LOW THERMAL STRESS BALANCE BAR FOR A CORIOLIS FLOWMETER

摘要

A single straight tube Coriolis flowmeter (200) having a balance bar (202, 203) whose overall length can freely change in response to varying thermal conditions without imparting stresses to the flow tube (201) to which the balance bar ends are coupled via brace bars (210, 211). The balance bar has a plurality of independent segments (202, 203) whose length can change without effecting the overall length of the balance bar. The independent balance bar segments have a lowered resonant frequency that is equal to the resonant frequency of the material filled vibrating flow tube with material flow. This lowered frequency of the balance bar segments permits them to have a Coriolis-like response of material flow in response to the Coriolis deflections of the balance bar. The Coriolis-like deflections of the balance bar segments are in phase opposition to the associated portions of the flow tube so that the flowmeter sensitivity to material flow is enhanced by virtue of the increased amplitude of the pick offs (LPO, RPO) affixed to the flow tube. A plurality of embodiments are disclosed.