Vibratory cavity density meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10866178-B2
Application number	US-201616303480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2016
Priority date	Jun 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) is provided. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) includes a pipe ( 110 - 310 ) extending from a first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) to a second end ( 110 b - 310 b ). The first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) includes an aperture ( 114 - 314 ) configured to receive a material from a container ( 10 ) and the second end ( 110 b - 310 b ) is self-enclosed so as to contain the material in the pipe ( 110 - 310 ). The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) also includes at least one transducer ( 118, 218 ) coupled to the pipe ( 110 - 310 ), the at least one transducer ( 118, 218 ) configured to one of induce and sense a vibration in the pipe ( 110 - 310 ) to measure a property of the material.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) comprising:
a pipe ( 110 - 310 ) extending from a first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) to a second end ( 110 b - 310 b ), wherein:
the first end ( 110 - 310 ) is configured to couple to a container ( 10 ) and includes an aperture ( 114 - 314 ) configured to receive a material from the container ( 10 ); and
the second end ( 110 b - 310 b ) is self-enclosed so as to contain and prevent a flow of the material through the pipe ( 110 a - 310 a ); and

at least one transducer ( 118 , 218 ) coupled to the pipe ( 110 - 310 ), the at least one transducer ( 118 , 218 ) configured to one of induce and sense a vibration in the pipe ( 110 - 310 ) to measure a density of the material.

2. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein the pipe ( 110 - 310 ) extends from the container ( 10 ) in a cantilever configuration such that the first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) is vibrationally fixed and the second end ( 110 b - 310 b ) is vibrationally free.

3. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) of one of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer ( 118 , 218 ) is disposed proximate to the second end ( 110 b - 310 b ).

4. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising an encapsulating tube ( 20 ) wherein the at least one transducer ( 118 ) is disposed between and coupled to the pipe ( 110 , 310 ) and the encapsulating tube ( 20 ).

5. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a second pipe ( 220 ), wherein the at least one transducer ( 218 ) is disposed between and coupled to the pipe ( 210 ) and the second pipe ( 220 ).

6. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a base ( 130 , 230 ) disposed between and coupled to the container ( 10 ) and the pipe ( 110 - 310 ).

7. The vibratory cavity density meter ( 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a cavity ( 302 ) formed in the pipe ( 310 ), wherein the cavity ( 302 ) includes a slope configured to drain the material into the container ( 10 ).

8. A method of operating a vibratory cavity density meter, the method comprising:
providing a pipe extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to a container;
receiving a material from the container through an aperture at the first end;
retaining the material in the pipe with the second end, the second end being self-enclosed so as to prevent a flow of the material through the pipe; and
vibrating the pipe to measure a density of the material.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the pipe extending from the first end to the second end comprises providing the pipe in a cantilever configuration such that the first end is vibrationally fixed and the second end is vibrationally free.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein vibrating the pipe to measure the property of the material comprises vibrating the second end of the pipe with at least one transducer disposed proximate the second end of the pipe.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein vibrating the pipe to measure the property of the material comprises vibrating the pipe with at least one transducer disposed between and coupled to the pipe and an encapsulating tube.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a second pipe, and disposing at least one transducer between the pipe and the second pipe.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising disposing a base between and coupled to the container and the pipe.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming a cavity in the pipe, wherein the cavity includes a slope configured to drain the material into the container.

15. A system ( 700 ) comprising:
a vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ) comprised of a pipe ( 110 - 310 ) extending from a first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) to a second end ( 110 b - 310 b ), wherein:
the first end ( 110 a - 310 a ) is configured to couple to a container ( 10 ) and includes an aperture ( 114 - 214 ) configured to receive a material from the container ( 10 ); and
the second end ( 110 b - 310 b ) is self-enclosed so as to contain and prevent a flow of the material through the pipe ( 110 - 310 ); and

a meter electronics ( 710 ) communicatively coupled to the vibratory cavity density meter ( 100 - 300 ), the meter electronics ( 710 ) being configured to vibrate the pipe ( 110 - 310 ) to measure a density of the material.

Assignees

• Micro Motion Inc

Inventors

• Kravitz Andrew S
• Schlosser Martin Andrew
• Bell Mark James

Classifications

• G01N2009/006

  vibrating tube, tuning fork · CPC title

• G01N9/002 Primary

  using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis (G01N9/34 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2009/004

  comparing frequencies of two elements · CPC title