Patents Assigned to Endress +Hauser Flowtec AG
  • Publication number: 20080123259
    Abstract: An economically producible pressure-resistant housing with a display element and/or operating element for use in potentially explosive areas, comprising an inner space which serves to accommodate electronics, and a recess on the outside, inside of which a display and/or operating element is placed whose connecting lines extend into the inner space via a pressure-resistant leadthrough, wherein the display and/or operating element is surrounded on all sides by a pressure-resistant, crystal-clear encapsulation, which fills remaining cavities in the recess and outwardly closes the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thierry Moser
  • Publication number: 20080110280
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring flow of a medium through a measuring tube directed along a longitudinal axis of the measuring tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Bier
  • Patent number: 6834557
    Abstract: According to the invention, a digital processor (DSP) is provided in a measuring and operating circuit for a Coriolis-type mass flowmeter. From the vibration sensor signals, said digital processor evaluates only the differential signal (D) and the one sensor signal (S1). The in-phase component (I) and the quadrature components (Q) are determined for the differential signal (D), and the amplification of the second sensor signal (S2) is controlled in such a manner that the in-phase component (I) vanishes. The mass flow rate (m) is determined from the quadrature component (Q).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Christian Matt
  • Patent number: 6831545
    Abstract: With the E-I or E-E transformer, signals which are independent of each other are to be transferable simultaneously, without the signals interfering with each other. The E-I transformer has an E core (e, E′), which has two outer legs (ES1, ES2) and an inner leg (EM), and a yoke (1) which combines with the E core to form a double closed magnetic circuit. A first coil and a second coil are wound around the inner leg (EM), and a third coil and a fourth coil are wound around one (ES1) of the outer legs. The E-E transformer has a first E core (E1, E1′) and an identical second E core (E2, E2′); each E core has two outer legs (ES11, ES21, ES11′, ES21′; ES12, ES22, ES12′, ES22′) and an inner leg (EM1, EM1′; EM2, EM2′); the E cores together form a double closed magnetic circuit and two outer links (ST1, ST1′, ST2, ST2′) as well as an inner link (STM, STM′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Jiri Karbula
  • Patent number: 6807866
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer of the Coriolis type which provides an output in response to the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe. The transducer has a flow tube, curved symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry lying in a tube plane, for conducting the fluid. It also has a rigid support body for mounting the flow tube, with the flow tube being fixed to the rigid support body at both an inlet end and an outlet end. It further has an excitation system which in operation excites the flow tube into vibrations in a first eigenmode which is symmetrical in the tube plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder
  • Patent number: 6711958
    Abstract: This sensor (10) generates accurate measuring results, for example with an error in the order of 0.5% of the measuring value, hat has mimimized production costs as well as a shorter overall length compared to that of conventional sensors. The sensor has two parallel V shaped measuring tubes (1, 2) each being of one-piece construction. Each tube has a straight inlet portion (11, 21), a straight outlet portion (12, 22), an inlet bend (13, 23) connected with the inlet portion, an outlet bend (14, 24) connected with the outlet portion, a straight tube portion (15, 25) connected with the inlet bend, a straight tube portion (16, 26) connected with the outlet bend, and a vertex bend (17, 27) connected with the first and second straight tube portions. The inlet portions (11, 21) are fixed in an inlet manifold (18) and the outlet portions in an outlet manifold (19); the manifolds (18, 19) are mounted in a support frame (30) which forms part of a housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Christian Schütze, Ole Koudal
  • Patent number: 6708569
    Abstract: The flowmeter comprises a flow sensor with a flow tube, two coils, and two measuring electrodes as well as measuring and control electronics. The method serves to compensate interfering potentials that are caused by inductive and/or capacitive interference arising from the coil leads and/or by particles of foreign matter or air bubbles in the liquid to be measured and/or by coatings on the measuring electrodes. During first subcycles of the excitation current, a measurement signal proportional to volumetric flow rate is computed as usual. During second subcycles of the excitation current, at least one voltage pulse is applied to at least one of the measuring electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Budmiger
  • Patent number: 6698644
    Abstract: A single-tube Coriolis mass flow sensor includes a stainless steel sleeve having an unplated interior surface and a titanium member having a cylindrical end inserted into the stainless steel sleeve. The exterior surface of the titanium cylindrical end forms a joint with the unplated interior surface of the stainless steel sleeve. The titanium cylindrical end is brazed to the unplated interior surface of the stainless steel sleeve at the joint, and the stainless steel sleeve exerts compressive stress on the titanium cylindrical end at the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Rainer Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6691583
    Abstract: To conduct a fluid, the transducer has a flow tube which in use is vibrated by an excitation system and whose inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations are detected by means of a sensor system. In response to transverse forces produced in the vibrating flow tube, the latter is, at least temporarily, laterally displaced from an assigned static rest position. To improve the dynamic balance of the transducer, a first cantilever and a second cantilever are rigidly fixed to an inlet-side tube section and an outlet-side tube section, respectively. By means of the cantilevers, the inlet-side and outlet-side tube sections are deformed as a result of lateral displacements of the flow tube. This produces counterforces which at least partially counterbalance the transverse forces produced in the vibrating flow tube. One advantage of the proposed transducer is that it is well balanced even during variations in fluid density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Patent number: 6666098
    Abstract: A vibratory transducer comprises a flow tube for conducting the fluid flowing in a pipe. The flow tube communicates with the pipe via an inlet-side tube section and an outlet-side tube section. An antivibrator is mechanically connected with the flow tube by an inlet-side coupler and an outlet-side coupler. For driving flow tube and antivibrator at an excitation frequency the transducer comprising an excitation system and for sensing inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations of the flow tube the transducer comprising a sensor system. An internal system formed by the flow tube, the antivibrator, the excitation system, and the sensor system, oscillating about a longitudinal axis of the transducer which is essentially in alignment with the inlet-side tube sections, forces a torsion of the couplers about the longitudinal axis and an essentially torsional elastic deformation of the inlet-side and outlet-side tube sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Ennio Bitto, Rainer Lorenz, Christian Schütze, Alfred Wenger, Michael Fuchs, Martin Anklin
  • Patent number: 6662120
    Abstract: Such an excitation circuit is intended for use in a Coriolis mass flowmeter which is connected to, is powered exclusively from, and outputs a measurement signal exclusively via, a two-wire process control loop. The Coriolis mass flowmeter has a vibrating flow tube and an excitation assembly for vibrating the flow tube at a frequency equal or adjacent to the instantaneous mechanical resonance frequency of the flow tube. It further comprises transducer assemblies which are positioned at a given distance from each other along the flow tube and provide respective transducer signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder, Christian Matt
  • Patent number: 6658720
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electromagnetic flow sensor having a measuring tube with an insulating liner having a reinforcing body embedded therein includes the steps of producing the liner in situ in a support tube, and forming a sintering space in the support tube by inserting a sintering mandrel therein. The support tube is closed, leaving one filling aperture for a granular material to be sintered. The reinforcing body is formed in the support tube such that it fits its lumen, by introducing the material to be sintered into the sintering space, sintering, and removing the mandrel. A casting space is formed in the support tube by fixing a casting mandrel therein, and leaving one casting aperture for a liquefied insulting material. The liner is formed by introducing the insulating material into the casting space, allowing to penetrate into the reinforcing body, and solidify in the support tube lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Frey, Antonio Magliocca
  • Patent number: 6651513
    Abstract: A vibration meter and a method of measuring a viscosity of a fluid flowing through a pipe are disclosed. The vibration meter comprises meter electronics and a transducer assembly with an electromechanical excitation arrangement and with a flow tube which oscillates in operation. A sensor arrangement produces sensor signals representative of inlet-side and outlet-side deflections of the flow tube. An evaluation circuit derives from said sensor signals and from an excitation current generated by an excitation circuit for the excitation arrangement a viscosity value representative of the viscosity of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Wenger, Michael Fuchs, Christian Matt, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Patent number: 6647807
    Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow/density sensor is provided. The sensor includes a measuring tube for conducting a fluid. The measuring tube is fixed in a support and may be coupled to a pipe via an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The sensor further includes an excitation arrangement for vibrating the measuring tube in a predetermined vibration mode, a sensor arrangement for detecting vibrations of the measuring tube, and a brake assembly coupled to the measuring tube and the support. The brake assembly is operable to suppress at least one mode of vibrations other than the predetermined vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Georg Szaloky, Alfred Wenger, Ennio Bitto, Ole Koudal, Christian Matt, Christian Schütze
  • Patent number: 6634238
    Abstract: The flowmeter comprises a flow sensor with a flow tube, two electrodes, and two field coils traversed by a first excitation current and a second excitation current, respectively, as well as control and evaluation electronics. The method serves to generate an error signal when the uniform turbulence in the liquid to be measured is disturbed. There are four quarter cycles. During each quarter cycle, a voltage is derived from the electrodes, and from these voltages, a first and a second voltage difference and a quotient using the first and the second voltage differences are formed. The latter is determined during calibration under uniformly turbulent flow conditions, and stored. In operation, values of the quotient are continuously formed and compared with the stored quotient; in case of deviations, an alarm is triggered and/or the volumetric flow rate signal represented by the first voltage difference is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Budmiger
  • Patent number: 6595069
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow sensor for a fluid flowing through a pipe comprises a measuring tube which can be inserted into a pipe. The measuring tube comprises a support tube as an outer covering of the measuring tube, a tubular liner of insulating material, located in a lumen of the support tube, for conducting the flowing fluid isolated from the support tube, and an open-pore reinforcing body for stabilizing the liner. The reinforcing body is sintered directly in said support tube. A magnetic-circuit arrangement is disposed on the measuring tube for producing and guiding a magnetic field which induces an electric field in the flowing fluid. Electrodes pick up voltages from the electric field. Furthermore, the reinforcing body has coil-core seats for coil cores of the magnetic-circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Frey, Antonio Magliocca
  • Patent number: 6591656
    Abstract: By means of this process it is intended to achieve a high mechanical-geometric accuracy of bent tubes, and it is used for bending a measuring tube for a Coriolis mass flow rate sensor by means of a tube section of a predetermined length and by means of a two-piece press mold, which has been matched to both the measuring tube, which has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and to the desired shape. To this end, a flexible support body is inserted into the tube section, which is fastened in a first end of the tube section in such a way, that the end is closed, and whose maximum outer diameter is less than the inner diameter of the tube section. The tube section is filled with a liquid which is subsequently permitted to solidify completely. The tube section filled with the support body and the solidified liquid is placed into the opened press mold, the latter is closed and the tube section is bent into the desired shape by this. The press mold is opened and the bent tube section is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Ruben Kiefer
  • Patent number: 6556447
    Abstract: The electronic apparatus (1) has an enclosure (10), which has a terminal compartment (12) and an electronics compartment (11). These two compartments are separated by an internal wall (13) which has a longitudinal slot (131) of depth T in which a bushing (14) is fitted. The bushing is to be flameproof designed. To this the enclosure (10) comprises: 1) A baseboard (141) which extends into and is mounted in the electronics compartment, has a stop (142), and can be fitted with electronic components (143); 2) a lead arrangement (144) extending into the terminal compartment (12) and contacting the components on the baseboard; and 3) a plastic part (146) which surrounds the lead arrangement, is formed integrally with the stop (142), and has the shape of, and thus fills, the longitudinal slot (131).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Roberto Cudini, Bruno Worreth
  • Patent number: 6477070
    Abstract: The current-regulator circuit generates a supply current by means of clocked setting electronics and by means of control electronics which deliver a pulse-width-modulated clock signal. The setting electronics comprise a storage choke and a smoothing capacitor coupled thereto. By means of two electronic switches of the setting electronics, a first potential and a second potential are applied alternately to the storage choke, so that a current flowing through the storage choke has an AC component flowing through the smoothing capacitor and a DC component flowing through the excitation circuit, the DC component serving as supply current. The current-regulator circuit proposed is particularly suitable for use in an intrinsically safe and/or field-bus-enabled electromagnetic flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Joel Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 6412355
    Abstract: The accuracy of this method is comparable to that of the measurement of liquids. The fluid flows through at least one flow tube (4) of a mass flow sensor (1) of a Coriolis mass flow/density meter, which flow tube vibrates at a frequency f being equal to or in the vicinity of the instantaneous mechanical resonance frequency of the flow tube (4) having a vibrator (16). A first and second vibration sensor (17, 18) are attached to the flow tube, deliver a first and a second sensor signal (x17, x18), and are positioned at a given distance from each other in the direction of flow. The flow tube (4) is surrounded by a support frame or a support tube (15) or held by a support plate so as to be capable of vibrating. The sensor signals (x17, x18) have a phase difference from which a signal qf is formed; it is multiplied by a function f(c) dependent on the speed of sound c in the fluid which can be approximated by a function f(Tm) dependent on the current temperature Tm of the flow tube (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Roman Häberli, Gerhard Eckert