Patent ID: 7774150

Claim:
Meter electronics ( 20 ) for a flow meter ( 5 ), the meter electronics ( 20 ) comprising an interface ( 201 ) for receiving a vibrational response and a processing system ( 203 ) in communication with the interface ( 201 ), with the meter electronics ( 20 ) being characterized by: the processing system ( 203 ) being configured to receive the vibrational response from the interface ( 201 ), vibrate at least one flowtube ( 130 ) of the vibratory flow meter ( 5 ) and generate a first tube period τ m1 for a first flow material m 1 , vibrate the at least one flowtube ( 130 ) of the vibratory flow meter ( 5 ) and generate a second tube period τ m2 for a second flow material m 2 , determine one or more of a stiffness coefficient C 1 or a mass coefficient C 2 from the first tube period τ m1 , a first density ρ m1 , the second tube period τ m2 , and a second density ρ m2 , generate one or more of a second stiffness coefficient C 1,t2 or a second mass coefficient C 2,t2 at a second time t 2 , compare the second stiffness coefficient C 1,t2 to the stiffness coefficient C 1 or compare the second mass coefficient C 2,t2 to the mass coefficient C 2 , and enerate an error condition if the second stiffness coefficient C 1,t2 differs from the stiffness coefficient C 1 by more than a predetermined stiffness tolerance or if the second mass coefficient C 2,t2 differs from the mass coefficient C 2 by more than a predetermined mass tolerance.