Vibrating Meter Case High-Damping Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrating meters face measurement inaccuracies due to vibrational interference between conduit drive frequencies and case natural modes, which is costly and complex to resolve with traditional metal cases.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating meter with a case made from a high-damping material, such as plastic, that reduces and separates its resonant frequencies from those of the conduits, eliminating the need for costly welding and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the case is made extremely stiff and/or massive to decrease vibrational mode frequencies, then the case's resonant frequencies are separated from conduit drive frequencies, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter (damping characteristic) of the case from traditional metal to a high-damping material. This parameter change allows the case to effectively dissipate vibrational energy and separate resonant frequencies without requiring extreme stiffness or mass, thereby avoiding complex manufacturing while achieving the desired frequency separation for reliable measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining a metal conduit with a non-metallic high-damping material case. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials: the metal conduit provides structural integrity and vibrational stability, while the high-damping material case suppresses unwanted vibrations and separates resonant frequencies, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing complexity
2Reliability
If metal weights are welded to the case to increase mass, then the case's resonant frequencies decrease, but manufacturing cost increases and vibrational energy dissipation is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding mass through welded weights, the patent changes the fundamental material parameter (damping characteristic) of the case itself. The high-damping material inherently dissipates vibrational energy and lowers resonant frequencies without requiring additional mass addition, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while achieving the same effect more efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive metal case with a more cost-effective high-damping material case that achieves the desired vibrational control function. This substitution eliminates costly welding operations and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining or improving performance
3Strength
If a metal case is used to provide strength and explosion proof ratings, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to welding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system where the metal conduit maintains structural integrity and explosion-proof capabilities, while the high-damping material case provides vibrational control. This composite approach eliminates the need for expensive welding operations required by traditional metal cases while maintaining the necessary structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the expensive metal case with a more economical high-damping material case that achieves the same functional requirements. This replacement eliminates costly welding processes and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural adequacy for the application
4Stability of the object's composition
If the case material is made similar to conduit material (metal), then structural consistency is achieved, but frequency overlap between case and conduit vibrations occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately uses dissimilar materials (metal conduit with high-damping material case) to create a composite structure. This material differentiation ensures that the case and conduit have different vibrational characteristics and resonant frequencies, preventing frequency overlap and improving measurement precision while maintaining structural consistency through proper material selection and design
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of drive mode-induced case vibrations, improving measurement accuracy and reducing manufacturing costs by using a material with higher vibrational damping characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a case enclosing at least a portion of the one or more conduits, the driver and the one or more pick-offs and formed from a second material comprising a higher vibrational damping characteristic than the first material
Data Source
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AI summary
A vibrating meter is provided. The vibrating meter includes one or more conduits formed from a first material. The vibrating meter further includes a driver coupled to a conduit of the one or more conduits and configured to vibrate at least a portion of the conduit at one or more drive frequencies and one or more pick-offs coupled to a conduit of the one or more conduits and configured to detect a motion of the vibrating portion of the conduit. The vibrating meter further includes a case enclosing at least a portion of the one or more conduits, the driver and the one or more pick-offs. The case is formed from a second material comprising a higher vibrational damping characteristic than the first material.