Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting and correcting various fault conditions in an operating Coriolis effect mass flowmeter. The apparatus of the present invention receives information from an operating Coriolis mass flowmeter and compares the information to threshold signatures representing various fault conditions. When a fault condition is detected, output signals are applied to inform an operator and to control the mass flow rate through the flowmeter to correct the fault condition. Specifically, the methods of the present invention detect the presence of a crack in the flow tubes and stop the flow of material to prevent release of the material through a cracked flow tubes. Other methods of the present invention detect the void fraction of material flowing through the flow tubes, compute a corrected actual mass flow rate, and control the mass flow rate through the flowmeter to compensate for the effects of the void fraction.

Abstract: A method of brazing and apparatus therefor wherein two elements are bonded together using pre-formed fillet material. In accordance with a first alternative embodiment, the pre-formed fillet material comprises a depression formed on a first surface of one of the elements by a punching operation. The preformed fillet material also comprises a protrusion formed on a second surface opposite the depression formed by the punching operation. The invention also comprises a method of reducing bending stress in a Coriolis flow tube by bonding the flow tube and a brace bar with preformed fillet material.