Vibration-Type Measurement Transducer With Decoupled Coupling Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measurement transducers for flowable media in pipelines face challenges in maintaining mechanical robustness and resistance to disturbances, particularly due to direct exposure to mechanical and electrical loads, as well as fluctuating temperatures, which affect accuracy and integrity.
Innovation Solution
The transducer design incorporates two oscillating tubes mechanically coupled via end-side coupling elements, allowing for indirect transmission of oscillations, reducing operational deformations and enabling the use of piezoelectric or piezoresistive deformation bodies for energy conversion, thus minimizing additional components on the vibrating tubes and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If transducer elements are directly coupled to oscillating transducer tubes, then energy conversion is efficient, but mechanical robustness and resistance to disturbances deteriorate due to direct exposure to mechanical and electrical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coupling elements as intermediaries between the oscillating transducer tubes and the transducer elements. These coupling elements mechanically decouple the transducer elements from the high-dynamic oscillations of the tubes while still transmitting the necessary mechanical energy for excitation and detection, thereby protecting the transducer elements from direct exposure to mechanical and electrical disturbances
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to transducer tubes for energy conversion, then functionality is enhanced, but construction complexity and disturbance to oscillating tubes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy conversion function from the oscillating transducer tubes themselves and relocates it to separate transducer elements that are coupled to the tubes via coupling elements. This extraction removes the complex components from the high-dynamic oscillating system, simplifying the tube design and reducing disturbance to the oscillation while maintaining the necessary 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 design enhances the robustness and cost-effectiveness of the transducer by reducing disturbance to oscillating tubes, allowing for homogeneous mass distribution and stable operation, while simplifying the construction and assembly of exciter and sensor mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The two transducer tubes are mechanically coupled with one another by means of at least a first, inlet-side, coupling element and by means of at least a first, outlet-side, coupling element in such a manner that both the first, inlet-side, coupling element, as well as also the first, outlet-side, coupling element, are subjected during operation repeatedly to deformations which correspond with vibrations of at least one of the two transducer tubes. The first transducer element and at least one of the coupling elements are at least mediately coupled together mechanically in such a manner that the transducer element executes, at least in part, oscillatory movements which correspond with the repeated deformations of at least this coupling element.
Implementation Method 2
The first transducer element and at least one of the coupling elements are at least mediately coupled together mechanically in such a manner that the transducer element executes, at least in part, oscillatory movements which correspond with the repeated deformations of at least this coupling element.
Data Source
AI summary
The measurement transducer includes at least two oscillatably held transducer tubes vibrating, at least at times, during operation, of which at least one transducer tube serving to convey at least a volume portion of a medium to be measured, communicates with a pipeline; as well as at least one transducer element for converting electrical energy into mechanical and/or vice versa. The two transducer tubes are mechanically coupled together by means of at least one, inlet-side, coupling element and by means of at least one, outlet-side, coupling element in such a manner that both the inlet-side coupling element, as well as also the outlet-side coupling element, are subjected during operation repeatedly to deformations which correspond to vibrations of at least one of the two transducer tubes for converting electrical energy into mechanical, oscillatory energy and/or vice versa. The transducer element, especially a transducer element formed by means of a piezoelectric, deformation body, and at least one of the coupling elements, are, at least mediately, mechanically coupled together in such a manner that the transducer element executes, at least in part, oscillatory movements, which correspond with the repeated deformations at least of this coupling element.