

A single tube Coriolis flowmeter of enhanced flow sensitivity in which material flow induces Coriolis deflections in a flow tube and Coriolis-like deflections in a balance bar vibrationally coupled to the flow tube. Both the Coriolis deflections and the Coriolis-like deflections have a phase shift determined by material flow and are used co-adjuvantly to derive material flow information. The flowmeter achieves a constant flow sensitivity over a range of changes in material density by 1) varying the flow sensitivity in a first direction under control of the ratio between the drive mode vibration amplitude of the flow tube and the balance bar and 2) varying the flow sensitivity in an opposite direction under control of the ratio between the Coriolis deflection amplitude of the flow tube and the Coriolis-like deflection of the balance bar. The drive mode vibration amplitude ratio varies with changes in drive mode frequency caused by changes in material density. The amplitude ratio of the Coriolis defection and the Coriolis-like deflection changes with changes in the magnitude of the separation of the drive mode frequency and the second bending mode frequency to the balance bar density which, in turn, is caused by changes in material density.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a single tube Coriolis flowmeter and in 
particular, to a Coriolis flowmeter having a flow calibration factor that 
is independent of material density. 
Problem 
Single tube Coriolis flowmeters are desirable because they eliminate the 
expense and the plugging problems of flow splitting manifolds of dual tube 
Coriolis flowmeters. Prior art single tube Coriolis flowmeters have a 
disadvantage in that as the density of the measured material changes, the 
calibration or flow sensitivity of the meter changes. It is desired that a 
flowmeter generate accurate output information, such as mass flow rate, 
regardless of the density of the material flow. Thus, if a flowmeter 
accurately outputs a mass flow rate reading of 10 lbs/minute for a 
material having a specific gravity of 1.0 (water), it is desired that the 
meter accurately output a reading of 10 lbs/minute for the same mass flow 
rate for material flows of other densities. 
A flowmeter that has this capability is said to have a calibration factor 
that is independent of the density of its material flow, or a flat 
calibration factor. Such a flowmeter is also said to have a constant flow 
sensitivity in that it accurately outputs the same mass flow rate 
regardless of the density of the material flow. Sensitivity (s) is defined 
as microseconds of time delay between the velocity sensors of the flow 
meter divided by the mass flow rate 
##EQU1## 
where .DELTA.t equals the time difference from the velocity sensors of the 
flowmeter and where 
##EQU2## 
equals mass flow rate. Thus, for a meter to have a flat calibration factor 
or a constant flow sensitivity, this expression has to have a constant 
value for any flow rate and any material density. It would provide, for 
example, an output of one microsecond of time delay for a flow rate of 10 
lbs/minute regardless of material density and would provide an output of 
10 microseconds time delay for a flow rate of 100 lbs/minute regardless of 
material density. In both cases the meter sensitivity is 0.1 
microsecond/lb./min. A flowmeter having the above characteristics would be 
advantageous in that it would eliminate or minimize the need for further 
calibration or compensation. 
Flowmeter change in calibration or flow sensitivity has traditionally been 
minimized by use of massive counter balance members (henceforth known as 
balance bars). Any remaining change in sensitivity with density has been 
compensated by use of correction algorithms based on the resonant 
frequency of the meter in its drive mode. The use of massive balance bars 
has disadvantages in cost as well as in preventing the use of other 
performance enhancing features such as sensitivity enhancing balance bars. 
A correction algorithm has the disadvantage that it must be calibrated 
using material of differing density and it must be executed in software. 
The present invention eliminates the need for a massive balance bar and a 
correction algorithm by a unique design of the balance bar. In order to 
understand this design, it is first necessary to understand how 
traditional Coriolis flowmeters operate. 
In traditional dual tube Coriolis flowmeters, the flow tubes are vibrated 
out of phase with each other. The dual flow tubes act as a counterbalance 
to each other to create a dynamically balanced structure. Velocity sensors 
are located at two locations along the flow tubes to sense the relative 
velocity between the flow tubes. The velocity sensors are usually located 
equal distances upstream and downstream from the tubes' midpoints. Each 
velocity sensor consists of a magnet fastened to one flow tube and a coil 
fastened to the other. The relative motion of the coil through the 
magnetic field produces a voltage. The sinusoidal motion of the vibrating 
flow tubes produces a sinusoidal voltage in each sensor. When there is no 
material flow, the voltages from the two velocity sensors are in phase 
with each other. With material flow, the vibrating tubes are distorted by 
the Coriolis force of the moving material to cause a phase difference 
between the two sensor voltages. The mass flow rate is proportional to 
this phase difference. It is important to note that both flow tubes are 
distorted equally (for an equal division of flow) and each flow tube has 
the same phase shift as the other at corresponding locations. The upstream 
sensor magnet velocity has the same phase as the upstream coil velocity 
and both have the same phase as the voltage generated by the magnet-coil 
sensor pair. The downstream sensor has a different phase than the upstream 
but again, the coil on one tube has the same phase as the magnet on the 
other. To determine the time delay, .DELTA.t, the phase delay between the 
two velocity sensors is divided by the drive frequency (in radians/sec). 
Dividing the time delay by the meter sensitivity gives the flow rate. 
In single tube flowmeters, the vibrating flow tube is counterbalanced by a 
balance bar rather than another flow tube. Velocity sensor magnets (or 
coils) are mounted to the balance bar as though it were the second flow 
tube described above. However, since material does not flow through the 
balance bar, it does not experience any Coriolis force or significant 
phase shift with flow. The velocity sensors sense the relative velocity 
between the phase shifted flow tube and the non-phase shifted balance bar. 
The flow tube and balance bar velocities at each velocity sensor may be 
represented by velocity vectors having phase angle and amplitude. The 
relative velocity (and voltage out of each velocity sensor) can be 
determined by adding the two velocity vectors. The flow tube velocity 
vector has a phase shift due to material flow. The balance bar velocity 
vector has zero phase shift. Adding these vectors gives the net phase 
shift with flow of the velocity sensor. The net phase shift of the output 
voltage of each velocity sensor is reduced by the non-phase shifted 
balance bar. This net phase shift reduction equates to a reduction in the 
flow sensitivity of the flowmeter. 
In traditional single tube flowmeters, the reduction in flow sensitivity is 
a function of material density. One reason is that as material density 
changes, the vibration amplitude ratio between the flow tube and the 
balance bar changes in order to conserve momentum and keep the meter 
balanced. When the vibration amplitude ratio changes, the lengths of the 
velocity vectors change. An increase in material density causes the flow 
tube vibration amplitude to decrease and the balance bar vibration 
amplitude to increase. Thus, the velocity vectors for the flow tube 
decrease in length and the velocity vectors for the balance bar increase 
in length. Since the flow tube velocity vectors have a phase shift due to 
material flow and the balance bar vectors have none, the changes in length 
result in a decrease in phase of the sum of the velocity vectors and a 
decrease in sensitivity of the meter with the increase in material 
density. As a result, such a meter would have an accurate output of a flow 
rate of 10 pounds/minute for water, but for salt water (higher density) at 
the same flow rate the output might be only 9.9 pounds/minute. For a low 
density material such as kerosine the meter output might be 10.1 
pounds/minute. These three different flow readings are all for an actual 
flow rate of 10 pounds/minute, but because the meter sensitivity changes 
with material density, the indicated flow rate changes. Such a meter does 
not have a flat calibration factor or constant flow sensitivity for 
materials of different densities. The reason for this is that the 
flowmeter has a different time delay between its sensors for materials of 
different densities for the same actual flow rate. 
There are other reasons for the flow sensitivity of single tube meters to 
change with material density. One such reason is that the balance of a 
single tube flowmeter is extremely difficult to maintain under conditions 
of differing material density. The above discussion of the change in 
amplitude ratio between the flow tube and the balance bar assumes that 
perfect balance is maintained between the two by way of the amplitude 
ratio shift with material density. When the correct amplitude ratio for 
perfect balance is not achieved, then momentum is conserved by a shift in 
the location of the nodes at the ends of the vibrating part of the flow 
tube. This location shift has the effect of transferring mass from the 
flow tube to the balance bar (for a higher material density) but it also 
changes the flow sensitivity. The sensitivity increases as the nodes move 
in toward the pickoffs and decreases as the nodes move outwards away from 
the pickoffs. 
There are also other less understood causes of flow sensitivity shift with 
material density. The cause, however, does not matter. The present 
invention can negate the change in sensitivity by creating an additional 
equal and opposite change in sensitivity so that the net change in 
sensitivity is eliminated. 
Solution 
The above and other problems are solved and an advance in the art is 
achieved by the present invention in accordance with which a single tube 
Coriolis flowmeter is provided having a balance bar that has a phase shift 
at its velocity sensors that is proportional to material flow rate. 
Furthermore the balance bar sensitivity to material flow changes with 
material density in such a manner so as to cancel the flowmeter change in 
sensitivity. For example, since the prior art flowmeter becomes less 
sensitive to flow due to amplitude ratio change as material density 
increases, the balance bar becomes more sensitive to the Coriolis 
oscillations of the flow tube at a precisely offsetting rate so that the 
net result is a flowmeter that is insensitive to material density. 
Both in the present invention as well as in prior art single tube Coriolis 
flowmeters, the balance bar is driven out of phase with respect to the 
flow tube in the first bending mode. The drive frequency is typically the 
resonant frequency of both the balance bar and the material filled flow 
tube in the first bending mode of each. In prior art single tube Coriolis 
flowmeters the balance bar lacks significant response to the Coriolis 
forces and Coriolis deflections of the flow tube. In the present invention 
the balance bar is designed so that it responds to the Coriolis forces on 
the flow tube by bending in its second bending mode. 
With material flow, the vibrating flow tube deflects in response to the 
applied Coriolis forces. The drive vibrations of the flow tube are 
substantially greater in amplitude than the Coriolis deflections since the 
drive vibrations occur at the resonant frequency of the material filled 
flow tube while the Coriolis deflections are at a frequency far from the 
resonant frequency of the flow tube for the Coriolis deflection mode 
shape. The Coriolis forces are applied by the flowing material to the flow 
tube at the same frequency as the drive vibrations. The Coriolis force 
induced deflection of the flow tube, however, is of the same shape as the 
second bending mode. The second bending mode resonant frequency of the 
flow tube is much higher than the frequency of application of the Coriolis 
force (the drive frequency). Thus, because the Coriolis force induced 
deflections are at a frequency far removed from the resonant frequency of 
its mode shape (the second bending), the Coriolis induced deflections in 
the flow tube are very much smaller than the driver induced (first bending 
mode) deflections. The small Coriolis deflections in the second bending 
mode of the flow tube produce the phase delay between the two velocity 
sensor signals in response to material flow. 
The balance bar of the present invention is connected at its ends to the 
flow tube by means of brace bars which transmit the vibrational forces of 
the flow tube to the balance bar. In prior art meters the balance bar, 
like the flow tube, has its second bending mode resonant frequency much 
higher than the first bending or drive mode. Since the Coriolis 
deflections of the flow tube are very small and occur at a frequency far 
removed from the balance bar second bending resonant frequency, the forces 
transmitted to the balance bar by way of the brace bars result in no 
significant excitation of the second bending mode of the balance bar. 
Thus, in prior art meters the flow tube has little response to the 
Coriolis forces and the balance bar has none. 
The present invention involves shifting the frequency order of the various 
mode shapes of the balance bar. This can be confusing. Vibration modes are 
defined according to their shapes, not their frequency order. A useful 
rule is that the mode number is equal to the number of nodes minus one. 
The first mode has two nodes (at the ends). The second has three (at the 
ends and in the center). The third bending mode has four nodes, etc. 
In accordance with the present invention, the second bending mode frequency 
of the balance bar is lowered so that it is close to the first bending 
mode (drive frequency) of both the flow tube and the balance bar. The 
first bending (drive) mode which has large vibration amplitude in both the 
flow tube and the balance bar, fails to excite the balance bar in the 
second bending mode because of the difference in mode shapes. In the first 
bending mode the deflected shape of the balance bar (and flow tube) is 
such that the ends have no displacement while the length between the ends 
has increasing displacement with the maximum displacement occurring at the 
center. In the second bending mode the ends and center have no 
displacement with the maximum displacements occurring at about the one 
quarter and three quarter length points. However, the sign of the 
displacement changes at the center point so that one-half of the balance 
bar (or flow tube) has positive displacement while the other half has 
negative displacement. The result of the difference in mode shapes is that 
while the vibration of the first bending mode is putting energy into one 
half of the balance bar in the second bending mode, it is taking an equal 
amount of energy out of the other half of the balance bar. Therefore the 
net effect is that the second bending mode is not excited by vibration in 
the first bending mode even though the resonant frequencies may be close. 
The Coriolis deflection of the flow tube has the same shape as the second 
bending mode in that the displacement of the flow tube has an opposite 
sign on either side of the flow tube center point. Thus, the Coriolis 
deflection of the flow tube is able to excite the second bending mode of 
the balance bar via the forces transmitted through the brace bars. In the 
present invention, the second bending mode resonant frequency of the 
balance bar is made close to the drive frequency. The excitation of the 
balance bar second bending mode by the Coriolis deflection of the flow 
tube becomes sufficient to cause significant phase delay in the balance 
bar at its velocity sensor locations. This phase delay between the balance 
bar locations adds to the phase delay between the corresponding flow tube 
locations, and changes flow sensitivity. This change in sensitivity is 
used to reduce the effect of changes in material density on the meter's 
flow sensitivity. 
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the second bending 
mode resonant frequency of the balance bar is below the drive frequency of 
the flow tube and the balance bar. It is well known that when a mechanical 
oscillator's resonant frequency is below the exciting frequency, the 
oscillator moves out of phase to the exciting displacement. As a result, 
the balance bar assumes a deflection that is out of phase with the 
Coriolis induced deflection on the flow tube. Because the balance bar's 
excitation source for its second bending mode is the Coriolis deflections 
of the flow tube, the vibration amplitude of the balance bar's second 
bending mode deflections increase as the Coriolis force on the flow tube 
increases. These out of phase Coriolis deflections of the flow tube and 
second bending mode deflections of the balance bar are additive and permit 
a velocity sensor coupled to the flow tube and balance bar to generate 
output signals of increased phase delay (sensitivity) compared to that of 
prior art single tube Coriolis flowmeters. 
The excitation of the second bending mode of the balance bar by the 
Coriolis deflection of the flow tube is a function of the separation 
between the excitation frequency (drive frequency) and the resonant 
frequency of the balance bar in its second bending mode. Small frequency 
separation results in greater balance bar second bending vibration 
amplitude for a given flow rate than does a larger frequency separation. 
The drive frequency changes with changes in material density because the 
flow tube contains the flowing material while the balance bar's second 
bending resonant frequency remains relatively constant. Thus the 
separation between the drive frequency and the balance bar second resonant 
frequency changes with material density and causes the balance bar's 
sensitivity to the Coriolis oscillations of the flow tube to change with 
material density. When the balance bar's second bending mode resonant 
frequency is below the drive frequency, increases in material density 
cause the drive frequency to decrease and the frequency separation to 
decrease with a resultant increase in sensitivity of the balance bar to 
material flow. By properly sizing the frequency separation, the increase 
in the balance bar's sensitivity with material density can precisely 
counter the meter's decrease in sensitivity due to the drive mode 
vibration amplitude ratio change. 
The reduction of the second bending mode frequency of the balance bar below 
the drive frequency is achieved by a physical re-design of the balance bar 
that includes a redistribution of its mass and stiffness. Mass is removed 
from the central portion of the balance bar which tends to raise the drive 
frequency while having little impact on the second bending mode frequency. 
The mass removal has little impact on the second bending mode frequency 
because the second bending mode has little amplitude near the center. Mass 
is then added to the balance bar near the velocity sensor locations. This 
lowers the second bending mode frequency more than the drive frequency 
because these are the locations where the second bending mode vibration 
amplitude is greatest. 
Balance bar stiffness is modified by greatly softening it in the regions of 
high bending in the second bending mode. These locations are slightly 
toward the center from the velocity sensor locations. Removing stiffness 
in these areas greatly reduces the second bending mode frequency while 
having little effect on the drive frequency since in the drive mode there 
is little bending in these areas. Finally, stiffness in the central 
section of the balance bar, between the soft areas, is increased to 
further raise the drive frequency while having little effect on the second 
bending frequency. 
These physical modifications of the balance bar along with subsequently 
described changes can reduce its second bending mode frequency so that it 
is lower than its first bending mode (drive) frequency. When this is 
achieved, the Coriolis vibrations of the flow tube are transmitted from 
the flow tube through the brace bars to the ends of the balance bar. This 
induces the Coriolis like deflections in the balance bar that are out of 
phase with the Coriolis deflections of the flow tube. These deflections 
are referred to as "Coriolis like" in that they assume a mode shape that 
is similar to that of a flow tube being deflected by Coriolis force. The 
flow tube and balance bar of the present invention thus perform as a dual 
tube Coriolis flowmeter wherein each of the flow tubes assumes a Coriolis 
vibratory response that is out of phase with respect to the other flow 
tube. The result is that the single tube meter of the present invention 
can have the flow sensitivity of a dual tube meter. Furthermore, because 
the change in sensitivity due to change in material density is countered 
by the change in sensitivity of the balance bar, the single tube meter of 
the present invention has a flow sensitivity that is constant and 
independent of material density. 
The phase of the balance bar second bending mode vibration with respect to 
the phase of the Coriolis deflection of the flow tube depends upon the 
relationship of the resonant frequency of the balance bar second bending 
mode to the first bending mode (drive) frequency in the present invention. 
The second bending mode resonant frequency can either be less than, or 
greater than the first bending mode (drive) frequency. If the second 
bending mode resonant frequency is higher than the drive frequency, the 
balance bar second bending mode vibrates in phase with the Coriolis 
induced vibration of the flow tube. This tends to reduce sensor phase 
shift and flowmeter sensitivity, but it can still be used to make the 
meter insensitive to changes in material density. 
Flowmeter sensitivity is reduced when the second bending mode frequency is 
above the first bending mode drive frequency. The reason for this is that 
the flow tube's Coriolis vibration and the balance bar's second bending 
mode vibration are in phase. The velocity sensors sense relative velocity 
between the flow tube and balance bar which means that in phase motions 
tend to negate each other. This however, can still be a useful embodiment 
for making a meter with a flow sensitivity that is independent of changes 
in material density. If the balance bar second bending mode resonant 
frequency is above the drive frequency, an increasing material density 
lowers the drive frequency and increases the spacing between the two 
frequencies. This lowers the response of the balance bar to the Coriolis 
forces. But, because the balance bar's in phase response negates (is 
subtracted from) the Coriolis response of the flow tube, the lowered 
response of the balance bar results in an increased flow sensitivity of 
the meter. This increased flow sensitivity with increasing material 
density is once again capable of canceling the decrease in flow 
sensitivity caused by the change in vibration amplitude ratio between flow 
tube and balance bar. As in the other embodiment, in order for the balance 
bar change in flow sensitivity to precisely cancel the change in 
sensitivity caused by the drive mode vibration amplitude ratio, it is 
necessary to have the proper frequency separation between the two modes. 
How this proper separation is determined is discussed later. 
In summary, the Coriolis flowmeter of the present invention includes a 
balance bar whose physical characteristics permit it to have a second 
bending mode resonant frequency that is near to its first bending mode 
(drive) frequency. This permits the balance bar to respond to the Coriolis 
deflections of the flow tube by producing Coriolis like deflections of its 
own. If the balance bar second bending mode resonant frequency is below 
the drive frequency, then its Coriolis force induced vibrations are out of 
phase with the Coriolis deflections of the flow tube. This increases the 
meter sensitivity and produces a flowmeter with a sensitivity to flow that 
is independent of changes in material density. If the balance bar second 
bending mode resonant frequency is above the drive frequency, then its 
Coriolis force induced vibrations are in phase with the Coriolis 
deflections of the flow tube. This decreases the sensitivity of the meter, 
but can also produce a flowmeter with a sensitivity to flow that is 
independent of material density.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The present invention overcomes the problem of changes in flow sensitivity 
resulting from changes with material density in single tube flowmeters by 
the provision of a balance bar that actively responds to the Coriolis 
deflections of the flow tube. The balance bar response varies with changes 
in material density in such a way as to counter the change in sensitivity 
with density of prior single tube meters. In order to understand how this 
is done it is necessary to understand the nature of the Coriolis force on 
the flow tube, the distortion this produces in the flow tube, and how the 
distortion results in phase shift along the flow tube. 
FIG. 1 is later described and is a vector diagram of the vibrational 
velocities of the flowmeter of FIG. 6. 
FIG. 2 shows a tube 202 through which material is flowing as it rotates 
counterclockwise about its end 201. The Coriolis force per unit length of 
tube 202 can be derived from the equation for Coriolis acceleration 
A.sub.c and Newton's law. 
______________________________________ 
Coriolis acceleration may be expressed as: 
______________________________________ 
A.sub.c = 2 (.omega. .times. v) 
.omega. = angular velocity 
v = material velocity 
Coriolis Force F.sub.c may be expressed as: 
F.sub.c = MA.sub.c = 2M (.omega. .times. v) M = material mass 
p = material density 
since material M = pA.sub.t l A.sub.1 = tube flow area 
l = tube length 
F.sub.c = 2pA.sub.t l(.omega. .times. v) 
- 
1 STR1## 
- 
2 STR2## 
3 STR3## 
- 
4 #STR4## 
______________________________________ 
The Coriolis force F.sub.c is uniform along the length of tube 202 because 
each part of tube 200 is rotating at the same rate and the mass flow rate 
is the same throughout the flow tube. 
FIG. 3 shows a straight flow tube 300 that is free to pivot about each end 
301 and 302 but is fixed in translation at ends 301 and 302. Flow tube 300 
is vibrated by driver D in the first bending mode at its resonant 
frequency, like a guitar string, while material flows through it. As the 
flow tube passes through its straight (zero displacement) position 303 
downwards, it's left half rotates clockwise while its right half rotates 
counterclockwise. The rotations decrease as the tube's center is 
approached. The center does not rotate but merely translates. The spacial 
distribution of Coriolis forces on the flow tube 300 as it passes through 
zero displacement 303 is shown on FIG. 4. The Coriolis force is in 
opposite directions on the two halves because the tube rotation directions 
are opposite. The Coriolis force diminishes to zero at the center because 
the rotation of the tube diminishes to zero at the center. 
Another major difference between vibrating tube 300 of FIG. 3 and the 
rotating tube 202 of FIG. 2 is that vibrating tube 300 does not rotate 
continuously, but stops and reverses direction. At the vibration direction 
reversal, the rotations are zero and the Coriolis force on the entire flow 
tube is zero. The result is that the magnitude of the Coriolis forces of 
FIG. 4 vary sinusoidally with time with the maximum occurring as the flow 
tube vibration goes through zero amplitude and maximum velocity as shown 
on FIG. 4. Zero Coriolis force occurs on the entire flow tube as the flow 
tube reaches its maximum vibration amplitude and zero velocity in the 
first bending (drive) mode. The frequency of the sinusoidal application of 
the Coriolis force to the flow tube is the same as the frequency at which 
it is being vibrated; namely, the flow tube's first bending (drive) mode 
vibration frequency. 
Flow tube 300 bends in response to the periodic Coriolis force as shown in 
FIG. 5. The solid line shows the shape (greatly exaggerated) the tube 
takes in response to the Coriolis force as the tube passes downward 
through zero displacement in the drive mode. The dashed line shows the 
shape the tube takes as it moves upward through zero displacement in the 
drive mode. Note that the only point on the flow tube that is in fact 
passing through zero at this instant is the mid point of the tube. The 
shape of FIG. 5 is similar to the second bending mode shape. However, this 
is just a coincidence. The frequency of the second bending mode of the 
flow tube is much higher than the frequency at which the Coriolis force of 
FIG. 4 is applied (the frequency of the first bending mode). Since the 
flow tube is being excited by Coriolis forces at well below its second 
bending resonant frequency, this Coriolis caused deformation of FIG. 5 and 
the Coriolis force of FIG. 4 occur in phase with each other. Flow tube 300 
therefore assumes the shape of FIG. 5 as it crosses zero displacement axis 
303 in its driven vibration (first bending) mode. Material flow 
superimposes the Coriolis induced vibration of FIG. 5 on the driven 
vibration of FIG. 3. This is shown on FIG. 6. Both vibrations occur at the 
first bending mode drive frequency; but they are phase shifted from each 
other by ninety degrees. The Coriolis induced displacement maximum (solid 
lines) occurs when the first bending mode is at zero displacement along 
axis 303. The Coriolis displacement becomes zero when the first bending 
mode is at maximum displacement (dashed lines). FIG. 6 is analogous to 
FIG. 4 in that it represents the state of the flow tube in so far as 
Coriolis deflections are concerned at the time flow tube 300 crosses zero 
axis 303. At this time, and at this time only, the Coriolis forces and 
Coriolis induced deflections are at a maximum amplitude. As already 
explained for FIG. 4, the Coriolis forces diminish and ultimately become 
zero when the deflection of flow tube 300 reaches its maximum in either an 
upwards or downward direction. At this time, the velocity of the flow tube 
is zero and so are the applied Coriolis forces and resultant Coriolis 
deflection. Thus, the sinusoidal Coriolis response shown in FIG. 5 varies 
sinusoidally in amplitude at the drive frequency as flow tube 300 is 
vibrated sinusoidally in its first bending mode between its maximum 
positive and negative deflection by the drive signal. The amplitude of the 
Coriolis displacement shown on FIGS. 5 and 6 is greatly exaggerated for 
clarity. The amplitude is in reality much less than the amplitude of the 
first bending mode of flow tube 300 because the first bending mode is 
driven at the resonant frequency of the flow tube and the Coriolis mode is 
not. Thus, the Coriolis deformations shown in all the figures are greatly 
exaggerated. 
The phase delay associated with material flow in prior art meters is the 
result of the superposition of the first bending (drive) mode and the 
Coriolis deflection of the flow tube. In FIG. 5 it can be seen that right 
velocity sensor SR crosses zero displacement before left velocity sensor 
SL. It can be said that the left sensor and its output voltage lag the 
phase of the right sensor and its output voltage. Conversely, it can also 
be said that the right sensor SR leads the phase of the left sensor SL. 
The phase difference (or time delay) is proportional to the amplitude of 
the Coriolis induced displacement which is, in turn, proportional to the 
mass flow rate. 
The present invention involves shifting the frequency order of the various 
mode shapes of the balance bar. The vibration modes are defined according 
to their shapes, not their frequency order. The first bending mode will 
hereafter be referred to as that shown in FIG. 3. The second bending mode 
will be of the shape shown in FIG. 5. A useful rule is that the mode 
number is equal to the number of nodes minus one. The first mode has two 
nodes (at the ends). The second has three (at the ends and in the center). 
The third bending mode has four nodes, etc. 
In conventional single tube Coriolis flowmeters, the balance bar only 
vibrates in the first bending mode and lacks any response to Coriolis 
forces on the flow tube. FIG. 6 shows a prior art single tube Coriolis 
flowmeter 600 having a flow tube 601 and a balance bar 602 connected by 
brace bars 603 and 604 at the ends of balance bar 602. The solid lines of 
FIG. 6 shows flow tube 601 and balance bar 602 as they cross zero 
displacement axis 303 in the first bending (drive) mode with material 
flow. No Coriolis deflections appear on balance bar 602 on FIG. 6. The 
dashed lines show the flow tube and balance bar at the outward extent of 
their vibration in the first bending (drive) mode. 
FIG. 1 is a vector diagram disclosing the vibrational velocities generated 
by the conventional single straight tube Coriolis flowmeter as represented 
in FIG. 6. The response of the flow tube at the right velocity sensor SR 
is vector 103 which has a leading phase, .phi. tube, represented by the 
angle between vector 103 and the real axis 102. The length of vector 103 
represents its peak velocity (or vibration amplitude since they are 
proportional). Its projection on the X-axis represents its instantaneous 
velocity. Vector 106 of the balance bar is not shifted in phase from axis 
102 since the balance bar is not affected by the generated Coriolis forces 
on the flow tube. The balance bar vector 106 is shown along the real axis 
102 and is entitled V.sub.Bal bar. The vector sum of the flow tube and 
balance bar vectors is vector 105 which has a phase angle .phi..sub.net 
representing the combined vector amplitudes and phases of the flow tube 
and balance bar. Note that the net phase angle out of the right sensor SR 
is less than the phase angle for the tube alone. The reduction in phase 
angle (and meter sensitivity) is due to the lack of phase shift of the 
balance bar in conventional single tube meters. 
FIGS. 27 and 28 are vector diagrams for a prior art meter having different 
amplitude ratios due to a change in material density. A comparison between 
the two diagrams would normally be meaningless because the density 
difference results in a shift in drive frequency as well as flow tube 
phase. Therefore, the phase angles have all been "normalized" for 
frequency. What this means is that the phases have been divided by the 
tube frequency. The normalized phase angles are in reality time delay. 
Since Coriolis force and thus phase angle is proportional to tube 
frequency, the normalized phase angles of the flow tubes are independent 
of tube frequency. The normalized phase angle of the flow tube of FIG. 27 
is therefore equal to the normalized phase angle of FIG. 28 for the same 
flow rate and comparisons become meaningful. 
FIG. 27 is a vector diagram for a flow meter having a relatively large flow 
tube vector 2703 and a relatively small balance bar vector 2706 as results 
from a material having a low material density. The flow tube vector has a 
normalized phase of .phi..sub.tube with respect to the X-axis 2702 while 
the balance bar vector 2706 lies along the X-axis 2702 and has a phase 
angle of zero. The vector sum of vectors 2703 and 2706 is vector 2705 
having a velocity of V.sub.net and having a normalized phase angle 
.phi..sub.net with respect to the X-axis 2702. Axis 2701 is the imaginary 
axis. The flow tube/balance bar amplitude ratio is the magnitude of vector 
2703 over 2706. 
FIG. 28 is a vector diagram for the same flow meter having a relatively 
small flow tube amplitude vector 2803 and a relatively large balance bar 
vector 2806 resulting from a higher material density. The flow tube vector 
V.sub.tube has a normalized phase of .phi..sub.tube with respect to the 
X-axis 2802. The balance bar vector V.sub.bal bar has zero phase and is 
coincident with the X-axis 2802. The vector sum of these two vectors is 
the vector V.sub.net 2805 having a normalized angle of .phi..sub.net with 
respect to the X-axis 2802. The imaginary axis is 2801. 
In comparing the vector diagrams of FIG. 27 with that of FIG. 28 it can be 
seen that the normalized phase of the resultant vector 2705 for the 
lighter density material flow is larger than the normalized phase of the 
resultant vector 2805 of FIG. 28 for a material flow of greater density. 
Recalling that the normalized phase of the resultant vector on each of 
FIGS. 27 and 28 is the time delay of the velocity sensor of the associated 
flowmeter, it can be observed that a flowmeter operating with a material 
flow of lower density has greater sensitivity than does the same flowmeter 
operating with a material flow of a higher density. From this it can also 
be seen that a single tube flowmeter inherently has a greater flow 
sensitivity due to amplitude ratio change for lighter materials (FIG. 27) 
than for heavier materials (FIG. 28). 
The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 provides a balance 
bar whose second bending mode resonant frequency is slightly below the 
first bending mode drive frequency. The Coriolis induced deflection of 
flow tube 601 excites the second bending mode in the balance bar 602 by 
way of brace bars 603 and 604. The vibration amplitude of the balance bar 
602 vibration in its second bending mode is proportional to the Coriolis 
deflection amplitude of flow tube 601 and thus is proportional to the 
material flow rate. The vibration amplitude of balance bar 602 in its 
second bending mode on FIG. 7 is also a function of the separation between 
the first bending mode (drive) frequency and the balance bar second 
bending mode resonant frequency. The closer the second bending mode 
frequency of the balance bar is to the first bending mode (drive) 
frequency, the greater will be the vibrational amplitude of the balance 
bar in its second bending mode. This relationship is shown in detail on 
FIG. 9 which is a graph of the vibrational amplitude rartio of the balance 
bar in its second bending mode divided by the Coriolis defection of the 
flow tube versus the ratio between the first bending mode (drive) 
frequency and the balance bar 602 second bending mode resonant frequency. 
The x axis 902 indicates the ratio between the first bending mode (drive) 
frequency and the second bending mode resonant frequency of the balance 
bar. The y axis 901 represents the amplification factor of the Coriolis 
response of balance bar 602. As can be seen, the Coriolis response induced 
in balance bar 602 is at a maximum when the ratio between the drive 
frequency and the second bending mode resonant frequency of the balance 
bar is 1.0. The Coriolis induced response 904 of the balance bar decreases 
towards zero from its maximum as the ratio of the two frequencies on FIG. 
9 become greater than 1.0. The Coriolis response of the balance bar also 
decreases from its maximum as the ratio of these two frequencies becomes 
less than one. 
It can also be seen from FIG. 9 that the slope of the curve gets steeper as 
the frequency ratio approaches one from either direction. Thus a small 
change in drive frequency produces a bigger change in the second bending 
mode amplitude of the balance bar if the frequency ratio is near one than 
if it is further away. It is this change in slope of this amplification 
curve that is used in the present invention to determine what the 
frequency separation should be in order to precisely cancel the change in 
sensitivity due to vibration amplitude ratio change and other causes. 
This relationship is used in accordance with the present invention to 
achieve a flowmeter having a flat calibration factor and constant flow 
sensitivity for material flows of different densities. 
FIG. 7 discloses the embodiment in which the balance bar second bending 
mode resonant frequency is below the drive frequency but is sufficiently 
close to the drive frequency so that Coriolis deflections in the flow tube 
excite the second bending mode Coriolis like vibrations in the balance 
bar. In this embodiment the balance bar second bending mode Coriolis-like 
vibrations and the flow tube Coriolis deflections are out of phase with 
each other. As a result the phase of the flow tube velocity at the right 
sensor has the same sign as the phase of the balance bar velocity at the 
right sensor. As shown on FIG. 7, sensor SR on both the flow tube and the 
balance bar have already crossed the zero displacement position at the 
time the driver is crossing zero. This is a leading phase and is 
represented by a positive phase angle. The magnitude of the flow tube 
phase angle is proportional to the amplitude of the flow tube's Coriolis 
deflection. The magnitude of the balance bar phase angle is proportional 
to the balance bar's Coriolis like amplitude in its second bending mode. 
It can be seen in FIG. 7 that the balance bar behaves like another flow 
tube and enhances the flow sensitivity of the meter. 
FIG. 11 is the vector diagram for the embodiment of FIG. 7. In this 
embodiment, the balance bar second bending mode resonant frequency is 
below the drive frequency. Velocity in the drive mode is shown on the 
X-axis while the Y axis is the imaginary axis. (The X axis could also be 
amplitude since velocity and amplitude are proportional in vibrating 
systems.) The flow tube velocity vector V.sub.tube 1104 has a length 
proportional to its peak velocity (or amplitude) in the drive mode. It is 
about twice as long as the balance bar velocity vector 1103, V.sub.bal 
bar, because the flow tube has higher vibration amplitude than the balance 
bar. The instantaneous velocities of the flow tube and balance bar can be 
determined by the projected lengths of their vectors on the X-axis. The 
sum of the flow tube and balance bar velocity vectors is V.sub.net. The 
length of the V.sub.net vector 1105 represents the peak relative velocity 
between the two components (magnet and coil) of the velocity sensor SR. 
The instantaneous relative velocity is the projection of the V.sub.net 
vector 1105 on the X-axis. 
The Coriolis deflection amplitude (or velocity) of the flow tube right 
sensor SR, is about three times as large as the balance bar second bending 
mode amplitude (or velocity) at the right sensor SR. This is evident by 
the greater normalized phase angle for the flow tube, .phi..sub.tube,than 
for the balance bar, .phi..sub.bal bar 1. The angle between the V.sub.net 
vector 1105 and the X-axis is the net normalized phase, .phi..sub.net, by 
which the voltage produced by the right velocity sensor, SR, leads the 
zero crossing of the driver. The left velocity sensor, SL, (not shown on 
FIG. 11) lags the driver by the same normalized phase angle. The 
normalized phase difference between the voltage signals of the two 
velocity sensors is the time delay and is proportional to the mass flow 
rate. 
The dashed vectors of FIG. 11 show the result of increasing the material 
density in the flowmeter. The phase angles are normalized (divided by 
frequency) to enable the vectors for both densities to be displayed on the 
same graph. On FIG. 11 the flow tube drive mode amplitude (and velocity) 
vector 1104 has decreased from location 1112 to 1108 with the increased 
material density while its normalized phase .phi..sub.tube has remained 
unchanged. The flow tube behavior with material density change is the same 
as in prior art meters as can be seen in FIGS. 27 and 28 where FIG. 27 
represents a less dense material flow than FIG. 28. The balance bar 
amplitude (and velocity) vector 1103 has increased in magnitude to that of 
the longer vector 1110 as in prior art meters. However, unlike prior art 
meters of FIGS. 27 and 28, the balance bar's normalized phase angle has 
increased from .phi..sub.bal bar 1 to .phi..sub.bal bar 2 with the 
increase in material density. The normalized phase angle of the balance 
bar vector 1110 increased because the increase in material density lowered 
the drive mode frequency and moved it closer to the balance bar second 
bending mode resonant frequency. This resulted in a larger Coriolis like 
amplitude of vibration in the second bending mode and thus a larger 
normalized phase angle .phi..sub.bal bar 2. 
The key to the present invention is that the change in normalized phase 
angle of the balance bar vector 1110 is the correct amount to leave the 
V.sub.net vector 1105 unchanged in both length at location 1111 and 
normalized phase angle .phi..sub.net from the V.sub.net vector 1105 with a 
lower density material. That the V.sub.net vector 1105 is unchanged in 
length is a result of the electronic amplitude control of the meter which 
is found in both the present invention and in prior art meters. That the 
V.sub.net vector 1105 is unchanged in the normalized phase angle 
.phi..sub.net, is the result of the change in the balance bar second 
bending mode Coriolis like vibration amplitude with material density. This 
change in Coriolis like vibration amplitude of the balance bar second 
bending mode is sized to the correct magnitude by designing the balance 
bar so that its second bending mode Coriolis like resonant frequency is 
the correct distance away from the drive mode frequency. At this correct 
frequency separation, the slope of the amplification curve is such that 
the change in material density alters the frequency separation and changes 
the balance bar second bending mode Coriolis like vibration amplitude the 
amount needed to leave the V.sub.net vector 1105 unchanged and the 
sensitivity of the meter unchanged. 
The change in meter flow sensitivity with density due to a shift in drive 
mode vibration amplitude ratio is unavoidable. It is possible, however, to 
adjust the amount of flow sensitivity shift. It is easy to see how this 
can be done by imagining a flowmeter with a balance bar that is infinitely 
heavy (and infinitely stiff so as to maintain the proper resonant 
frequency). This balance bar would have a drive mode vibration amplitude 
of zero to balance the flow tube. Changing the fluid density in the 
imaginary meter would have no effect on the flow calibration factor 
because the balance bar vibration amplitude would remain zero and the flow 
tube amplitude and phase would remain unchanged. 
With a more realistic meter having a balance bar that is merely much 
heavier than the flow tube with fluid, the balance bar amplitude and 
velocity vector remain very small. Changing fluid density significantly 
changes the length of the balance bar velocity vector but, compared to the 
flow tube velocity vector, the balance bar velocity vector remains small. 
The length of the flow tube velocity vector changes the same amount as the 
balance bar velocity vector but in the opposite direction. This length 
change is only a small percentage of the longer flow tube velocity vector. 
Because the balance bar velocity vector remains very small compared to the 
flow tube velocity vector, the change in length of the balance bar vector 
with fluid density has only small effect on the phase angle of the net 
velocity vector and the meter flow sensitivity. 
The change in meter flow sensitivity with change in fluid density is 
greatest when the drive mode vibration amplitude of the flow tube is 
approximately equal to the drive mode vibration amplitude of the balance 
bar. This is the case illustrated by FIG. 27 and FIG. 28. In FIG. 27 the 
fluid has a low density and the flow tube has a greater vibration 
amplitude than the balance bar. In FIG. 28 the fluid has a high density 
and the balance bar has a higher vibration amplitude than the flow tube. 
It can readily be seen from these figures that the change in the phase of 
the net velocity vector is large because both the flow tube velocity 
vector and the balance bar velocity vector undergo significant changes in 
length with fluid density change. 
In summary, the change in flow sensitivity due to a change in vibration 
amplitude ratio is greatest when the vibration amplitude of the balance 
bar is near equal to the vibration amplitude of the flow tube. The change 
in sensitivity is least when the balance bar amplitude is very small 
compared to the amplitude of the flow tube. In prior art meters the 
balance bar drive mode vibration amplitude has always been made very small 
by making it as heavy as economically possible. This minimizes the effect 
of the changing vibration amplitude ratio with fluid density. As described 
elsewhere herein, however, there are other causes besides drive mode 
vibration amplitude ratio change for the flow sensitivity of the meter to 
change with fluid density. Some of the other causes change the flow 
sensitivity in the opposite direction as the drive mode vibration 
amplitude ratio changes. It thus is useful to recognize the relationship 
between balance bar mass and flow sensitivity shift. The balance bar mass 
can then be chosen so that the shift in sensitivity due to drive mode 
vibration amplitude ratio change is opposite to and cancels the shift in 
sensitivity due to other causes. One such other cause is the change in 
sensitivity due to the change in the ratio of the Coriolis deflection 
amplitude to the balance bar second bending mode amplitude with a change 
in density. 
FIG. 30 illustrates how the balance bar second bending amplitude changes as 
material density (and thus drive frequency) changes. In FIG. 30 the X-axis 
is frequency and on it are vertical lines for the drive frequency with a 
low density material (Drive Freq. 1), a high density material (Drive Freq. 
2), and the balance bar second bending mode resonant frequency (Bal Bar 
2.sup.nd Freq.). The Y-axis is the ratio of the balance bar second bending 
amplitude divided by the flow tube Coriolis amplitude. The solid curve is 
the ratio for the balance bar second bending amplitude with the light 
material having drive frequency 1. Where the vertical line of the balance 
bar second resonant frequency intersects this curve determines the balance 
bar second/flow tube Coriolis amplitude ratio. It thus can be seen that 
Drive Freq. 1 results in Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Amplitude 1. Likewise, the 
dashed curve is the amplitude ratio for the balance bar second bending 
with the more dense material having drive frequency 2. Drive Freq. 2 
results in Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Amplitude 2. It can be seen on FIG. 30 that 
the difference in amplitude ratio for a given shift in drive frequency is 
a function of the location of the balance bar second resonant frequency 
with respect to the drive frequencies. If the separation is large, the 
change in the balance bar second amplitude ratio with material density is 
small. If the frequency separation is small (if the Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Freq. 
Line were moved to the right), then the change in the balance bar second 
amplitude ratio is large. 
It can be seen in FIG. 7 that the balance bar deflection in its second 
bending mode looks like Coriolis deflection in a second flow tube. Thus an 
increase in balance bar second bending amplitude results in an increase in 
the phase of the balance bar velocity vector shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 
also shows that if the increase in phase with density of the balance bar 
velocity vector is of the correct amount, then the net velocity vector can 
remain unchanged in normalized phase and amplitude. This means that the 
flow sensitivity of the meter can remain unchanged with changing density. 
FIG. 30 shows how the balance bar second bending amplitude change with 
density can be adjusted by the frequency separation between the balance 
bar second resonant frequency and the drive frequency. Smaller frequency 
separation results in greater sensitivity increase with density. Thus it 
is possible, by proper placement of the balance bar second bending 
resonant frequency, to design a flowmeter having a balance bar whose 
velocity vector phase changes the proper amount to leave the net velocity 
vector unchanged with material density change. Such a design produces a 
single tube Coriolis flow meter that has a flow sensitivity that is not 
effected by material density. 
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment where the balance bar second bending mode 
resonant frequency is above the drive frequency and sufficiently close to 
the drive frequency that the Coriolis deflections in the flow tube excite 
Coriolis like second bending mode vibrations in the balance bar. In this 
embodiment the balance bar second bending mode Coriolis like vibrations 
and the flow tube Coriolis deflections are in phase with each other. This 
means that the phase of the flow tube velocity at the right sensor SR has 
the opposite sign as the phase of the balance bar at the right pickoff. As 
shown on FIG. 8, sensor SR on the flow tube has already crossed the zero 
displacement position while sensor SR on the balance bar has not yet 
crossed the zero displacement position. The flow tube thus has a leading 
phase and the balance bar has a lagging phase. These are represented by 
positive and negative normalized phase angles respectively on FIG. 12. The 
magnitude of the flow tube normalized phase angle .phi..sub.tube is 
proportional to the amplitude of the flow tube's Coriolis deflection while 
the magnitude of the balance bar normalized phase angle .phi..sub.bal bar 
is proportional to the balance bar's Coriolis like amplitude in its second 
bending mode. It can be seen in FIG. 8 that the balance bar behaves like 
another flow tube only with negative Coriolis deflections. 
FIG. 12 is the vector diagram for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8. In 
this embodiment, the balance bar second bending mode frequency is above 
the drive frequency. Velocity in the drive mode is shown on the X-axis 
while the Y-axis is the imaginary axis. The flow tube velocity vector 1204 
V.sub.tube has a length at location 1212 proportional to its peak velocity 
(or amplitude) in the drive mode. It is about twice as long as the balance 
bar velocity vector 1203, V.sub.bal bar, because the flow tube has higher 
vibration amplitude in the drive mode than the balance bar. The 
instantaneous velocities of the flow tube and balance bar can be 
determined by the projected lengths of their vectors on the X-axis. The 
sum of the flow tube and balance bar velocity vectors is 1205 V.sub.net. 
The length of the V.sub.net vector 1205 represents the peak relative 
velocity between the two components of the velocity sensor SR. The 
instantaneous relative velocity is the projection of the V.sub.net vector 
on the X-axis. 
The Coriolis deflection amplitude (or velocity) of the flow tube right 
sensor SR 1204 is about three times as large as the balance bar Coriolis 
like second bending amplitude 1203 (or velocity) at the right sensor, SR. 
This is evident by the greater normalized phase angle .phi..sub.tube for 
the flow tube than the normalized phase angle .phi..sub.bal bar.spsb.1 for 
the balance bar. Note that the normalized phase angle .phi..sub.bal 
bar.spsb.1 of the balance bar vector is negative. This is the result of 
having the second bending resonant frequency above the drive frequency. 
The normalized phase angle .phi..sub.net between the V.sub.net vector 1205 
and the X-axis is the net time delay by which the voltage produced by the 
right velocity sensor SR leads the zero crossing of the driver. The left 
velocity sensor, SL, (not shown on FIG. 11) lags the driver by the same 
time delay. The time difference between the voltage signals of the two 
velocity sensors is proportional to the mass flow rate. 
The dashed vectors in FIG. 12 show the result of increasing the material 
density in the flowmeter. Once again the phase angles are normalized 
(divided by frequency) to enable the vectors for both densities to be 
displayed on the same graph. It can be seen in FIG. 12 that the flow tube 
drive mode amplitude (and velocity) vector 1204 has decreased in magnitude 
from that of location 1212 to that of location 1208 with the increased 
material density while its normalized phase .phi..sub.tube has remained 
unchanged. The balance bar amplitude (and velocity) vector 1203 in the 
drive mode has increased to the larger vector 1210. However, unlike prior 
art meters, and unlike the embodiment of FIG. 7, the balance bar's 
normalized phase angle has decreased (moved closer to the X-axis) from 
.phi..sub.bal bar 1 to .phi..sub.bal bar 2 with the increase in material 
density. The normalized phase angle of the balance bar decreased because 
the increase in material density lowered the drive mode frequency and 
moved it further away from the balance bar second bending mode resonant 
frequency. This resulted in a smaller Coriolis like vibration amplitude in 
the second bending mode and thus a smaller normalized phase angle. Because 
the phase angle is negative, however, the decrease results in a gain in 
the meter sensitivity. 
The key to the embodiment with the balance bar second bending resonant 
frequency above the drive frequency, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 
12, is that the change in normalized phase angle of the balance bar with 
density change is the amount needed to leave the V.sub.net vector 1205 
unchanged in both length and normalized phase angle. The V.sub.net vector 
1205 is unchanged in length as a result of the electronic amplitude 
control of the meter which is found in both the present invention and in 
prior art meters. The V.sub.net vector 1205 is unchanged in its normalized 
phase angle as a result of the change in the balance bar second bending 
amplitude with material density. This change in amplitude of the balance 
bar second bending mode is sized to the magnitude needed by designing the 
balance bar so that its second bending mode resonant frequency is the 
correct distance away from the drive mode frequency. At the correct 
frequency separation, the slope of the amplification curve is such that 
the change in material density changes the frequency separation and 
changes the balance bar second bending mode amplitude the amount needed to 
leave the V.sub.net vector 1205 unchanged and the sensitivity of the meter 
unchanged. 
FIG. 29 illustrates how the balance bar second bending amplitude changes as 
the material density (and thus drive frequency) changes. FIG. 29 is the 
same as FIG. 30 only the balance bar second bending resonant frequency is 
above the drive frequency rather than below it. As in FIG. 30, the solid 
curve is the amplification ratio for the balance bar with the light 
material having drive frequency 1. Where the vertical line of the balance 
bar second resonant frequency intersects this curve determines the balance 
bar second/flow tube Coriolis amplitude ratio. It thus can be seen that 
Drive Freq. 1 results in Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Amplitude 1. Likewise, the 
dashed curve is the amplitude ratio for the balance bar second bending 
with the more dense material having drive frequency 2. Drive Freq. 2 
results in Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Amplitude 2. In FIG. 29 it can be seen that as 
the material density increases and the drive frequency decreases, the 
separation between the drive frequency and the balance bar second bending 
resonant frequency increases. This results in a decrease in the balance 
bar second bending amplitude. Thus in FIG. 29, balance bar amplitude 2 
(for higher density material) is lower than balance bar amplitude 1. The 
decrease in amplitude results in a decrease in the magnitude of the phase 
angle of the balance bar velocity vector. However, because the phase angle 
is negative, the decrease in magnitude is an increase in phase of the 
balance bar velocity vector. This increase of balance bar phase (decrease 
of negative phase) with material density enables the net vector to remain 
unchanged in length and normalized phase. In FIG. 29, as in FIG. 30, the 
difference in amplitude ratio for a given shift in drive frequency is a 
function of the location of the balance bar second resonant frequency with 
respect to the drive frequencies. If the separation is large, the change 
in the balance bar second amplitude ratio with material density is small. 
If the frequency separation is small (if the Bal Bar 2.sup.nd Freq. Line 
were moved to the left), then the change in the balance bar second 
amplitude ratio is large. Thus, by designing the correct frequency 
separation, the change in balance bar velocity vector phase can be set to 
produce a constant net vector. 
In summary, it can be seen in FIG. 8 that the balance bar deflection in its 
second bending mode looks like negative Coriolis deflection in a second 
flow tube. Thus a decrease in balance bar second bending amplitude results 
in a decrease in the negative phase of the balance bar velocity vector 
shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 also shows that if the decrease in negative 
phase with density of the balance bar velocity vector is of the correct 
amount, then the net velocity vector can remain unchanged in normalized 
phase and amplitude. This means that the flow sensitivity of the meter can 
remain unchanged with changing density. FIG. 29 shows how the balance bar 
second bending amplitude change with density can be adjusted by the 
frequency separation between the balance bar second resonant frequency and 
the drive frequency. Thus it is possible, by proper placement of the 
balance bar second bending resonant frequency, to design a flowmeter 
having a balance bar whose velocity vector phase changes the proper amount 
to leave the net velocity vector unchanged with material density change. 
Such a design produces a single tube Coriolis flow meter that has a flow 
sensitivity that is not effected by material density. 
The present invention therefore has two embodiments. In one embodiment the 
balance bar second resonant frequency is below the drive frequency and in 
the other it is above the drive frequency. In both embodiments the balance 
bar second bending mode is excited by the Coriolis deflections of the flow 
tube. In both embodiments the amount of excitation of the balance bar is a 
function of the separation between the second resonant frequency and the 
drive frequency. In both embodiments a proper separation can be chosen 
such that the flow sensitivity of the meter will be independent of 
material density. 
Design Details 
The preceding description has dealt with the desired relationship of the 
second bending mode frequency of the balance bar to the first bending mode 
drive frequency. One embodiment has the frequency of the second bending 
mode located below the first bending mode drive frequency so that the 
meter flow sensitivity does not change with material density. Having the 
second bending mode frequency below the first bending mode drive frequency 
is a unique situation that some would call impossible. The design details 
whereby this is accomplished follow. 
The two factors that determine resonant frequency of a vibrating structure 
are mass and spring rate. The equation for resonant frequency is: 
##EQU3## 
Where: k=spring rate 
M=mass 
In order to get the frequency of the second bending mode below the first 
bending mode (drive) frequency, changes must be made to the conventional 
balance bar that both raise its first bending mode (drive) frequency and 
lower its second bending mode frequency. Increasing mass and lowering 
spring rate (stiffness) both serve to lower frequency. To lower the 
resonant frequency of the second bending mode so that is lower than the 
first bending mode drive frequency requires that the mass and stiffness of 
the balance bar be modified in areas where they have more significance in 
one mode than the other. Changing the mass in areas of low vibration 
amplitude has little effect. Likewise changing stiffness, k, in areas of 
low bending moment has little effect. 
FIGS. 13 and 14 show the mode shapes and bending moment diagrams of the 
first and second bending modes of balance bar 1301. In order to soften 
(lower) k in the second bending mode without softening k in the first 
bending mode, balance bar 1301 stiffness can be reduced in those areas 
where its bending moment is near zero in the first bending mode and high 
in the second bending mode. Dashed lines i and ii of FIGS. 13 and 14 show 
these two locations to be 1306 and 1308. Lowering the stiffness, k, of 
balance bar 1301 at locations 1306 and 1308 has little effect on the 
frequency of the first bending mode of FIG. 13 since the flow tube is 
relatively straight and has a low bending moment in these locations in the 
first bending mode. Thus, lowering the stiffness at locations 1306 and 
1308 does not effect the first bending mode (drive) frequency. However, as 
shown on FIG. 14, locations 1306 and 1308 have a high bending moment for 
the second bending mode. Thus, lowering the stiffness or spring rate of 
the balance bar at its locations 1306 and 1308 lowers the second bending 
mode frequency. 
The first bending mode frequency of balance bar 1301 can be raised by 
increasing its stiffness in those areas where it has a high bending moment 
in its first bending mode and where the second bending mode has a bending 
moment near zero. Line iii of FIG. 14 shows this location to be 1307. An 
inspection of FIGS. 13 and 14 indicates that at location 1307, balance bar 
1301 has a high bending moment in its first bending mode of FIG. 13 and a 
low bending moment in its second bending mode of FIG. 14. Thus, a balance 
bar that has an increased stiffness in area 1307 will have a higher drive 
frequency while leaving the second bending mode frequency of FIG. 14 
unaffected. 
To further lower the second bending mode frequency with respect to the 
first bending mode frequency, the mass of balance bar 1301 can be 
increased in those areas that have high amplitude in the second bending 
mode and low amplitude in the first bending mode. This is locations i and 
ii on FIGS. 13-17. Also, decreasing the mass at the line iii portion of 
balance bar 1301 on FIGS. 13-17 raises the drive frequency without 
impacting the second bending mode frequency. Since, as can be seen on 
FIGS. 13 and 14, the vibration amplitude for the first bending mode is 
high at location 1307 while the vibration amplitude for the second bending 
mode is low, as shown on FIG. 14. Thus, removing some of the mass from 
location 1307 of the balance bar raises the drive frequency but does not 
affect the second bending mode frequency. 
FIG. 15 show an embodiment of this design. Balance bar 1503 stiffness is 
reduced by removing material from portions 1508 and 1509 on either side of 
its center region element 1506. This raises the drive frequency only 
slightly while it lowers the second bending frequency considerably. Mass 
1504 and 1505 is also added to the balance bar 1503 outside of the reduced 
stiffness region 1508 and 1509. This lowers the second bending mode 
frequency further. Mass is removed from the central portion 1506 of the 
balance bar 1503 leaving a void 1507. FIG. 16 shows the resulting drive 
mode shape and FIG. 17 shows the resulting Coriolis-second bending mode 
shape for the flowmeter of FIG. 15. 
FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the invention using bellows 1808 and 
1809 to reduce the balance bar stiffness. The embodiment of FIG. 18 is 
similar to that of FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 in that it has a center element 
1806 comparable to element 1506 on FIG. 15. The FIG. 18 embodiment further 
has a reduced mass area 1807 comparable to element 1507 on FIG. 15. It 
also has added masses 1504 and 1505 comparable to the added masses of FIG. 
15. Flexible bellows 1808 and 1809 on FIG. 18 have reduced stiffness 
comparable to elements 1508 and 1509 on FIG. 15. These characteristics of 
the embodiment of FIG. 18 serve to raise the drive frequency and lower the 
frequency of the second bending mode in the same manner as is the case for 
the embodiment of FIG. 15. 
These design features described for FIGS. 15-18 can at best bring the 
second bending mode frequency of balance bar 1503 down to the first 
bending mode (drive) frequency. This can be illustrated by assuming that 
the central section of the balance bar 1503 has no mass and the reduced 
stiffness areas of the balance bar have no stiffness. In this most extreme 
case, the central section of the balance bar can be completely neglected 
and balance bar 1503 behaves like two independent cantilever beams 1511 
(FIG. 19). The first bending (drive) mode shape then looks like FIG. 20 
and the Coriolis-second bending mode shape looks like FIG. 21. There is no 
difference in the balance bar shapes between the drive mode and second 
bending mode except that in the drive mode of FIG. 20, the two balance bar 
beam ends 1511 are in phase and in the second bending mode of FIG. 21 they 
are out of phase with each other. Since the bar ends are not connected, 
their phase relationship with each other makes no difference to their 
resonant frequencies. Thus the second bending (out of phase) mode of FIG. 
21 has a frequency equal to the first bending (in phase) mode of FIG. 20. 
The final design feature needed to lower the second bending mode frequency 
below the drive frequency may be achieved by altering the spring stiffness 
of the balance bar so that it has less stiffness in the second bending 
mode than in the first bending mode. The essence of this design feature is 
that the balance bar is made extremely stiff (except for the two reduced 
stiffness zones 1508 and 1509 of FIG. 22) so that most of the flexing 
occurs in brace bar 1502. The net stiffness of balance bar 1503 then 
becomes a function of the vibration amplitude ratio between balance bar 
1503 and flow tube 1501. The balance bar is made stiff in elements 1511. 
This has the effect of removing the effective spring from balance bar 1503 
and concentrating the spring in brace bar 1502 so that the spring is 
adjacent to the end nodes. Moving the nodal location can then have a 
significant effect on the effective spring rate of the balance bar. 
In FIG. 22 flow tube 1501 and balance bar 1503 have equal drive mode 
vibration amplitudes. FIG. 23 shows the same balance bar drive mode 
vibration amplitude in conjunction with a near zero flow tube vibration 
amplitude. In both figures, brace bar 1502 has a stationary node plane 
2201 between flow tube 1501 and balance bar 1503. Stationary node plane 
2201 is a zero vibration plane and vibrates with neither the flow tube nor 
the balance bar. In FIG. 22, because of the equal vibration amplitudes, 
stationary node plane 2201 is located approximately half way between flow 
tube 1501 and balance bar 1503. In FIG. 23, flow tube 1501 has a much 
lower vibration amplitude (and a larger mass) and therefore, stationary 
node plane 2201 in brace bar 1502 is located very near flow tube 1501. As 
far as the dynamics of the system are concerned, stationary node plane 
2201 marks the end of the balance bar 1503 spring region in each brace bar 
1502. The shorter effective spring of balance bar 1503 of FIG. 22 gives it 
a higher effective stiffness than the longer effective spring of balance 
bar 1503 of FIG. 23. With most of the spring function of balance bar 1503 
residing in brace bars 1502, a higher flow tube/balance bar amplitude 
ratio results in a shorter and stiffer effective balance bar spring region 
than a lower amplitude ratio. Thus designing the meter so that it has a 
higher flow tube/balance bar amplitude ratio in the first bending (drive) 
mode than in the Coriolis-second bending mode can result in the 
Coriolis-second bending mode having a lower resonant frequency than the 
first bending (drive) mode. This is explained below. 
The vibration amplitude ratio in the drive mode is determined by the mass 
and stiffness of the two vibrating members. If flow tube 1501 and balance 
bar 1503 have equal resonant frequencies (and they must for a dynamically 
balanced flowmeter) then the following relationship is true: 
##EQU4## 
Also, the law of conservation of momentum holds: 
EQU M.sub.t V.sub.t =M.sub.bb V.sub.bb 
It can be shown from these two laws that the vibration amplitude ratio is 
the inverse of the mass ratio and also that the mass ratio and stiffness 
ratio must be equal: 
##EQU5## 
Therefore, for balance bar 1503 to have a lower vibration amplitude than 
flow tube 1501, the balance bar needs to have a higher mass and stiffness 
than the flow tube. 
The drive frequency is raised above the Coriolis second bending mode 
frequency in the following manner. The vibration amplitude ratio in the 
first bending mode between flow tube 1501 and balance bar 1503 is made 
high. This is done by making balance bar 1503 and its elements 1511 heavy 
and stiff compared to flow tube 1501. The result is that the stationary 
node plane 2201 in brace bar 1502 is close to balance bar 1503. This makes 
the spring rate of balance bar 1503 (in the drive mode) high. In the 
Coriolis second bending mode, however, the amplitude ratio is reversed. 
The flow tube Coriolis deflection amplitude is low because it is not being 
driven at its resonant frequency by the Coriolis force. The balance bar 
amplitude in the second bending mode is high because it is being excited 
by the Coriolis deflection of flow tube 1501 at or near its second bending 
mode resonant frequency. The flow tube/balance bar vibration amplitude 
ratio in the Coriolis second bending mode is thus low and results in the 
stationary node planes being close to flow tube 1501. This makes the 
balance bar springs relatively long and the balance bar spring rate low in 
the Coriolis second bending mode. This lowers the second bending mode 
frequency. The Coriolis second bending mode with the low amplitude ratio 
is shown in FIG. 24. Because the vibration amplitude ratio is high in the 
drive mode and is low in the Coriolis second bending mode, the balance bar 
springs (which reside in brace bar 1502) are stiffer in the drive mode 
than in the Coriolis second bending mode. This enables the second bending 
mode to actually have a lower frequency than the first bending drive mode. 
In summary, there are four design features that enable the balance bar 
second bending frequency to be below the drive frequency. The first is 
that the stiffness is lowered on both sides of its central region 1506. 
This lowers the balance bar second bending resonant frequency. This is 
done by elements 1508 and 1509 which are flexible and have a low spring 
rate. Second, the mass of balance bar 1503 is reduced in its central 
region 1506 and increased immediately outside of the reduced stiffness 
regions 1508 and 1509. This raises the drive frequency and lowers the 
balance bar second bending mode frequency. Third, balance bar 1503 is made 
stiff in its beam elements 1511 so that much of the spring of the 
vibrating structure occurs in brace bar 1502. This causes the balance bar 
spring stiffness to become a function of the vibration amplitude ratio 
between the flow tube and the balance bar. Fourth, the relative mass and 
stiffness of flow tube 1501 and balance bar 1503 is such made such that 
the vibration amplitude ratio (flow tube/balance bar) is higher in the 
drive mode than in the Coriolis-second bending mode. This allows the 
balance bar second bending mode to have a resonant frequency slightly less 
than the first bending (drive) mode. It may not be necessary to employ all 
of these design features to cause the balance bar second frequency to be 
below the drive frequency. It is only necessary to employ enough of these 
features to reduce the balance bar 1503 second bending mode frequency to 
be below the drive frequency enough that the flow sensitivity of the meter 
remains independent of material Aug. 26, 1998 (12:36PM) density. 
The other embodiment of the present invention, that in which the second 
bending mode resonant frequency is placed above the drive frequency, is 
accomplished by use of the same design techniques as described for the 
first embodiment. The only difference is that the balance bar second 
bending resonant frequency does not have to be lowered as much. It has to 
be lowered some because the second bending mode normally has a resonant 
frequency so much higher than the drive frequency that it is not excited 
significantly by the Coriolis deflections of the flow tube (which occur at 
drive frequency). In order to lower the smaller amount for this embodiment 
it is necessary only to apply a few of the design techniques, or to apply 
them in moderation. 
The preceding described embodiments of the invention have the form of a 
single straight tube with a parallel balance bar beside the flow tube. 
This has been done only for clarity of the inventive concepts. The 
principles and design features of the invention apply equally well to a 
single straight tube Coriolis flowmeter with a concentric balance bar 
(FIG. 25) as well as to single curved tube flowmeters (FIG. 26) with 
concentric balance bars. The preferred embodiment is the single straight 
tube with concentric balance bar of FIG. 25. FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, for 
clarity, have the balance bar front half removed so that the flow tube can 
be seen. FIG. 25 is the simplest and most compact embodiment. 
The embodiment of FIG. 25 is similar to that of FIGS. 22-24 except that the 
balance bar 2503 is concentric with and surrounds flow tube 2501. Balance 
bar 2503 is connected at its ends by brace bars 2502 to flow tube 2501. 
The center portion of the balance bar 2503 is light weight due to void 
2507. Sections 2508 and 2509 are of reduced stiffness. Balance bar 2503 
also has added mass elements 2504 and 2505 corresponding to elements 1504 
and 1505 on FIGS. 22-24. This design of the embodiment of FIG. 25 permits 
the second bending mode frequency of balance bar 2503 to be lower than the 
first bending mode (drive) frequency and provides the same advantages 
formerly described for the embodiment of FIGS. 22-24. 
FIG. 26 discloses embodiment which is similar in most respects to that of 
FIG. 25 except that flow tube 2601 and its surrounding concentric balance 
bar 2603 are not straight but instead, are curved upwards from horizontal 
at portions 2615 and 2616 from which they extend upward until they make 
the transition from vertical to a horizontal at areas 2617 and 2618. The 
center portion 2606 of brace bar 2603 has a low mass area 2607 comprising 
a void and elongated elements 2608 and 2609 which additionally have a low 
spring rate. Elements 2604 and 2605 provide additional mass in the same 
manner as do elements 2504 and 2505 of the embodiment of FIG. 25 and in 
the same manner as do elements 1504 and 1505 in the embodiment of FIG. 
22-24. 
On FIG. 25, meter electronics element 2420 applies drives signals via path 
2423 to driver D which cooperates with an adjacent magnet M to vibrate the 
flow tube 2501 and balance bar 2503 out of phase with each other at a 
resonant drive frequency. With material flow in the vibrating flow tube, 
Coriolis forces are applied to the flow tube to deflect its left-hand 
portion out of phase with respect to its right-hand portion as is well 
known in art. These Coriolis deflections are detected by left sensor SL 
and right sensor SR. Signals representing the Coriolis deflections are 
applied over paths 2421 and 2422 to meter electronics 2420 which processes 
the signals in the conventional manner to generate output information 
pertaining to the flowing material. This information is applied to path 
2424 and may include material density, material flow rate, etc. On FIG. 
25, driver D, left sensor SL and right sensor SR each comprise the 
coil/magnet pair with the magnets being designated M and attached to the 
flow tube proximate the coil SL, D, and SR of each coil/magnet pair. 
The embodiment of FIG. 26 is similarly associated with an electronics 
element (not shown) comparable to meter electronics 2420. The embodiment 
of FIG. 26 similarly has a driver D, a left sensor SL and a right sensor 
SR (all not shown) in the view of FIG. 26 since the flow tube vibrates in 
a plane transverse to the presentation of FIG. 26. In this view, only the 
left magnet M associated with sensor SL (not shown) and the center magnet 
M associated with driver D (not shown) and the right-hand magnet M 
associated with sensor SR (not shown) may be seen on FIG. 26. 
It is to be expressly understood that the claimed invention is not to be 
limited to the description of the preferred embodiment but encompasses 
other modifications and alterations within the scope and spirit of the 
inventive concept.