A flow measuring instrument for measuring the flow of a suspension, a system consisting of the flow measuring instrument and an external control unit, and a method for operating the same

Abstract

The present disclosure describes and shows a float flow measuring instrument (1) with a float and with an indicating unit (3), wherein the indicating unit (3) comprises a pointer element (4), wherein the pointer element (4) is directly or indirectly connected with the float in such a way that the pointer element (4) is mechanically deflected by the float during the measuring process (14). The task of specifying a float flow measuring instrument which works particularly reliably and at the same time can be used flexibly is solved by the indicating unit (3) comprising at least one bistable indicator (6) which only requires an energy supply in order to change the indicated display and / or in order to restore the display.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application proceeds from a float flow measuring instrument with a float and with an indicating unit, wherein the indicating unit comprises a pointer element, wherein the pointer element is directly or indirectly connected with the float in such a way that the pointer element is mechanically deflected by the float during the measuring process.

[0002] Furthermore, the present application relates to a system consisting of a float flow measuring instrument and an external control unit.

[0003] Furthermore, the present application relates to a method for operating a float flow measuring instrument, wherein the float flow measuring instrument comprises a float and an indicating unit, wherein the indicating unit comprises a pointer element, wherein the pointer element is directly or indirectly connected with the float in such a way that the pointer element is mechanically deflected by the float during the measuring process. BACKGROUND

[0004] Float flow measuring instruments, which detect and display the flow rate of a flowing medium through a measuring tube purely mechanically, that is to say without the use of electrical energy, are known from the prior art. Such measuring instruments have the advantage in principle that they can be used continuously with only small maintenance outlay, so that they are particularly suitable for being placed in difficult-to-access locations in complex measuring structures.

[0005] Float flow measuring instruments measure the mass or volume flow rate of a liquid or gaseous medium through a measuring tube.

[0006] To this end, a float is arranged within the measuring tube, which is deflected by the flowing medium. The float is directly or indirectly connected with a pointer element, so that in operation the deflection of the float is transferred to the pointer element. According to the design, the pointer element is connected in one piece with the float or is constructed by the float itself. According to a further design, the float is connected with the pointer element by a magnetic connection.

[0007] The indicator of the float flow measuring instrument usually has a value scale which depends on the measuring range, so that the current measured value of the flow rate can be read directly from the deflection of the pointer element.

[0008] In this respect, the flow rate flowing through the measuring tube can be detected and displayed purely mechanically by means of the float flow measuring instrument.

[0009] The value scale displayed by the indicator is generated individually for the respective application case in the calibration range of the measuring instrument before starting operation. The value scale is fixed in the calibration range according to the pointer position for the respectively adjusted flow rate.

[0010] It is disadvantageous with these purely mechanical measuring instruments that the instruments are manufactured and calibrated for each application case, so that they have a reduced measurement accuracy for measurements with process parameters that differ from the set application.

[0011] It is known from the printed document EP 2 693 162 Al a measuring instrument whose indicating unit comprises an electronic paper. Here, the measurement values are shown electronically in different ways by the indicators of the indicating unit.

[0012] The printed document DE 10 2015 102 562 Al relates to a measuring instrument with a type plate, wherein the type plate is designed as an electronic ink display (E-Ink-Display). Such a design has the advantage that, for example, at a running software update of the measuring instrument, an update of the information indicated on the type plate is also possible, so that a replacement of the type plate is superfluous.

[0013] It is known from the printed document DE 20 2005 016 292 Ul a measuring instrument with an indicating device, wherein the indicating means are formed by an electronic paper, wherein there is an electronic control device which controls or changes the electronic paper depending on the measurement values.

[0014] Furthermore, the documents DE 10 2014 117 179 Al and US 2012 / 0053436 Al also disclose a measuring instrument with an indicating element formed by an electronic paper. SUMMARY

[0015] The present invention proceeds from the shown prior art and is based on the task to specify a suspension flow measuring instrument which can be used particularly reliably and at the same time flexibly. Furthermore, it is also a task of the present invention to specify a system consisting of a suspension flow measuring instrument and an external control unit and a corresponding method for operating a suspension flow measuring instrument.

[0016] According to the first teaching, the previously mentioned task is solved by the initially described suspension flow measuring instrument in that the indicating unit comprises at least one bistable indicator which requires an energy supply only for changing the indicated display and / or for restoring the display. It is already known according to the invention that the combination of a bistable indicator which on the one hand indicates the display essentially constantly without an energy supply and at the same time can be changed by means of a small energy supply and a mechanically deflectable pointer element is advantageous in that on the one hand the purely mechanical functioning of the measuring instrument according to the invention can be maintained and on the other hand the indicator can be changed and thereby adapted to different measurement cases.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the indicating unit has at least one mechanical, for example printed, indicator and at least one bistable indicator. It is particularly preferred that the mechanical indicator comprises a value scale and the bistable indicator comprises a display of the evaluation scale and / or a display of at least one further process parameter.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the indicating unit has only at least one bistable indicator, so that the indicated information is shown overall only by means of electronic indicating technology.

[0019] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the bistable indicator is configured as a bistable electronic paper or as a bistable liquid crystal indicator. The bistable indicating unit is capable of displaying information substantially permanently. According to an embodiment, it is only necessary to restore the indicator in a period of a few weeks or months in order to avoid the information shown fading. It is also possible to consider using a further bistable indicator, in which the display of the information is maintained substantially without energy supply and in which, by means of a small energy supply, a change of the information shown is possible.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment, the bistable indicator indicates in operation a first display, wherein the first display comprises at least one value scale depending on the measurement range and / or at least one further process-related parameter and / or an evaluation, in particular in the form of an evaluation scale, of the measured value indicated and / or a limit value and / or a total flow.

[0021] Within the scope of the present application, the totality of the information shown by the indicator is referred to as a display.

[0022] The first display can have one or more value scales. For example, two different value scales can exist for two different media. Furthermore, two different value scales can also be indicated for the same medium in the case of different process parameters.

[0023] The further process parameter is in particular the pressure and / or the temperature and / or the kind of the measurement medium in the process of the measurement.

[0024] The evaluation of the measured value indicated can be shown for example in the form of an evaluation scale. Preferably, the value scale is connected to the evaluation scale in such a way that the evaluation of the measured value indicated can be read directly on the evaluation scale.

[0025] According to a next embodiment, the indicating unit has an interface, preferably a USB interface and / or a manufacturer-specific interface, for coupling to an external control unit.

[0026] Here, the interface is configured for coupling to an external control unit by means of which the display of the bistable indicator can be restored and / or at least partially changed.

[0027] According to a further design, the flow measuring instrument for suspended matter has an internal control unit, wherein the internal control unit is designed and arranged in such a way that it can restore and / or at least partially change the display of the bistable indicator.

[0028] The change of the first display of the bistable indicator by the external and / or internal control unit comprises in particular a change of the indicated value scale and / or a fading in or out of an additional value scale and / or a change of further process-related parameters shown and / or a change or a fading in or out of the evaluation of the indicated measured value and / or of the shown limit values and / or a change of the total flow shown.

[0029] According to a preferred design, the internal control unit has a storage unit, wherein a plurality of displays is stored in the storage unit, wherein each display is preferably based on a different process parameter. For example, each display has a further value scale which matches the process parameter on which it is based.

[0030] The internal control unit is preferably designed in such a way that it controls the bistable indicator in such a way that the indicator indicates one of the different displays or at least sometimes also simultaneously indicates different displays in operation.

[0031] The recording and storage of the different displays can take place, for example, during a calibration of the measuring instrument. According to the design, a calibration for different process parameters can be carried out in detail, wherein for the different process parameters a value scale relating to the flow is generated and stored respectively.

[0032] According to a further design, there is at least one sensor element for measuring a further process-related parameter, wherein the at least one sensor element is connected to the internal control unit in such a way that in operation a measured value of the at least one further parameter is transmitted to the control unit, wherein the internal control unit is designed in such a way that it changes the display of the bistable indicator at least partially depending on the measured value of the at least one sensor element.

[0033] According to the design, for example, the shown value of the at least one further process parameter corresponds to the current measured value of this parameter, so that the shown information is continuously updated.

[0034] According to a further advantageous design, the shown value scale preferably matches the change of the process parameter taking into account a tolerance range, so that measurement errors can be minimized.

[0035] Such a matching of the value scale takes place according to the design variant by means of the display of the display changeover bistable indicator being stored in dependence on further, for example in the storage unit, stored current measured values for at least one further process parameter.

[0036] According to a further design variant, the internal control unit scales the value scale in consideration of a change in at least one process-related parameter.

[0037] The possibility of changing the value scale has the advantage that the suspended solids flow measuring instrument can be used particularly flexibly, for example in order to measure different media or in order to measure under different or changing process conditions.

[0038] According to a further advantageous design variant, the suspended solids flow measuring instrument is arranged in a bypass configuration, wherein the internal control unit is designed in such a way that it changes the display of the display changeover bistable indicator at least partially in dependence on a flow ratio value.

[0039] Preferably, according to this design variant, there is a first and a second measuring pipe, wherein the first measuring pipe is configured as a bypass line to the second measuring pipe. The suspended solids flow measuring instrument is arranged in such a way that it determines the flow through the first measuring pipe.

[0040] Furthermore, there is an adjustable valve with a valve control unit, wherein the valve is designed and arranged in such a way that it adjusts in operation a flow ratio of the flow through the first measuring pipe and through the second measuring pipe. The valve control unit is connected to the internal control unit in such a way that the flow ratio value is transferred to the internal control unit in operation, so that the internal control unit changes the display of the display changeover bistable indicator at least partially in dependence on the flow ratio value.

[0041] In detail, the internal control unit determines a correction value on the basis of the flow ratio value, so that the total flow through both measuring pipes can be determined by means of a correction of the flow through the first measuring pipe by means of the correction value.

[0042] According to the design variant, the internal control unit transfers to the valve control unit a to-be-adjusted flow value for the flow through the first measuring pipe. The valve control unit presets a flow ratio value on the basis of this and transfers the value to the internal control unit as described previously.

[0043] In this way, the measuring range of the suspended solids flow measuring instrument can be expanded.

[0044] According to a second teaching of the present application, the task mentioned at the outset is solved by a system consisting of a suspended body flow measuring instrument and an external control unit, wherein the suspended body flow measuring instrument is constructed according to any one of the design solutions described previously, i.e. the indicating unit has an interface, preferably a USB interface and / or a manufacturer-specific interface, wherein the indicating unit is connected via the interface to the external control unit, wherein the external control unit is designed in such a way that it can restore and / or at least partially change the display of the bistable indicator.

[0045] According to the design solution, in addition or alternatively to the internal control unit described above, there is an external control unit for changing and / or for restoring the bistable indicator.

[0046] According to a design solution of the system, the external control unit has a storage unit, wherein a plurality of displays of the indicating unit are stored in the storage unit, wherein the respective display is preferably based on a different process parameter.

[0047] According to a next design solution of the system, there is at least one sensor element for measuring a further process-related parameter, wherein the at least one sensor element is connected to the external control unit in such a way that, in operation, the measured value of the at least one further parameter is transmitted to the external control unit, wherein the external control unit is designed in such a way that it changes the display of the bistable indicator at least partially depending on the measured value of the at least one sensor element.

[0048] According to a next design solution, the suspended body flow measuring instrument is arranged in a bypass configuration, wherein the external control unit is designed in such a way that it changes the display of the bistable indicator at least partially depending on the flow ratio value. With regard to the design solution of the bypass configuration, reference is made to the above description of the components.

[0049] With regard to the design solution of the external control unit, reference is made to the features of the internal control unit explained above. The external control unit can likewise have all the above-described features of the internal control unit.

[0050] According to a third teaching of the present application, the task explained at the outset is solved by a method for operating a suspended body flow measuring instrument, wherein the indicating unit comprises a bistable indicator, which only requires an energy supply for changing the indicated display and / or for restoring the display,

[0051] there is an internal control unit and / or an external control unit, and

[0052] The internal control unit and / or the external control unit changes the display of the bistable indicator at least partially, preferably depending on at least one process parameter.

[0053] It is particularly preferred that the suspension flow measuring instrument is constructed according to any one of the design variants described previously.

[0054] According to an advantageous design variant of the method, the information shown by the bistable indicator, such as, for example, at least one value scale depending on the measurement range and / or a further process-related parameter and / or an evaluation of the indicated measurement value, in particular in the form of an evaluation scale and / or a limit value and / or the total flow, is changed at least partially by the internal and / or external control unit, preferably depending on a process parameter.

[0055] The relevant process parameter is, for example, the pressure, the temperature or the kind of medium.

[0056] According to a design variant of the method, the indicated value scale is changed and / or an additional value scale is faded in or out and / or the further process-related parameter shown is changed and / or the evaluation of the indicated measurement value is faded in or out or changed and / or the limit value shown is faded in or out or changed and / or the total flow shown is changed.

[0057] If different displays for different process parameters are stored in the storage unit of the internal or external control unit, the change in the display takes place according to the design variant in such a way that, taking into account the tolerance range, the display based on the underlying process parameter is indicated depending on the underlying process parameter.

[0058] Furthermore, according to a next design variant, the influence of a change in the process parameter is taken into account in the indicated information of the internal or external control unit in such a way that the value scale is converted to the current value in the case of a change in the process parameter which also includes the kind of medium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0059] A large number of possible variants of the suspension flow measuring instrument according to the application and the method according to the application are now described in detail. In this regard, reference is made not only to the claims following the independent claim but also to the preferred embodiments in connection with the subsequent description of the drawings. In the drawings:

[0060] Figure 1 a first embodiment of a suspension flow measuring instrument according to the application and a system consisting of a suspension flow measuring instrument and an external control unit is shown,

[0061] Figure 2 a second embodiment of a suspension flow measuring instrument according to the application and a system consisting of a suspension flow measuring instrument and an external control unit is shown,

[0062] Figure 3 a third embodiment of a suspended body flow measuring instrument according to the present application is shown,

[0063] Figure 4 a fourth embodiment of a suspended body flow measuring instrument according to the present application is shown,

[0064] Figure 5 a bypass arrangement is shown and

[0065] Figure 6 a first embodiment of a method according to the present application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] In Figure 1 a first embodiment of a suspended body flow measuring instrument 1 is shown, with a suspended body arranged within a measuring tube 5 and with an indication unit 3, wherein the indication unit 3 comprises a pointer element 4, wherein the pointer element 4 is directly or indirectly connected with the suspended body, so that the pointer element 4 is mechanically deflected during a measuring process by the suspended body. Furthermore, the indication unit 3 comprises a bistable indicator 6, which only requires an energy supply for changing the indicated display or for restoring the display. In the shown embodiment, the bistable indicator 6 is configured as an electronic paper. In the shown embodiment, the display of the bistable indicator 6 comprises a first value scale for the process parameters pressure 1 bar and temperature 22 °C and furthermore a second value scale for the process parameters pressure 4 bar and temperature 120 °C. In this regard, all information is shown by means of an electronic indication technology.

[0067] Thereby, the suspended body flow measuring instrument 1 shown in Figure 1 has the advantage that the indicator 6 indicates the user-relevant information essentially continuously without energy supply on the one hand and can furthermore be changed so that also a change of the process parameters at the time of displaying the measured values can be taken into account. The electronic indicator only has to be updated in a period of several weeks in order to avoid a fading.

[0068] Furthermore, the shown suspended body flow measuring instrument 1 has an interface 7, by which the indication unit 3 is connected with an external control unit 8, wherein by means of the external control unit 8 the bistable indicator 6 can be changed and restored by an energy supply.

[0069] In this regard, also an embodiment of a system 17 according to the present application is shown, which consists of the suspended body flow measuring instrument 1 and the external control unit 8.

[0070] Figure 2A further embodiment of the suspended solids flow measuring instrument 1 is shown, which has a suspended solids arranged within the measuring tube 5 and a display unit 3. The display unit 3 is connected via an interface 7 with an external control unit 8.

[0071] The display unit 3 likewise has a bistable display 6 in the form of an electronic paper, which can be changed by means of the external control unit 8. Analogous to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 The embodiment shown in Figure 2 in which all information is also shown by means of electronic display technology. In contrast to the information shown in Figure 1 the display 6 shows, in addition to the value scale, an evaluation scale for evaluating the indicated measured value. The indicated display has the advantage that it is possible to read directly whether the current flow is in the desired range.

[0072] Figure 3 A further embodiment of the suspended solids flow measuring instrument 1 is shown. In contrast to the embodiments shown previously in Figure 1 and 2 the display unit 3 comprises not only a bistable display 6 in the form of an evaluation scale, but also a mechanical, and in this respect unchangeable, value scale 18. Such a design can be used particularly advantageously in systems with essentially constant process conditions, in which, for example, in the case of a large number of measuring instruments used at different locations of the measuring system, different flow ranges are advantageously characterized by means of the evaluation scale.

[0073] An assembly consisting of a first measuring tube 5 and a second measuring tube 19 is shown in Figure 4 , wherein the first measuring tube 5 is designed and arranged as a bypass line to the second measuring tube 19. Arranged at the first measuring tube 5 is a suspended solids flow measuring instrument 1, which detects and shows by means of a display unit 3 the flow through the first measuring tube 5 in operation. The shown suspended solids flow measuring instrument 1 has an internal control unit 9, which is not visible here.

[0074] An adjustable valve 20 adjusts the flow ratio between the first measuring tube 5 and the second measuring tube 19. The valve 20 has a valve control unit, which is connected with the internal control unit 9 of the suspended solids flow measuring instrument 1 in such a way that the internal control unit transmits to the valve control unit the flow value to be adjusted for the flow through the first measuring tube 5. The valve control unit adjusts the flow ratio value on the basis of this preset and transmits it to the internal control unit 9.

[0075] The internal control unit 9 is designed in such a way that it calculates a correction value from the flow rate proportion value, wherein the internal control unit 9 determines the total flow rate flowing through the measuring pipes 5 and 19 by means of the correction value and the measured value of the flow rate through the first measuring pipe 5. The total flow rate is indicated by the bistable indicator 6 and is additionally continuously updated.

[0076] Figure 5 A further embodiment of the float flow measuring instrument 1 with a float and an indicating unit 3 comprising a pointer element 4 is schematically shown, wherein the pointer element 4 is mechanically deflected in operation by the float. Furthermore, the indicating unit 3 comprises a bistable indicator 6.

[0077] Furthermore, the float flow measuring instrument 1 has an internal control unit 9, wherein the internal control unit 9 likewise has a storage unit 10. Stored in the storage unit 10 is a display of the value scale of the bistable indicator 6 for different process parameters.

[0078] Furthermore, there are a temperature sensor 11 and a pressure sensor 12, wherein the temperature sensor 11 and the pressure sensor 12 deliver measured values in operation to the internal control unit 9. The internal control unit 9 changes the information shown by the bistable indicator 6 in operation depending on the measured values of the temperature sensor 11 and the pressure sensor 12.

[0079] For this purpose, either the internal control unit 9 can indicate the display stored in the storage unit 10 or the value scale shown by the bistable indicator 6 can be converted into the values measured by the temperature sensor 11 and the pressure sensor 12.

[0080] Figure 6 A first embodiment of a method 2 for operating the float flow measuring instrument 1 is shown, wherein the float flow measuring instrument 1 is designed as shown in Figure 5

[0081] Before starting operation, the float flow measuring instrument 1 is calibrated in a first step 13. For this purpose, the position of the pointer element 4 is recorded not only in the case of different flow rates but also in the case of different process parameters and from this a plurality of value scales is generated, which are stored in the storage unit 10 in the form of different displays.

[0082] Depending on the process parameter first given, a first display comprising a first value scale is indicated by the bistable indicator 6.

[0083] ​During the measurement 14 of the flow of the medium through the measuring tube, further process parameters, such as the pressure and the temperature within the measuring tube, are monitored 15 at the same time by further sensor elements 11, 12. As long as the further process parameters exceed the tolerance range, the value scale is matched 16 to the current process parameters by changing the display.

[0084] List of reference signs

[0085] 1 suspended matter flow measuring instrument

[0086] 2 method for operating a measuring instrument

[0087] 3 indicating unit

[0088] 4 pointer element

[0089] 5 measuring tube

[0090] 6 bistable indicator

[0091] 7 interface

[0092] 8 external control unit

[0093] 9 internal control unit

[0094] 10 storage unit

[0095] 11 temperature sensor

[0096] 12 pressure sensor

[0097] 13 calibration of a suspended matter flow measuring instrument

[0098] 14 measurement of the flow

[0099] 15 monitoring of further process parameters

[0100] 16 matching of the bistable indicator

[0101] 17 system consisting of a suspended matter flow measuring instrument and an external control unit

[0102] 18 mechanical indicator

[0103] 19 second measuring tube

[0104] 20 adjustable valve

Claims

1. A suspended flow meter (1), having a suspended body and an indicating unit (3), wherein, The indicating unit (3) includes a pointer element (4), wherein the pointer element (4) is directly or indirectly connected to the levitation body as follows, such that the pointer element (4) is mechanically deflected by the levitation body during the measurement process (14). Its features are, The indicator unit (3) includes at least one bistable indicator (6), which requires power only to change the indicated display and / or to restore the display. The bistable indicator (6) indicates a first display during operation, wherein the first display includes at least one value scale dependent on the measurement range and / or an evaluation of the indicated measurement value. The displayed values ​​on the scale depend on changes in at least one process parameter. The suspended volume flow measuring instrument (1) has an internal control unit (9), wherein the internal control unit (9) is designed and arranged such that it can restore and / or at least partially change the display of the bistable indicator (6), and There is at least one sensor element (11, 12) for measuring other process-related parameters, wherein the at least one sensor element (11, 12) is connected to the internal control unit (9) such that, during operation, the measured value of at least one other parameter is transmitted to the internal control unit (9), wherein the internal control unit (9) is designed such that it changes the display of the bistable indicator (6) at least in part depending on the measured value of the at least one sensor element (11, 12).

2. The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bistable indicator (6) is constructed as a bistable electronic paper or as a bistable liquid crystal indicator.

3. The suspended flow measuring instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first display includes at least one additional process-related parameter and / or boundary value and / or total flow.

4. The suspended flow measuring instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The indicator unit (3) has an interface (7) for connecting to an external control unit (8).

5. The suspended flow measuring instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The internal control unit (9) has a storage unit (10) in which multiple displays of the indicator unit (3) are stored.

6. The suspended flow measuring instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) is arranged in a bypass configuration, and the internal control unit (9) is designed such that it at least partially changes the display of the bistable indicator (6) depending on the flow ratio value.

7. The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The evaluation of the indicated measurement value is in the form of an evaluation scale.

8. The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The interface (7) is a USB interface.

9. The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The interface (7) is a manufacturer-specific interface.

10. The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each display is based on different process parameters.

11. A system (17) consisting of a suspended flow measurement instrument (1) and an external control unit (8), wherein, The suspended flow measuring instrument (1) has a suspended body and an indicating unit (3), wherein the indicating unit (3) includes a pointer element (4), wherein the pointer element (4) is directly or indirectly connected to the suspended body such that the pointer element (4) is mechanically deflected by the suspended body during the measurement process (14). Its features are, The indicator unit (3) includes at least one bistable indicator (6), which requires power only to change the indicated display and / or to restore the display. The bistable indicator (6) indicates a first display during operation, wherein the first display includes at least one value scale dependent on the measurement range and / or an evaluation of the indicated measurement value, and The displayed values ​​on the scale depend on changes in at least one process parameter. The indicator unit (3) has an interface (7) through which it is connected to an external control unit (8), wherein the external control unit (8) is designed to restore and / or at least partially change the display of the bistable indicator (6). There is at least one sensor element (11, 12) for measuring other process-related parameters, wherein the at least one sensor element (11, 12) is connected to the external control unit (8) such that, during operation, the measured value of at least one other parameter is transmitted to the external control unit (8), wherein the external control unit (8) is designed such that it changes the display of the bistable indicator (6) at least in part depending on the measured value of the at least one sensor element (11, 12).

12. The system (17) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The external control unit (8) has a storage unit (10) in which multiple displays of the indicator unit (3) are stored, each display being based on different process parameters.

13. The system (17) according to any one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that, The suspended flow measurement instrument (1) is arranged in a bypass configuration, and the external control unit (8) is designed such that it at least partially changes the display of the bistable indicator (6) depending on the flow ratio value.

14. The system (17) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The evaluation of the indicated measurement value is in the form of an evaluation scale.

15. The system (17) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The interface (7) is a USB interface.

16. The system (17) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The interface (7) is a manufacturer-specific interface.

17. A method (2) for operating a suspended flow measurement instrument (1), wherein, The indicating unit (3) includes a pointer element (4), wherein the pointer element (4) is directly or indirectly connected to the levitation body as follows, such that the pointer element (4) is mechanically deflected by the levitation body during the measurement process (14). Its features are, The indicator unit (3) includes a bistable indicator (6), which requires power only to change the indicated display and / or to restore the display. The bistable indicator (6) indicates a first display during operation, wherein the first display includes at least one value scale dependent on the measurement range and / or an evaluation of the indicated measurement value. There is an internal control unit (9) and / or an external control unit (8), and The internal control unit (9) and / or the external control unit (8) at least partially alter the display of the bistable indicator (6). The values ​​shown on the scale depend on changes in at least one process parameter. There is at least one sensor element (11, 12) for measuring other process-related parameters, wherein the at least one sensor element (11, 12) is connected to the internal control unit or the external control unit (8) such that, during operation, the measured value of at least one other parameter is transmitted to the internal control unit or the external control unit (8), wherein the internal control unit or the external control unit (8) is designed such that it changes the display of the bistable indicator (6) at least in part depending on the measured value of the at least one sensor element (11, 12).

18. The method (2) according to claim 17, characterized in that, The evaluation of the indicated measurement value is in the form of an evaluation scale.

19. The method (2) according to claim 17, characterized in that, The internal control unit (9) and / or the external control unit (8) at least partially, depending on at least one process parameter, change the display of the bistable indicator (6).

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