Vortex flow sensor

US6352000B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• Igor Getman · Lörrach, DE
• Sergej Lopatin · Lörrach, DE
• Tanja Stöcklin · Lörrach, DE
• Frank Ohle · Steinen, DE
• Roger Kerrom · Lörrach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 10, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2002
• Expiry date: Aug 10, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01F1/3266
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The piezoelectric vortex sensing element (3, 3′, 3″, 3+) of this vortex flow sensor (1) can be assembled from individual components in a simple manner; if its piezoelectric element (34, 34′, 34″, 34*, 34+, 34++) should be faulty, it can be easily replaced. Also, the vortex sensing element can be made largely insensitive to vibrations acting from outside. The vortex flow sensor (1) serves to measure the flow velocity and/or the volumetric flow rate of a fluid flowing through a measuring tube (2). A bluff body (4) generating Kármán vortices is disposed along a diameter of the measuring tube and fixed to the measuring tube at at least one fixing point (41). The vortex sensing element responds to vortex-induced pressure fluctuations and either is installed in a wall (22) of the measuring tube down-stream of the bluff body in a tight manner or extends into a main bore (46) extending through the measuring tube into the bluff body. A diaphragm (33, 33″, 33+) covers the main bore (46) or the wall bore (22). At the surface (331) of the diaphragm facing toward the fluid, a sensor vane (31, 31″, 31+) or a sensor sleeve (31′, 31*) is fixe…