Coriolis Flow Meter Carrier Vibration Converter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coriolis mass flowmeters with two or more measuring tubes are complex and expensive to manufacture due to the need for precise individual assembly and attachment of vibration components, limiting their production simplicity and dimensional flexibility.

Innovation Solution

Attaching carriers to each measuring tube with a vibration converter acting between the carriers, rather than directly between the tubes, allows for a compact design with a small distance between the tubes, using a vibration sensor on one side and a balancing mass on the other to suppress torsional vibrations, enabling simpler and more precise manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the vibration converter acts directly between the two measuring tubes, then the device structure is compact, but the manufacturing complexity increases and precision requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice dimensionsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces carriers as intermediary elements between the vibration converter and the measuring tubes. The vibration converter acts on the carriers rather than directly on the measuring tubes, which simplifies the attachment requirements and reduces manufacturing precision demands while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the connection system by introducing separate carrier elements that are each attached to individual measuring tubes. This segmentation allows the vibration converter to interact with discrete carriers rather than requiring direct coordination between multiple tubes, reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the distance between the two measuring tubes is reduced for compact design, then the device dimensions decrease, but it becomes difficult to arrange the vibration converter between the tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice dimensionsVSAvoidvibration converter arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The carriers serve as mediators that extend the interaction points away from the measuring tubes. This allows the vibration converter to be positioned on the carriers with sufficient spacing, even when the measuring tubes themselves are positioned closely together, thus maintaining compact device dimensions while facilitating vibration converter arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If individual devices are manufactured by hand to meet small tolerances, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance precisionVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The carriers are designed to be self-aligning and self-positioning relative to the measuring tubes. The attachment mechanism allows the carriers to automatically assume their correct positions and orientations, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures and enabling standardized manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier design provides universal attachment features that can be standardized across different device configurations. The carriers serve multiple functions including mechanical support, vibration transmission, and positioning reference, which simplifies the overall manufacturing process by reducing the number of specialized components required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration simplifies the manufacturing process, achieves high precision, and allows for the production of Coriolis mass flowmeters with very small dimensions, reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing disturbances from inherent vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration sensor being provided as the vibration converter, which acts on one side of the measuring tubes between the carriers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the mass of a medium flowing through the measuring tubes typically being determined via a phase shift of the vibrations achieved in the measuring tubes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase shift:

Implementation Method 3

an anti-phase vibration excitation of the two measuring tubes in their common plane at a resonant frequency is generally selected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonant frequency: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP1798532B1Coriolis mass flow meter
Publication Date: 2016.09.21 KROHNE AG
  • EP1798532B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1798532B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1798532B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a mass flow meter that operates according to the Coriolis principle and comprises two measuring tubes (1) and a vibration transducer. According to the invention, a support (2) is attached to each of the measuring tubes (1), and the vibration transducer is designed and arranged such that it acts between the two supports (2). In this way, a Coriolis mass flow meter that is easy to manufacture is achieved, the measuring tubes (1) of which can be located extremely close to each other.