Patent ID: 8596141

Claim:
A vortex flow meter, comprising: a pipe having a sidewall around a flow passage adapted to carry a fluid flow in a downstream direction; a vortex shedding bar mounted in the flow passage through an opening in the sidewall at an upstream position relative to the fluid flow and producing vortex oscillations in the fluid flow; and a vortex responsive assembly, comprising: a diaphragm sealing the opening in the sidewall to form an isolation chamber; a vortex oscillation sensor plate; and a pivoting strut that extends along a central region of the vortex oscillation sensor plate and that extends through the diaphragm to transfer vortex oscillations from the vortex oscillation sensor plate to a sensor; and an electronic transmitter circuit that receives a sensor output from the sensor and that provides an output related to flow of the fluid; wherein the vortex responsive assembly further comprising an upstream support strut and a downstream support strut, which is positioned downstream of the upstream support strut relative to the fluid flow, the upstream and downstream support struts protruding from the vortex responsive assembly, and by the vortex oscillation sensor plate having a proximate edge supported on the diaphragm, an opposite distal edge that is unsupported, an upstream edge supported by the upstream support strut and a downstream edge supported by the downstream support strut.