Patents Assigned to Flowtec AG
  • Publication number: 20070151364
    Abstract: apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring volume- or mass-flow of a medium flowing through a pipeline in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. The apparatus includes at least one ultrasonic sensor containing at least one sound-producing element and an interfacing shoe and emitting, respectively receiving, ultrasonic measurement signals at an incidence/emergence angle into, respectively out of, the pipeline A first adjusting mechanism is provided, which is so embodied, that the incidence/emergence angle of the ultrasonic sensor is adjustable in predetermined limits. The apparatus further includes a control/evaluation unit, which ascertains the volume- or mass-flow of the medium in the pipeline on the basis of the travel-time difference method, the cross-correlation method or the Doppler method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Achim Wiest, Andreas Berger, Oliver Berberig
  • Publication number: 20070151369
    Abstract: The measurement transducer includes at least two oscillatably held transducer tubes vibrating, at least at times, during operation, of which at least one transducer tube serving to convey at least a volume portion of a medium to be measured, communicates with a pipeline; as well as at least one transducer element for converting electrical energy into mechanical and/or vice versa. The two transducer tubes are mechanically coupled together by means of at least one, inlet-side, coupling element and by means of at least one, outlet-side, coupling element in such a manner that both the inlet-side coupling element, as well as also the outlet-side coupling element, are subjected during operation repeatedly to deformations which correspond to vibrations of at least one of the two transducer tubes for converting electrical energy into mechanical, oscillatory energy and/or vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Gerhard Eckert, Sergej Lopatin, Christian Matt, Helmut Pfeiffer, Alfred Rieder, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Martin Stucki
  • Publication number: 20070151370
    Abstract: The measuring transducer includes a transducer housing, as well as an internal part arranged in the transducer housing. The internal part includes at least one curved measuring tube vibrating, at least at times, during operation and serving for conveying the medium, as well as a counteroscillator affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet-side, accompanied by formation of a coupling zone, and to the measuring tube on the outlet-side, accompanied by the formation of a coupling zone. The internal part is held oscillatably in the transducer housing, at least by means of two connecting tube pieces, via which the measuring tube communicates during operation with the pipeline and which are so oriented with respect to one another, as well as with respect to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the measuring transducer, that the internal part can move during operation in the manner of a pendulum about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Christian Schuetze, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Christof Huber, Dieter Mundschin, Michael Lambrigger
  • Publication number: 20070151371
    Abstract: A measuring transducer includes a transducer housing, as well as an internal part arranged in the transducer housing. The internal part includes at least one curved measuring tube vibrating, at least at times, during operation and serving for conveying the medium, as well as a counteroscillator affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet-side, accompanied by formation of a coupling zone, and to the measuring tube on the outlet-side, accompanied by the formation of a coupling zone. The internal part is held oscillatably in the transducer housing, at least by means of two connecting tube pieces, via which the measuring tube communicates during operation with the pipeline and which are so oriented with respect to one another, as well as with respect to an imaginary longitudinal axis of the measuring transducer, that the internal part can move during operation in the manner of a pendulum about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Christian Schutze, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Christof Huber, Dieter Mundschin, Michael Lambrigger
  • Patent number: 7236912
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining and/or monitoring the volume flow rate and/or mass flow rate of a medium flowing through a container. In the case of the device, such is an ultrasonic flow measuring device, which works on the basis of the travel-time-difference principle. Additionally, a technique is presented whereby, on the basis of the results of measurement, also information is provided concerning change in some other system and/or process variable. To this end, the currently measured, actual measuring signals, or the corresponding actual measuring data, is compared with corresponding, stored set measuring signals, or set measuring data; a report is output, when a deviation arises between the set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and the actual measuring signals, or actual measuring data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Harald Stocker, Aurèle Fleury
  • Publication number: 20070143041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magneto-inductive method for determining the flow rate of a medium flowing through a measuring tube in the direction of the measuring tube axis. In order to be able to detect a coating formation on a measuring electrode early and with a high degree of certainty, a test pulse (Up) of defined pulse length (tp) is issued to the measuring electrode; at least one signal in response to the test pulse (Up) is determined at at least two measuring points in time (t1, t2), wherein the measuring points in time (t1, t2) lie in a time window (tend-tbegin), which is so selected that no predictable disturbance signals occur on the measuring electrode in this time window (tend-tbegin).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Thomas Budmiger
  • Publication number: 20070137313
    Abstract: An inline measuring device includes a vibration-type measurement pickup having at least one measuring tube, which has a medium to be measured flowing through it during operation. The measuring tube is made by means of an exciter arrangement to execute, at least at times and/or at least in part, lateral oscillations and, at least at times and/or at least in part, torsional oscillations about an imaginary measuring tube longitudinal axis. The torsional oscillations alternate with the lateral oscillations or are, at times, superimposed thereon. Also included is a sensor arrangement for producing oscillation measurement signals correspondingly representing oscillations of the measuring tube. Measuring device electronics controlling the exciter arrangement generates, by means of at least one of the oscillation measurement signals and/or by means of the exciter current, at least at times, at least one measured value, which represents the at least one physical quantity to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm, Michael Fuchs, Hans-Jorg Sprich, Ibho Itin, Samuel Wyss
  • Publication number: 20070131024
    Abstract: The viscometer provides a viscosity value (X?) which represents the viscosity of a fluid flowing in a pipe connected thereto. It comprises a vibratory transducer with at least one flow tube for conducting the fluid, which communicates with the pipe. Driven by an excitation assembly, the flow tube is vibrated so that friction forces are produced in the fluid. The viscometer further includes meter electronics which feed an excitation current (iexc) into the excitation assembly. By means of the meter electronics, a first internal intermediate value (X1) is formed, which corresponds with the excitation current (iexc) and thus represents the friction forces acting in the fluid. According to the invention, a second internal intermediate value (X2), representing inhomogeneities in the fluid, is generated in the meter electronics, which then determine the viscosity value (X?) using the two intermediate values (X1, X2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Drahm, Alfred Rieder
  • Publication number: 20070119265
    Abstract: The measurement transducer includes: A measuring tube vibrating at least at times during operation and serving for the conveying of a medium, wherein the measuring tube communicates with a pipeline via an inlet tube piece at an inlet end and an outlet tube piece at an outlet end; a counteroscillator, which is affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet end to form a first coupling zone and affixed to the measuring tube on the outlet end to form a second coupling zone; and a first cantilever for producing bending moments in the inlet tube piece and coupled with the inlet tube piece and the measuring tube essentially rigidly in the area of the first coupling zone and having a center of mass lying in the region of the inlet tube piece, as well as a second cantilever for producing bending moments in the outlet tube piece and coupled essentially rigidly with the outlet tube piece and the measuring tube in the region of the second coupling zone and having a center of mass lying in the region of the outlet tube piece
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Gerhard Eckert, Rainer Lorenz, Alfred Rieder, Christian Schuetze, Michal Fuchs, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Wolfgang Drahm, Leonhard Probst
  • Publication number: 20070119264
    Abstract: The measurement transducer includes: A measuring tube vibrating at least at times during operation and serving for the conveying of a medium, wherein the measuring tube communicates with a pipeline via an inlet tube piece at an inlet end and an outlet tube piece at an outlet end; a counteroscillator, which is affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet end to form a first coupling zone and affixed to the measuring tube on the outlet end to form a second coupling zone; and a first cantilever for producing bending moments in the inlet tube piece and coupled with the inlet tube piece and the measuring tube essentially rigidly in the area of the first coupling zone and having a center of mass lying in the region of the inlet tube piece, as well as a second cantilever for producing bending moments in the outlet tube piece and coupled essentially rigidly with the outlet tube piece and the measuring tube in the region of the second coupling zone and having a center of mass lying in the region of the outlet tube piece
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Gerhard Eckert, Rainer Lorenz, Alfred Rieder, Christian Schuetze, Michael Fuchs, Martin Anklin-Imhof, Wolfgang Drahm, Leonhard Probst
  • Patent number: 7216549
    Abstract: A measurement transducer includes a transducer housing, which exhibits a multiplicity of natural oscillation modes and at least a first measuring tube for conveying at least a volume fraction of the medium to be measured. The measuring tube is held to oscillation in the transducer housing and vibrator, at least at times. Also included is an electromechanical, exciter mechanism acting on the at least one measuring tube and a sensor arrangement reacting to movements, i.e. bending oscillations, of the measuring tube. Also included is a first support element fixed, i.e. directly, to the transducer housing and serving for the formation of essentially locationally fixed oscillation nodes in the transducer housing for suppressing or erasing at least one natural oscillation mode of the transducer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Christian Schuetze, Martin Anklin-Imhof
  • Patent number: 7213469
    Abstract: A transducer has at least one at least temporarily vibrating flow tube of predeterminable lumen for conducting a fluid. The flow tube communicates with a connected pipe via an inlet tube section (103), ending in an inlet end, and an outlet tube section, ending in an outlet end, and in operation performs flexural vibrations about an axis of vibration joining the inlet and outlet ends. The flow tube has at least one arcuate tube section of predeterminable three-dimensional shape which adjoins a straight tube segment on the inlet side and a straight tube segment on the outlet side. At least one stiffening element is fixed directly on or in close proximity to the arcuate tube segment to stabilize the three-dimensional shape. By means of the at least one stiffening element, the cross sensitivity of the transducer is greatly reduced, so that cross talks from pressure to mass flow signals are minimized and the accuracy of the transducer is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Wenger, Martin Anklin
  • Publication number: 20070095153
    Abstract: An inline measuring device which serves for measuring at least one physical, measured variable of a medium conveyed in a pipeline, includes a measurement pickup of vibration-type, as well as a measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measurement pickup. The measurement pickup includes at least one, essentially straight measuring tube serving to convey the medium to be measured and communicating with the connected pipeline, an exciter mechanism acting on the measuring tube for causing the at least one measuring tube to vibrate, during operation, at least at times and/or at least in part, with torsional oscillations about a torsional oscillation axis imaginarily connecting an inlet end of the measuring tube and an outlet end of the measuring tube, as well as a sensor arrangement for registering vibrations of the at least one measuring tube and delivering at least one oscillation measurement signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Michael Fuchs, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20070095152
    Abstract: A measurement pickup includes at least four measuring tubes for conveying media to be measured. Each measuring tube has a first in-/outlet end and a second in-/outlet end. During operation, the measuring tubes vibrate, at least at times, especially simultaneously. The measurement pickup further includes an electromechanical exciter mechanism causing the measuring tube to vibrate, as well as a sensor arrangement reacting at least to local vibrations of the measuring tubes for producing at least one measurement signal influenced by vibrations of the measuring tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Holger Bernhard
  • Publication number: 20070093633
    Abstract: The plastic is manufactured on the basis of at least four starting components (A, B, C, F) of which at least a first primary component (A) and a second primary component (B) can react with one another. A chemical reaction of the two primary components (A, B) is accelerated in such case by addition of at least one secondary component (C) serving as catalyst. Additionally, in the method of the invention, a tertiary component (F) serves as a filler, especially a color-giving filler. In the method of the invention, initially a first multicomponent system (BF; CF; BCF), especially also a storable system, serving as an intermediate component, is formed, which contains, at least in part, both the secondary component (C) as well as also the tertiary component (F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brobeil, Sven Aenishanslin, Johannes Ruchel, Alexander Stunzi
  • Publication number: 20070084298
    Abstract: For measuring a medium, the medium flows through at least one inline measuring device measuring tube joined into the course of a pipeline, especially a measuring tube which vibrates, at least at times. Using an inline measuring device sensor arrangement arranged on the measuring tube and/or in its vicinity and reacting, at least mediately, to changes of the at least one physical parameter of the medium, at least one measurement signal is produced, which is influenced by at least one physical parameter of the medium in the measuring tube. Additionally, pressures effective in the medium are registered, in order to determine repeatedly a pressure difference existing in the flowing medium at least in part along the at least one measuring tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Alfred Rieder, Wolfgang Drahm
  • Publication number: 20070074585
    Abstract: This sensor, for a fluid and suitable for use in a pipeline at least temporarily containing the fluid flowing therethrough, has at least one curved measuring tube, which vibrates during operation and guides the fluid, and a housing enclosing the measuring tube. The housing is composed of a metal cap of two cap halves and a supporting tube, in which the measuring tube is held at its inlet and outlet ends in a manner such that the tube can oscillate, and out of which a measuring tube segment protrudes sideways. Each cap half has an edge with, in each case, four edge portions. The edge portions are straight, the edge portions are curved, and the edge portions have the shape of circular arcs. The edge portions are welded continuously to the supporting tube and the edge portions are welded continuously to one another. The cap halves are cut out of a dish-shaped intermediate having a formed, surrounding edge bead, provided with the shape of a quarter-torus by metal spinning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Christian Schutze
  • Patent number: 7200503
    Abstract: An electric current controller for field-device electronics controls and/or modulates the supply current. The supply current is driven by a supply voltage provided by an external energy supply. The field-device electronics has an internal operating and evaluating circuit for controlling the field device, as well as an internal supply circuit, the internal input voltage being derived from the supply voltage for feeding the internal operating and evaluating circuit. In the supply circuit is a voltage controller flowed-through, at least at times, by a first component of the supply current. The voltage controller provides in the field-device electronics a first internal, useful voltage controlled to be essentially constant at a predetermined, first voltage level. Moreover, the supply circuit has a second voltage controller flowed through, at least at times, by a second current component of the supply current. The second voltage controller provides in the field-device electronics a second internal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Endrss + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventor: Robert Lalla
  • Publication number: 20070062035
    Abstract: The apparatus includes at least one heat exchanger secured on an inline measuring device. Temperature-control fluid flows through a heat exchanger, at least at times during operation, for the purpose of transporting heat. The apparatus additionally includes securement structure for the, especially releasable, fixing of the heat exchanger externally on the inline measuring device. The heat exchanger has an inner wall, especially a trough- or dish-shaped inner wall, contacting the inline measuring device externally at least partially flushly, as well as an outer wall fixed to the inner wall. The outer wall is connected with the inner wall via a connecting seam running along an edge region and sealing against escape of the temperature-control fluid, and via a plurality of, especially point, or ring, shaped, inner connection locations, which are arranged spaced from one another in an inner region at least partially enclosed by the edge connection seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Thierry Moser, Roland Unterseh, Michael Fuchs, Patrick Oudoire
  • Patent number: 7194363
    Abstract: A low power ultrasonic flowmeter to be powered by a two wire power supply loop is described, comprising: an ultrasonic flow sensor, a signal processing unit for determining a measurement result based on measurements performed by the ultrasonic flow sensor, an input/output unit to be connected to the two wire loop, for controlling a current of the power supplied to represent the measurement result, for receiving power from the power supply loop, and a power management system, for an energy efficient distribution of the power supplied to the flowmeter via the input/output unit, comprising storage means for storing energy during times of low power consumption and resupplying the stored energy during times of high power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Joe Schaffer, Dean Sylvia