Single Curved Tube Coriolis Flow Meter Balancing Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Single curved tube Coriolis flow meters face challenges in maintaining balance across a range of material densities, leading to vibration imbalances at the flanges, which existing methods fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A Coriolis flow meter design utilizing a torsion member with a balance member that vibrates in opposite phase to the single curved flow tube, causing torsional deformation to balance vibrations, and a manifold spacer with flexible members to manage residual motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single curved tube design is used, then the problems associated with flow splitting and manifold clogging are eliminated, but vibration imbalance occurs at the flanges when material density changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelimination of flow splitting complexityVSAvoidvibration balance at flanges
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A balance member is attached to the flow tube assembly, positioned to vibrate in opposite phase to the single flow tube. This counterbalancing mechanism generates opposing vibrations that cancel out the imbalanced vibrations transmitted to the flanges, thereby resolving the vibration imbalance problem while maintaining the simplicity of single-tube design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The balancing system utilizes dynamic vibration characteristics where the balance member is designed to vibrate at the same frequency but in opposite phase to the flow tube. This dynamic counterbalancing approach allows the system to maintain vibration balance across varying material densities without requiring static structural modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a support plate with high mass is used to balance vibrations, then vibration cancellation is achieved for a single material density, but the flow meter becomes unbalanced when material density changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration balance at a given densityVSAvoidbalance maintenance across density range
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on static mass properties, the invention employs dynamic vibration characteristics. The balance member is designed to vibratably couple with the flow tube and actively vibrate in opposite phase, allowing the system to maintain balance across varying densities through dynamic adjustment rather than static mass configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system exploits changes in vibration parameters (frequency, phase, amplitude) in response to material density changes. By designing the balance member to respond dynamically to these parameter changes, the system maintains vibration balance across a range of operating conditions rather than being optimized for a single density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If dual tube design with flow splitting is used, then vibration balance is achieved through symmetrical opposite-phase vibration, but pressure drop increases and manifold clogging occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration balance through symmetryVSAvoidpressure drop and clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the manifold flow splitting component from the dual-tube design. By using a single flow tube without flow division, the harmful effects of pressure drop and clogging at the split point are removed, while the vibration balance function is achieved through the added balance member rather than through symmetrical flow splitting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design ensures self-balancing across varying material densities, minimizing vibration at the flanges and maintaining accuracy by adjusting the stiffness of the flow tube, torsion member, and balance member to separate natural frequencies, thus maintaining operational stability.

Implementation Method 1

a center section of the torsion member... causing the torsion member to be deflected in torsion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion: Torsion Spring

Implementation Method 2

vibrating one or more flow tubes and measuring deflections, or phase differences, in the vibrating flow tubes induced by the Coriolis forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

measuring deflections, or phase differences, in the vibrating flow tubes induced by the Coriolis forces from a material flowing through the flow tubes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoriolis force: Coriolis Force

Data Source

PatentEP2027440B1A balancing structure for a single curved tube coriolis flow meter
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 MICRO MOTION INC
  • EP2027440B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2027440B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2027440B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A Coriolis flow meter is disclosed that uses the deflection of a torsion member (430) to balance the vibration of a single curved flow tube (308). The two ends of the torsion member are attached to, and vibrate with, a center section of the single flow tube (308). A balance member (432) is attached to a center section of the torsion member (430) and vibrates in the opposite phase of the single flow tube (308) causing the torsion member (430) to be deflected in torsion.