RU2795498C1 - Stable mode-splitting rib sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: rib sensors.

SUBSTANCE: disclosed are variants of a rib sensor, methods for using it, and manufacturing assemblies of such a sensor. A variant of the rib sensor has a base (106), wherein the base is attached to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the rib sensor (102) further has at least two transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), the first rib (108a) is connected to the second rib (108b) via at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b). Another variant has a base (106) and a balancing rib (118), in which the base (106) attached to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the rib sensor (102) additionally has at least two measuring transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), a balancing rib (118) is attached to one or more of the base (106) and the base connector (116).

EFFECT: possibility of frequency separation between in-phase and out-of-phase modes, potentially providing an opportunity for better measurement and calibration.

118 cl, 12 dwg

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The embodiments described below relate to sensors, more specifically flow sensors.

State of the art

Existing edge sensors have problems with generating mode separation. Typically, the frequency difference between modes that are in-phase and modes that are out of phase is minimal, which confuses calculations of fluid flow characteristics. Also, when creating swirl in existing edge sensors, there is little amplitude contrast from which it is necessary to derive phase difference readings that give flow characteristics.

In existing edge-to-edge sensors, measurements are entangled by the significant actual movement towards the sensor assembly away from the center of the pipelines in which they are located. The reason for this is that the axis of rotation of the ribs is controlled by the position of the rib on the plate and the position of the driver. The axis of rotation of the ribs is typically near the edges of the base on which they are located. This creates an imbalance that results in errors and calibration problems. Forces from common mode modes cause actual movement during the connection process. Also, the pipe and balance bar may be difficult or impossible to drive to equal, in-phase mode shapes. The imbalance created can lead to calibration and measurement errors. These problems limit the effectiveness of edge sensors and make them impractical for many industrial applications.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved fin sensor.

The essence of the invention

An embodiment of a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the edge sensor (102) has a base (106), the base is connected to the first edge (108a) and the second edge (108b), the edge sensor (102) further has at least two transducers (104a and 104b) connected to the ribs (108a and 108b), the first rib (108a) is connected to the second rib (108b) via at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b).

Another embodiment of the fin sensor (102) is disclosed. Another embodiment of the rib sensor (102) has a base (106) and a balancing rib (118), the base (106) attached to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the rib sensor (102) further has at least , two transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), the balancing rib (118) is connected to one or more of the base (106) and the connector (116) of the base.

An embodiment of a method for creating an edge connector node is disclosed. An embodiment of the method has an edge connector assembly with at least one edge connector (108a and/or 108b) and at least one edge connector (120a and/or 120b), the method comprising the steps of forming an edge connector assembly, wherein, at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b).

An embodiment of a method for creating a balanced base node is disclosed. An embodiment of the method for creating a balanced base assembly includes the steps of forming a base (106), forming a balance rib (118), and attaching a balance rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116).

An embodiment of a method for using a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the method of using a rib sensor (102), the rib sensor (102) has an excitation transducer (104b) to excite vibrations in the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the first and second ribs (108a and 108b) are attached to the base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, the method has the step of at least partially limiting, by means of at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) edges, the movement of the first edge (108a) relative to the movement of the second edge (108b).

An embodiment of a method for using a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the method of using a fin sensor (102) may have a fin sensor (102) with an excitation transducer (104b) to excite vibrations in the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b), the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b) attached to the base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, the edge sensor (102) has a balancing edge (118), the method has a step of at least at least partially limiting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106).

Aspects

According to an aspect, an embodiment of a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the edge sensor (102) has a base (106), the base is connected to the first edge (108a) and the second edge (108b), the edge sensor (102) further has at least two transducers (104a and 104b) connected to the ribs (108a and 108b), the first rib (108a) is connected to the second rib (108b) via at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is a rod-shaped rib connector (220a).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is a spacer bar (220c).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is a strip fin connector (220b).

Preferably, the rib strip connector (220b) has at least one tapered end.

Preferably, the strip connector (220) of the ribs is tapered so that one or more of the upstream (143) end and the downstream (145) end of the strip connector (220b) of the ribs have a smaller cross-sectional area in the plane defined by the vertical axis (151 ) and the transverse axis (131), compared to the cross-sectional area in the plane defined by the vertical axis (151) and the transverse axis (131) for a more central position along the axis (141) of the flow for the strip connector (220b) of the fins.

Preferably, the cross section in the plane defined by the vertical and flow axes of the strip connector (220b) of the ribs is narrower along the vertical axis (151) at one or more of the upstream (143) end and the downstream (145) end of the cross section compared with at least one central fragment along the flow axis (141) between the upstream (143) end and the downstream (145) end of the cross section.

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) connects the ribs (108a and 108b) at locations that are substantially the same on the respective surfaces of the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the ribs are configured to have the same placement such that at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is parallel to the transverse axis (131) when the ribs (108a and 108b) are placed in the same or substantially in the same position in the plane defined by the flow axis (141) and the vertical axis (151).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected at different locations on each of the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and /or 108b), represented by the lowest (155) and the most upstream (143) quadrant fragment of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and /or 108b), represented by the lowest (155) and the most downstream (145) quadrant fragment of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and /or 108b) represented by the lowest (155) and the most upstream (143) angle of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and /or 108b) represented by the lowest (155) and the most downstream (145) angle of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and /or 108b), represented by a central one-ninth fragment of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by an area or projected area defined by the middle one-third fragment along the vertical axis (151) and upstream (143) one-third fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by an area or a projected area defined by the middle one-third fragment along the vertical axis (151) and downstream (145) one-third fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by the area or projected area defined by the top (153) one-third fragment and the upstream (143) one-third fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by the area or projected area defined by the top (153) one-third fragment and the downstream (145) one-third fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by the area or projected area defined by the bottom (155) one-third fragment and the upstream (143) one-third fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ) represented by the area or projected area defined by the bottom (155) one-third fragment along the vertical axis (151) and the downstream (145) one-third fragment of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b ).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b) in a manner that increases the axial rigidity of the submerged elements of the rib sensor (102).

Preferably, the fins (108a and 108b) have rib protrusions (114a and 114b) that protrude through holes in the base (106), transducers (104a and 104b) are attached to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the fin protrusions (114a and 114b) .

Preferably, the base (106) has an immersed side (342) and an outer side (344), the fin protrusions (114a and 114b) projecting through the base (106) to the outer side (344).

Preferably, the rib protrusions (114a and 114b) have respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, transducers (104a and 104b) are each connected to two respective segments.

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside of the base (106).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one rib protrusion (114a or 114b) of the rib protrusions (114a or 114b).

Preferably, at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to a segment of at least one fin protrusion (114a or 114b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) at a downward position (155) from the connection between the ribs (108a and 108b) and at least two transducers (104a and 104b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside (344) of the base (106) at a position closer to the base (106) compared to the location on the ribs (108a). and/or 108b) in which the transducers (104a-c) are connected.

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside (344) of the base (106) at a position closer to the location on the ribs (108a and/or 108b), in which the transducers (104a-c) are attached, compared to the base (106).

Preferably, the rib protrusions (114a and 114b) have respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, transducers (104a and 104b) are each connected to two respective segments.

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) includes a first rib connector (120a) and a second rib connector (120b), the first rib connector (120a) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) at a location above downstream from the location where the second rib connector (120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the sensing element transducer (104a) is connected to the fins (108a and 108b) upstream of where the driving transducer (104b) is connected to the fins (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the base (106) is a variable base (306) which has a varying hardness.

Preferably, the changeable base (306) has a softer piece in the middle of the changeable base (306) and harder pieces at the edges of the changeable base (306), the middle and edges being the middle and edges of the changeable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the variable base (306) is thinner in the middle compared to the edges.

Preferably, the variable base (306) has a varying material composition along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the changeable base (306) has a softer material in the middle of the changeable base (306) and a harder material at the edges of the changeable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the rib sensor (102) further comprises a balancing rib (118) that is connected to one or more of the base (106) and the base connector (116), the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially restrict the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle piece of the base (106), the middle piece of the base (106) is the piece defined by the middle of the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the ribbed sensor (102) further comprises meter electronics (112), one of at least two transducers (104a and 104b) is a driving transducer (104b), meter electronics (112) is configured to transmit data representing instructions to the driving converter (104b) to drive the edges (108a and 108b) in one or more of the in-phase (IP) mode and the out-of-phase (OOP) mode.

Preferably, the other of the at least two transducers (104a and 104b) is a sensing element transducer (104a), the meter electronics (112) receive signal data from the sensing element transducer (104a) to maintain drive modes with controlled feedback loop.

Preferably, one or more of at least one of at least one of the connector (120a and/or 120b) of the ribs and at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) has a connecting element, the connecting element configured to connect at least one of the at least one rib connector (120a and 120b) to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) via a connector.

Preferably, the first rib connector (120a) has a connector, and the first rib (108a) has another connector (120b), wherein the connector is complementary to the other connector, such that the connector is configured to connect to the other connector.

Preferably, the connecting element is a recess in the first rib (108a).

Preferably, the at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is neither a base element (106) nor any of the at least two transducers (104a-c).

Preferably, the at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) influences the movement of the ribs (108a and 108b) differently from the manner in which the base (106) influences the movement of the ribs (108a and 108b) and from the manner in which , at least two transducers (104a-c) affect the movement of the fins (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is not attached to either the base (106) or any of the at least two transducers (104a-c).

According to an aspect, another embodiment of the fin sensor (102) is disclosed. Another embodiment of the rib sensor (102) has a base (106) and a balancing rib (118), the base (106) attached to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the rib sensor (102) further has at least , two transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), the balancing rib (118) is connected to one or more of the base (106) and the connector (116) of the base.

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially limit the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle fragment of the base (106), the middle fragment of the base (106) is the fragment defined by the middle of the transverse axis ( 131).

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) in the middle fragment of the base (106).

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is attached to the middle piece of the connector (116) of the base.

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially prevent the ribs (108a and 108b) from actually moving along the vertical axis (151).

Preferably, a balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) between the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b).

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) at a position between a position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached and another position on the base (106) at which the second rib (108b) ) is attached, or should be attached, on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is attached equidistant from the position and the other position on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the balance rib (118) is attached to the base (106) so that the center line (198) of the balance rib (118) is parallel to the flow axis (141).

Preferably, the balancing rib (118) is symmetrical in at least one axis with respect to the center line (198).

Preferably, the balance rib (118) has a transverse axis (131) thickness of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balance rib (118) , which is greater than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118).

Preferably, the balance rib (118) has a transverse axis (131) thickness of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balance rib (118) , which is greater than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118).

Preferably, the rib sensor (102) further comprises at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) connected to the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the base (106) is a variable base (306) which has a varying hardness.

Preferably, the changeable base (306) has a softer piece in the middle of the changeable base (306) and harder pieces at the edges of the changeable base (306), the middle and edges being the middle and edges of the changeable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the variable base (306) is thinner in the middle of the variable base (306) compared to the edges of the variable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the variable base (306) has a varying material composition along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the variable base (306) has a softer material in the middle and a harder material at the edges along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the piece of changeable base (306) between the ribs (108a and 108b) along the transverse axis (131) is softer than the pieces of changeable base (306) between each of the ribs (108a and 108b) and the edges of the changeable base (306) along transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the softer fragment (314) and the harder fragments (310 and 312) can be formed by attaching at least one of the ribs (108a and 108b) closer along the transverse axis (131) to the edge of the variable base (106) along compared with the balancing rib (118).

According to an aspect, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a rib connector assembly is disclosed. An embodiment of the method has an edge connector assembly with at least one edge connector (108a and/or 108b) and at least one edge connector (120a and/or 120b), the method comprising the steps of forming an edge connector assembly, wherein, at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b).

Preferably, the connection assembly is molded such that at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed already attached to at least one rib (120a and/or 120b).

Preferably, forming the rib connector assembly includes forming the rib connector (120a), wherein the rib connector (120a) is different from the base (106) and the transducer (104a-c).

Preferably, forming a rib connector assembly further includes forming a rib (108a), at least one rib (108a and/or 108b), and attaching a rib connector (120a) from at least one connector (120a and/or 120b ) edges to edge (108a).

Preferably, attaching the rib connector (120a) to the rib (108a) comprises attaching the rib connector (120a) to the rib (108a) at a position closer to the free edge (199) of the rib (108a) compared to the position of the rib (108a) that is attached or must be attached to the base (106).

Preferably, the method further includes attaching a first rib connector (120a) of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to both ribs (108a and 108b) and attaching a second fin connector (120b) of at least , from one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to both ribs (108a and 108b), wherein the first rib connector (120a) is connected in at least one position which is or will be at another point on the axis (141 ) flow compared to at least one position at which the second fin connector (120b) is attached.

Preferably, forming a rib connector assembly comprises forming one or more of at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) and at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) with a connector configured to provide connecting between at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) and at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b).

Preferably, at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) on a fragment of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), which is or will be on the submersible side (342) of the base (106).

Preferably, at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) on a fragment of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), which is or will be on the outside (344) of the base (106).

Preferably, the method further includes forming a balance rib (118) and attaching the balance rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116).

Preferably, the base (106) is formed as a variable base (306) with variable hardness.

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a rod-like rib connector (220a).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a spacer bar (220c).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a strip rib connector (220a).

Preferably, the method further includes forming the base (106) and attaching the base (106) to the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, the ribs (108a and 108b) are formed having rib protrusions (114a and 114b) that protrude through holes in the base (106), at least one transducer (104a and/or 104b) is attached to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the ledges (114a and 114b) of the ribs.

Preferably, the protrusions (114a and 114b) of the ribs are formed with respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131), at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) of the ribs joins the ribs (108a and 108b) in the respective segments.

Preferably, the base (106) is formed as a variable base (306) with variable hardness.

Preferably, the variable base (306) is formed as being softer in the middle portion of the variable base (306) compared to the edges of the variable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the method further includes attaching a balance rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) at at least one location in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118) and at least at one location in the second direction (135) of the balancing rib (118).

Preferably, the method further includes forming the meter electronics (112) and communicatively connecting the meter electronics (112) to transducers (104a and/or 104b and/or 104c), the meter electronics (112) has a processor and memory, the memory is configured to store instructions and data for the processor to execute operations, and configuring the meter electronics (112) to be driven in in-phase and out-of-phase modes.

According to an aspect, an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a balanced base assembly is disclosed. An embodiment of the method for creating a balanced base assembly includes the steps of forming a base (106), forming a balance rib (118), and attaching a balance rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116).

Preferably, the base (106) is formed as a variable base (306).

Preferably, the variable base (306) is formed by changing the thickness of the variable base (306) during molding or by cutting off a piece of the variable base (306).

Preferably, the thickness is changed such that the middle of the variable base (306) is thinner compared to the edges of the variable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the changeable base (306) is formed by changing the material of which the changeable base (306) is composed at least along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, changing the material comprises composing at least a portion of the variable base (306) material in the middle of the variable base (306) that is softer compared to the material at the edges of the variable base (306) along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, forming the balance rib (118) comprises forming the balance rib (118) as an elongated member.

Preferably, attaching the balance bar (118) to the base (106) comprises attaching the balance bar (118) to the base (106) at a position in the middle of the base (106) on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, attaching the balance rib (118) to the base (106) comprises attaching the balance rib (118) to the base (106) at a position between the position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached and another position on the basis (106) in which the second rib (108b) is attached or is to be attached, the position and the other position are on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the attachment of the balancing rib (118) to the base (106) at a position between a position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached and another position on the base (106) at which the second rib (108b) ) is attached or should be attached, on the transverse axis (131) contains the attachment of a balancing rib (118) equidistant from the position and other position on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, connecting the balancing rib (118) to the base (106) comprises connecting the balancing rib (118) to the base (106) with the center line (198) of the balancing rib (118) parallel to the flow axis (141).

Preferably, forming the balance rib (118) comprises forming the balance rib (118) such that the balance rib (118) is symmetrical in at least one axis with respect to the center line (198).

Preferably, forming the balance rib (118) further comprises forming the balance rib (118) such that the transverse axis thickness (131) of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upper along the flow (143) of the end of the balancing rib (118) is less than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118) along the axis (141) of the flow.

Preferably, forming the balance rib (118) further comprises forming the balance rib (118) such that the transverse axis thickness (131) of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upper along the flow (143) of the end of the balancing rib (118) is greater than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118) along the axis (141) of the flow.

Preferably, the method further includes forming the ribs (108a and 108b) and attaching the ribs (108a and 108b) to the base (106).

Preferably, the method further includes forming at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) and attaching at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to the ribs (108a and 108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the first of the ribs (120a) in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), and at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) of the ribs is connected to the second of the ribs (120b) in the second direction (135) from the balancing rib (118).

Preferably, at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) is attached to the base (106) at a position that is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118) and the position is closer to the edge of the base (106) , which is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), compared with the balancing rib (118), along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) is attached to the base (106) at a position that is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118) and the position is further from the edge of the base (106) , which is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), compared with the balancing rib (118), along the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the method further includes forming the meter electronics (112) and communicatively connecting the meter electronics (112) to transducers (104a and/or 104b and/or 104c), the meter electronics (112) has a processor and memory, the memory is configured to store instructions and data for the processor to execute operations, and configuring the meter electronics (112) to drive the edges (108a and 108b) in in-phase and out-of-phase modes.

According to an aspect, an embodiment of a method for using a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the method of using a rib sensor (102), the rib sensor (102) has an excitation transducer (104b) to excite vibrations in the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the first and second ribs (108a and 108b) are attached to the base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, the method has the step of at least partially limiting, by means of at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) edges, the movement of the first edge (108a) relative to the movement of the second edge (108b).

Preferably, at least partially limiting, by means of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), the movement of the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b) includes at least partial restriction of the movement of the free edges (199) of the first rib (108a) relative to the free edge (199) of the second rib (108b).

Preferably, the vibrations are driven by the drive transducer (104b) to drive the ribs (108a and 108b) in an out of phase (OOP) mode.

Preferably, the out-of-phase (OOP) mode represents a phase separation between the movement of the first edge (108a) and the second edge (108b) of about 180º.

Preferably, at least partially restricting, by means of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), the movement of the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b) comprises at least partially restricting the movement of the first rib (108a) at any location where at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is attached to the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b).

Preferably, at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) does not directly restrict the movement of any base element (106), at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) does not attach to the base element (106 ).

Preferably, the method further includes at least partially restricting movement of the base (106) with the balancing rib (118).

According to an aspect, an embodiment of a method for using a fin sensor (102) is disclosed. An embodiment of the method of using a fin sensor (102) may have a fin sensor (102) with an excitation transducer (104b) to excite vibrations in the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b), the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b) attached to the base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, the edge sensor (102) has a balancing edge (118), the method has a step of at least at least partially limiting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106).

Preferably, at least partially limiting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106) includes at least partial restriction of the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle fragment of the base (106), the middle fragment is the fragment defined by the middle of the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, at least partially limiting, by means of the balancing rib (118), movement of the base (106) includes at least partial prevention of the ribs (108a and 108b) from actually moving along the vertical axis (151).

Preferably, at least partially limiting, by means of the balancing rib (118), movement of the base (106) includes at least partial prevention of the actual movement of the rib sensor (102) along the vertical axis (151).

Preferably, at least partially restricting movement of the base (106) includes at least partially restricting the base (106) to a position between the position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached, and another position on the base (106) at which the second rib (108b) is attached or is to be attached, on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, at least partially limiting the movement of the base (106) includes at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) to a position equidistant from a position and another position on the transverse axis (131).

Preferably, the at least partial restriction of movement of the base (106) comprises at least a partial restriction of the movement of the base (106) at least along a linear fragment of the base (106) that is parallel to the flow axis (141).

Preferably, at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) includes at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) such that movement of one or more of the downstream (145) end of the base (106) and the upstream the flow (143) of the end of the base (106) is less limited compared to the middle of the base (106), the middle of the base (106) is the middle of the base (106) along the axis (141) of the flow.

Preferably, at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) includes at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) such that movement of one or more of the downstream (145) end of the base (106) and the upstream the flow (143) of the end of the base (106) is more limited than the middle of the base (106), the middle of the base (106) is the middle of the base (106) along the axis (141) of the flow.

Brief description of the drawings

The same reference number represents the same element throughout the drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib type flow sensor system 100.

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib connector assembly 200a and a rod-like rib connector 220a.

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib connector assembly 200b and a strip fin connector 220b.

Fig. 2C shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib connector assembly 200c with a strut-shaped rib connector 220c.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a flow sensor system 300 with a finned sensor 302 having a variable base 306 in a balanced base assembly.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of computer system 400. In an embodiment, computer system 400 may be meter electronics, such as meter electronics 112.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 500 for using a fin connector assembly of a fin sensor 102.

Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 600 for using a fin sensor balance base assembly 102.

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 700 for manufacturing a rib connector assembly of a fin sensor 102.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 800 for fabricating a fin sensor balance base assembly 102.

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 900 for fabricating a balance base assembly and a fin sensor rib connector 102.

Fig. 10 shows a comparison of 1000 embodiments of a ribbed sensor 102 with and without fin connectors 120a and 120b on the submersible side 342 of base 106 driven in in-phase (IP) modes and out-of-phase (OOP) modes.

Fig. 11 shows a comparison of 1100 embodiments of a fin sensor 102 with and without a balancing rib 118 in the undeformed and deformed positions.

Fig. 12 shows a comparison of 1200 embodiments of edge sensor 102 with and without edge connectors 120a and 120b on the outside 344 of base 106 driven in in-phase (IP) modes and out-of-phase (OOP) modes.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1-12 and the following description depict specific examples for teaching those skilled in the art how to make and use the optimum mode of embodiments of rib connector assemblies and counterbalance base assemblies for rib sensors. For the purposes of teaching the principles of the invention, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the present description. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form a variety of rib connector assemblies and balanced base assemblies for rib sensors. As a result, the embodiments described below are not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib type flow sensor system 100. System 100 has a fin sensor 102 with upstream transducer 104a, drive transducer 104b, downstream transducer 104c, base 106, first fin 108a, second fin 108b, conduit 110 (not shown), meter electronics 112 (not shown), the first fin protrusion 114a, the second fin protrusion 114b, the base connector 116, the balancing rib 118, the first fin connector 120a, the second fin connector 120b, the transverse axis 131 having a first direction 133 and the second direction 135, the flow axis 141 having an upstream direction 143 flow and direction 145 downstream, and a vertical axis 151 having direction 153 up, direction 155 down, the tip of the balance rib 196, the middle fragment of the balance rib 197, the center line of the balance rib 198 and the free edges 199. The images in FIG. 1-4 and FIG. 10-12 may not be to scale with respect to various embodiments of system 100.

The flow control system 100 may determine the properties of the flow using the rib sensor 102. For example, the rib sensor 102 may drive the elements of the fin sensor 102, using a transducer to excite vibrations in the elements of the fin sensor 102. The transducers can be any type of driver or strain gauge device, for example, a piezo device or a magnet and coil arrangement. Any, some, or all of the transducers may measure the phase or time differences of the signals measured by the transducers in order to determine flow characteristics, eg, to determine mass flow rates. In an embodiment, finned sensor 102 is a Coriolis flowmeter that uses transducer arrangements that can rely on Coriolis forces with respect to elements in finned sensor 102 to generate these flow rates. Phase differences or time delays can be created by driving elements and measuring elements, for example, by vibrating the base and measuring the response in transducers, by vibrating the ribs and measuring the response at the ribs, or by comparing the signal used to generate the vibration (drive signal) with rib response. Flow measurement readings may be generated from phase differences and/or frequency response signals obtained by transducers 104a-c. The rib sensor 102 may be used to generate density measurements by determining vibration frequencies and using techniques known in the art to determine densities from those frequencies. For example, density measurements may be generated from frequency response signals obtained by transducers 104a-c. Viscosity measurements can be obtained at the ribbed sensor 102 from transducer-measured phase differences or time delays, for example based on two off-resonant frequency excited phase differences, possibly theoretically derived. Methods for measuring flow, density and viscosity for vibration meters are all well established in the art. Edges can be attached at specific locations using edge connectors. In various embodiments, the ribbed sensor 102 may be one or more of a Coriolis flowmeter, a finned meter, or a fork meter (possibly either finned or notched).

Edge connectors 120a and 120b can be used to improve mode splitting between in-phase (hereinafter "IP") modes and out-of-phase (hereinafter "OOP") modes. In an embodiment, the OOP mode may be a mode in which the first rib 108a and the second rib 108b vibrate with a phase difference that is equal to or approximately equal to 180º from each other. Additionally, the rib connectors may introduce a more swirling motion to improve the measurement sensitivity of the rib sensor 102. In embodiments, the base 106 may be a plate with a thin middle section and a thick outer section along the transverse axis 131. The base 106 may also have a balancing rib 118 to control bending, and may limit the actual movement of the fin sensor 102 along the vertical axis 151 relative to the pipeline to which the base is connected.

In an embodiment, the rib sensor 102 may have two ribs, a first rib 108a and a second rib 108b. The first rib 108a and the second rib 108b are ribs that are at least partially submerged in the flowing fluid during operation of the rib sensor 102. Embodiments that use more ribs are contemplated. For example, embodiments having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or more ribs are contemplated. In other embodiments, serrations may be used in place of ribs, with serrations having some or all of the same properties and arrangements as ribs 108a and 108b disclosed in this specification. When the specification refers to ribs, the specification also considers embodiments that use teeth.

Fins 108a and 108b may be placed parallel to each other and may be placed with their lengths parallel or substantially parallel to the expected path of fluid flow in the conduit. Ribs 108a and 108b may be placed such that they have fragments that extend through base 106, ribs 108a and 108b possibly have rib protrusions 114a and 114b on the side of base 106 (outer side 344 in FIG. 3) that does not have rib fragments. 108a and 108b to be immersed in the flowing fluid (the side with the immersed elements is the immersed side 342 shown in FIG. 3).

The ribs 108a and 108b may have free edges 199, the free edge 199 possibly being defined as the lowermost 155 edge of the ribs. Rib connectors (e.g., connectors 120a and 120b) can be used to restrict movement of the free edge 199 of the first rib 108a relative to the attached second rib 108b, possibly by connecting the free edge 199 portion of the first rib 108a to the free edge 199 portion of the second rib 108b, or possibly by attaching other parts of the ribs 108a and 108b.

Fins 108a and 108b may be connected to each other with one or more fin connectors. Rib connectors 120a and 120b are elements that connect the movement of ribs 108a and 108b at specific locations on ribs 108a and 108b. For the purposes of this specification, the first rib connector 120a is shown as upstream rib connector 143 relative to the second fin connector 120b. In various embodiments, any number of edge connectors may be used to connect adjacent edges and/or non-adjacent edges. For example, the connectors that connect each set of connected edges could be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and any number of connectors 120a and 120b. In various embodiments, a number of ribs may be connected and a number of ribs may not be connected, for example, all ribs, three quarters of ribs, two thirds of ribs, half of ribs, a quarter of ribs, one third of ribs, one eighth of ribs, one tenth of ribs ribs or the like. edge ratio can be connected.

In an embodiment, one, a combination, or all of the ribs 108a and 108b may extend or substantially extend the entire length of the base 106. For example, to a large extent in this context could mean that the ribs do not extend until the portion of the base 106 that is used to attach the base to the pipeline, or a fragment of the base immediately next to the fragment of the base 106, which is attached to the pipeline 110 and/or connector 116 of the base.

Conduit 110 is a conduit through which fluid can flow. Any type of pipeline known in the art may be used. Conduit 110 is not shown in FIG. 1, but flow conduits and the manner in which flow meters, such as rib sensor 102, are connected to conduits are well known in the flow meter art.

Rib connectors 120a and 120b may connect ribs 108a and 108b at any number of locations between the ribs. For example, rib connectors 120a and 120b may connect ribs 108a and 108b at locations that are substantially the same on the respective surfaces of ribs 108a and 108b, possibly with the ribs configured to have the same placement such that rib connectors 120a and 120b are parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse axis 131 when the fins 108a and 108b are placed at the same position on the plane defined by the flow and the vertical axes 141 and 151 (for example, if the fins are of the same shape and size), or the rib connectors 120a and 120b can be attached in different locations on each of the respective fins 108a and 108b. Fin connectors 120a and 120b may be attached to one or more fins 108a and 108b in one, combination, or all of a position in the region of at least one of ribs 108a and 108b represented by the lowest 155 and upstream 143 quadrant fragment , at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b (the quadrant may not include the center position of at least one of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b), the lowest 155 and downstream 145 quadrant fragment , at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b (the quadrant may not include the center position of at least one of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b), the lowest 155 and upstream 143 corner, of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the lowermost 155 and downstream 145 corner of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the central fragment of one ninth area of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the region defined by the middle one-third area along the vertical axis 151 and upstream 143 by one third fragment of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the area defined by the middle one-third fragment along the vertical axis 151 and downstream 145 by one third fragment , at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the area defined by the top 153 one third fragment along the vertical axis 151 and the upstream 143 one third fragment, at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the area defined by the top 153 one by a third fragment along the vertical axis 151 and downstream 145 by one third fragment of at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b, the area defined by the lower 155 one third fragment along the vertical axis 151 and upstream 143 by one third fragment, at least , one of the fins 108a and 108b, the region defined by the lower 155 one third slice along the vertical axis 151 and the downstream 145 one third slice of at least one of the fins 108a and 108b, and/or the like.

Embodiments are contemplated in which the rib surfaces do not have flat surfaces. In this case, the areas formulated in the previous paragraph may represent projections from such relative areas of the largest cross-section of the rib in any plane defined by the flow and vertical axes 141 and 151, the respective areas projected onto the surface area of the rib (for example, the inner surface of the rib 108a ) that faces the inner surface of another rib (eg, the inner surface of rib 108b) projected along the lines on the transverse axis. For the purposes of the claims, these are referred to as "projected areas".

Rib connectors 120a and 120b can be of various shapes and structures. For example, one or more rib connectors 120a and 120b may be, for example, rod-shaped or cylindrical, spacer bars, beams (possibly with cross-sections about the plane defined by the flow and vertical axes 141 and 151, square, circular, triangular, other polygonal shape, elliptical and/or the like when there is no flow), strips with flat regions (which are either flat or substantially flat with respect to the plane defined by the flow and vertical axes 141 and 151, or are flat with respect to the plane defined by the vertical and transverse axes 151 and 131 when there is no flow), spirals and/or the like. Combinations of various shapes of fin connectors 120a and/or 120b are contemplated by this specification, for example, fin sensor 102 may have an upstream fin connector 120a that is a rod and a downstream fin connector 120b that is represented by one or more spacer bars. They are just examples and all combinations of forms and statements are covered by the specification.

Rib connectors 120a and 120b may be composed of any number of materials and may be of materials other than one, any combination, or all of conduit 110, base 106, transducers 104a-c, fins 108a and 108b, and/or fragments of fins 108a and 108b , in which the rib connectors 120a and/or 120b are connected. The rib connectors 120a and 120b may be of the same materials throughout the rib sensor 102, or may have different compositions between them.

One or more fin connectors 120a and 120b may be made of a flexible material to allow some flex and fashion flexibility in one or more fin connectors 120a and 120b, possibly improving the flexibility of moving one or more ribs 108a and 108b or one or more connectors 120a and 120b fins in some mods compared to other mods. One or more rib connectors 120a and 120b may be made of a rigid material to limit bending and fashion flexibility in one or more fin connectors 120a and 120b, possibly improving the flexibility of moving one or more ribs 108a and 108b or one or more connectors 120a and 120b edges in some modes compared to other modes. Rib connectors 120a and 120b can be assembled with ribs 108a and 108b, nodes are referred to in this specification as rib connector assemblies.

The rib connectors 120a and 120b can increase the swirl for the ribs 108a and 108b when the ribs 120a and 120b are driven in an out-of-phase mode. Rib connectors 120a and 120b may increase axial stiffness, which may result in increased vortex. The increased swirl may allow the fin sensor 102 to better connect the fins to the fluid and induce Coriolis reactions, possibly similar to typical Coriolis mass flow meters, fork meters, or fin meters. Also, the swirl created in the fins 108a and 108b by turning on the fin connectors 120a and 120b in the out-of-phase mode can provide a different, potentially higher, frequency compared to the similarly driven in-mode edge sensor 102, potentially creating mode separation. The axial stiffness provided by the rib connectors 120a and 120b may also force the ends at the free edge 199 of the ribs 108a and 108b to be immobile, substantially immobile, or at least limit the movement of the free edges of the ribs 108a and 108b relative to the mobility that the ribs 108a and 108b would have had ribs 108a and 108b not connected by rib connectors 120a and 120b, likely reducing their drag in the flowing medium and possibly inducing less impact on fluid-structure interaction.

Rib connectors 120a and 120b are to be understood as functional elements that function separately for base 106 and transducers 104a-c. Edge connectors 120a and 120b may be separate from base 106 and transducers 104a-c, and edge connectors 120a and 120b may be elements that do not connect to one or more transducers 104a-c and base 106 (possibly not connected to one or the other) . In this arrangement, the rib connectors 120a and 120b may influence the movement of the ribs 108a and 108b in a different way than the way in which the base 106 and transducers 104a-c influence the movement of the ribs 108a and 108b.

For the purposes of this specification, an edge connector assembly is a node in which at least one edge (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one edge connector (120a and/or 120b). Embodiments are contemplated in which more rib and rib connectors are connected. For example, in an embodiment, the rib connector assembly has two ribs (108a and 108b) connected, for example, by two (120a and 120b as shown), three, four, five, six, or more rib connectors. In additional embodiments, edge connector nodes may have connectors that are used to attach edges to edge connectors. These connectors may be formed as components of either or both of the ribs and/or rib connectors, or the entire rib connector assembly may be molded. Examples of connectors may include recesses, lugs, studs, threaded preparations, segments for use with solder, tin or welding, fasteners, adhesives, and/or the like.

The base 106 is the base of the rib sensor 102 to which the ribs are attached. The base 106 may restrict the movement of the ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, base 106 has openings through which ribs 108a and 108b are placed, with ribs 108a and 108b having features on the top 153 and bottom 155 sides of base 106.

In an embodiment, base 106 is conduit-matched such that base 106 acts as a piping element with the side (possibly bottom 155 in the embodiment shown) of base 106 exposed to the fluid that flows in conduit 110 during operation.

In an embodiment, base 106 may be or have a plate. In an embodiment, the plate may be a plate that has a thickness (or hardness) that is less than or greater than the thickness of the material defining the wall of conduit 110. In an embodiment, the plate may be thicker in some portions of the plate and thinner in other portions. For example, the center of the plate may be thinner compared to areas where the plate joins the pipeline, the middle of the plate relative to the transverse axis 131 may be thinner compared to the edges of the plate that are adjacent to the pipeline 110 along the transverse axis 131, the middle of the plate relative to the transverse axis 131 axis 131 may be thicker compared to the edges of the plate, which are adjacent to the pipeline 110 along the transverse axis 131, the plate thickness may have a slope that continues one of the increase or decrease, at least from the edge of the plate, which is adjacent to the pipeline along the transverse axis 131, about the middle of the plate along the transverse axis 131, or the like. In an embodiment, instead of changing the plate thickness, the materials can be changed, allowing for softer and harder areas of the plate. Any of the ratios in the plate disclosed with respect to thickness and thinness are considered in relation to hardness and softness (perhaps by varying materials), respectively. Varying thickness (or softness) in the plate may allow for a better resultant neutralization of forces along the vertical axis 151.

The base connector 116 is an element that connects the base 106 to the environment in which the edge sensor 102 is used. For example, base connector 116 may be used to connect base 106 of finned sensor 102 to a location where flow is to be measured, such as conduit 110. Base connector 116 may connect base 106 to conduit around the periphery of base 106. Base 106 may be connected base connector 116 by any method known in the art, such as by one or more of welding, soldering, adhesive bonding, or mechanical insertion. In an embodiment, base 106 may be formed with base connector 116 as an integral component.

The balancing rib 118 is an element that partially limits the bending of the base 106 at certain locations of the base 106. The balancing rib 118 may be an elongated element. The balancing rib 118 may be composed of a material that is sufficiently rigid to limit movement, such as vibratory and/or oscillatory movement. Balance rib 118 may help eliminate actual movement of fin sensor 102 along the vertical axis 151 relative to conduit 110. Balance rib 118 may be attached to one or more of base 106, conduit 110, and base connector 116. In an embodiment, balance rib 118 is attached directly to at least one of ribs 108a and 108b, but in other embodiments, balance rib 118 may not be attached to ribs 108a and 108b. In various embodiments, the balance rib 118 may be attached to the base 106 at a variety of locations along the base 106, for example, at a location along the base that at least includes the center of the base 106, a location along the base 106 that represents a portion of the middle of the base 106 along the transverse axis 131 along a portion of the axis 141 flow, and/or the like. In an embodiment, the balance rib 118 may extend or substantially extend the length of the base 106, the length of the base 106 possibly being the entire length of the base 106 or the length of the base 106, which is not limited to the base connector 116. The base connector 116 can be attached to the base plate at a position that is equidistant from the rib fragments that protrude through the base 106 along the transverse axis 131. the rib 118 may cause the ribs to rotate along the pivot point at points or substantially adjacent points on the edges of the base 106 or on the edges of the base 106 where the base 106 is not limited. This may cause the ribs to have no actual movement along the vertical axis 151, and therefore no counter movement of the surrounding structure.

In an embodiment, balance rib 118 may have a center line 198 representing the center of the longest length of balance rib 118 if balance rib 118 is symmetrical along that length with respect to center line 198. Although depicted in FIG. 1 as a dashed line visible on the surface, the center line is inside the balancing rib 118, possibly at the center of mass in each cross section defined by the lateral and vertical axis planes 131 and 151. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may be attached to the rib sensor 102, so that the center line 198 is parallel or substantially parallel to the flow axis 141. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may have a uniform thickness around the center line 198, along the flow axis 141. In another embodiment, the balance rib 118 may have a variable thickness around the center line 198, along the flow axis 141, and/or a variable thickness along the flow axis 141 along the transverse axis 131. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balance ribs 196 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198 may be greater than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198. In another implementation, the thickness of at least one tip of the balancing rib 196 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198 may be less than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198.

An embodiment is considered when a balanced base node is formed. The balanced base assembly may include at least a base 106 and a balance rib 118. In various embodiments, the balanced base assembly may further include ribs 108a and 108b. Additionally, base 106 may be configured as variable base 306 as shown in FIG. 3 and described in the specification, in general. In an embodiment, this balance base assembly may be a component of the rib sensor 102.

Transducers 104a-c are elements that excite and/or measure the movement of fins 108a and 108b. While three transducers are shown in the drawings, any number of transducers may be used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the upstream transducer 104a is a sensing element transducer that measures the upstream oscillations of the relative motion between the first fin 108a and the second fin 108b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the driver transducer 104b is a transducer that acts as a driver and vibrates the mid-protrusion and/or protrusion segment 114a or protrusion segment 114a of the first rib 108a and the mid-protrusion 114b or protrusion segment 114b of the second rib 108b, the middle location being the middle location of the fin along the flow axis 141. In other embodiments, driver transducer 104b acting as driver may drive base 106 or may drive fewer or more fins 108a and 108b. In another embodiment, driver transducer 104b may be positioned within base 106 and vibrate one or more of base 106 and/or at least one of ribs 108a and 108b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, downstream transducer 104c is a sensing element transducer that measures downstream fluctuations in relative motion between first fin 108a and second fin 108b. A phase difference or time delay may be measured between the upstream and downstream oscillations in order to infer the mass flow rate of fluid flowing through and/or around the fins. In another embodiment, a command signal from driver transducer 104b may be used instead of or in addition to the measured upstream or downstream vibration response to determine the phase difference. Transducers 104a-c can also be used to drive and obtain measurements that can be used with known methods to determine density and/or viscosity. Combining these measurements may provide a volumetric flow rate. Methods for these determinations are well known in the art.

In an embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Rib projections 114a and 114b may have different segments for attaching transducers. For example, in an embodiment, each of the projections 114a and 114b may have three segments, the segments, say, having complementary surfaces that are opposed to each other between the projections 114a and 114b of the ribs. Each of the protrusions 104a-c can be attached to one of the respective segments of the protrusions 114a and 114b of the ribs (the respective segments optionally face each other along the transverse axis 131). In this embodiment, the three transducers 104a-c can be aligned with each other along the flow axis 141 (at least when the fin sensor 102 is not operating). In this embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fins 108a and 108b at positions on the side of base 106 that is opposite to the side of base 106 that has rib pieces 108a and 108b that sink.

In various embodiments, rib connectors 120a and/or 120b may connect ribs 108a and/or 108b on the submersible side 342 or on the outside 344. For example, in embodiments where rib connectors connect fins 108a and 108b on the outside by connecting tabs 114a and ribs 114b, for example, by connecting segments that represent rib projections 114a and 114b. Rib connectors 120a and/or 120b may be attached to fins at positions down 155 and/or up 153 from regions on ribs 108a and/or 108b where one or more transducers 104a-c are attached. In an embodiment, rib connectors 120a and/or 120b attach to ribs on the outside 344 of base 106 at a position closer to base 106 than they are on ribs 108a and/or 108b at which transducers 104a-c are attached. In an embodiment, rib connectors 120a and/or 120b attach to ribs on the outside 344 of base 106 at a position closer to the location on ribs 108a and/or 108b at which transducers 104a-c are attached compared to base 106. In embodiments, when rib connectors 120a and/or 120b are connected to ribs 108a and/or 108b on the outside 344 of base 106, it may be desirable that fin connectors 120a and/or 120b can be out of the fluid flow and can reduce the likelihood of connectors 120a and/or being influenced by or 120b fins per flow profile and/or sensitivity to erosion and/or corrosion. In embodiments where fin connectors 120a and/or 120b are connected to ribs 108a and/or 108b on the outside 344 of base 106, rib connectors 120a and/or 120b may still induce mode splitting and/or may still induce more swirl in OOP fashion.

The meter electronics 112 is a set of electrical logic circuits that determines flow properties from flow measurement readings. The meter electronics 112 are not shown in FIG. 1, but configurations and connection methods for meter electronics are well known in the art. The meter electronics 112 may have logic representing a processing element, logic representing a memory, logic for transmitting and receiving data, and communication connections for connecting to sensors, drivers, computing devices, other meter electronics 112, and the like. The meter electronics 112 may execute, via a processor, instructions stored in the memory for transmitting drive signals, receiving sensor data (e.g., from sensing element transducers such as upstream transducer 104a and downstream transducer 104c), characterizing flow and/or transmission of initial or certain data to external computing devices or sensors, etc. The meter electronics 112 may be used to determine and/or communicate data representing, for example, mass flow rates, densities, volume flow rates, and/or the like. Meter electronics 112 may be configured to drive or transmit instructions to drive fins 108a and 108b at different frequencies, phases, and/or different modes with drive converter 104b. In an embodiment, meter electronics 112 may be attached to base 106 or fins 108a and 108b, and may optionally be attached on outside 344 of base 106. In another embodiment, meter electronics 112 may be external to fin sensor 102. The meter electronics 112 may be an embodiment of computer system 400 in FIG. 4.

In one embodiment, any combination or all of the electronic elements may be external to the fluid flow and/or may be external to the base. The electronics may include one, any combination, or all of the transducers 104a-c and/or meter electronics 112.

Flow axis 141 is the general direction of the estimated flow of flowing fluid in the pipeline, flow axis 141 is orthogonal to transverse axis 131 and vertical axis 151. In a straight pipeline, this axis may be defined by the center of the interior of the pipeline along a line representing fluid flow. The upstream direction 143 is defined as the upstream direction from which the flow fluid flows, along the flow axis 141 . The downstream direction 145 is defined as the downstream direction in which the flow fluid flows, along the flow axis 141 .

The vertical axis 151 is a line that bisects the base 106 and the center point of the internal cross section (the cross section has the same internal radius as the entire pipeline) of the pipeline 110, if the pipeline has been connected, the vertical axis 151 is orthogonal to the flow axis 141 and the transverse axis 131. Up direction 153 is defined as the direction from the center of conduit 110 to base 106 along vertical axis 151. Down direction 155 is defined as direction from base 106 to the center of conduit 110 along vertical axis 151.

The transverse axis 131 is an axis defined as parallel or substantially parallel (if the base is curved, it may be parallel to a line that represents the average distance of the base 106 from the center of the conduit 110) to the base 106 and orthogonal to the fluid flow, the transverse axis 131 is orthogonal to the flow axis 141 and the vertical axis 151. The first direction 133 and the second direction 135 are opposite directions along the transverse axis 131. In the embodiment shown, the first direction 133 may be the direction to the left of the conduit 110 if the cross section of the conduit 110 defined by the vertical axis 151 and the transverse axis 131 is considered. , from a viewpoint facing downstream direction 145 . While the directions and coordinate axes appear to be tied to the rib sensor 102 and the flow through it, it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed for specific meter elements of the fin sensor, when described with respect to directions and coordinate axes, can be understood as independent elements with a direction and coordinate axes simply to show the relative positions, connections, placements and configurations of such elements in isolation from the fin sensor 102 and the flow through it as a whole. For example, if the thickness of the balancing rib 118 changes along the flow axis, the change may be only relative to the balancing rib 118 itself in the drawings, and not relative to the flow or flow sensor 102 in general. Also, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments of the fin sensor 102 and its elements are primarily concerned with these references representing relative positions, connections, placements, and configurations at times when the fin sensor 102 is not exposed to flow, such as during manufacturing. or installation.

Fig. 2A-2C show perspective views of embodiments of rib connector assemblies 200a-200c. The rib connector assemblies 200a-200c may be embodiments of the rib connector assemblies disclosed in the description for FIG. 1. It should be understood that the images shown may not be to scale, and embodiments with different relative sizes are considered. For the sake of clarity, the coordinate system with coordinate axes directions and axes is shown from specific perspectives in FIG. 2A-2C.

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the rib connector assembly 200a and rod-like rib connectors 220a. The rod-like rib connectors 220a may be embodiments of the rib connectors (120a and 120b). For the purposes of this specification, an edge connector assembly is a node in which at least one edge (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one edge connector (120a and/or 120b). The rod-like rib connector 220a may be an embodiment of the rib connector 120a or 120b.

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib connector assembly 200b and a strip fin connector 220b. Rib strip connectors 220b may be an embodiment of rib connectors 120a and/or 120b. In alternative embodiments, the flat section of the strip may, for example, when there is no flow in the pipeline, be parallel to the plane defined by the transverse axis 131 and the flow axis 141, be parallel to the plane defined by the vertical axis 151 and the transverse axis 131, or may be a fragment that twisted in a spiral manner. In another embodiment, the rib strip connector 220b may have at least one tapered end. For example, the fin strip connector 220b may be tapered such that one or more of the upstream end 143 and downstream 145 end of the fin strip connector 220b has a smaller cross-sectional area in the plane defined by the vertical and transverse axes 151 and 131 compared to with a cross-sectional area in the plane defined by the vertical and transverse axes 151 and 131 more than the central position along the flow axis 141 of the strip connector 220b. For example, the cross section in the plane defined by the vertical and downstream axes 151 and 141 of the strip fin connector 220b may be narrower along the vertical axis 151 at one or more of the upstream and downstream ends 143 and 145 of the cross section compared to at least at least with one more central fragment along the axis 141 of the cross-sectional flow.

Fig. 2C shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rib connector assembly 200c with a strut-shaped rib connector 220c. The strut-shaped rib connector 220c may be an embodiment of the rib connector 120a or 120b. The bends 204c of the strut-shaped rib connector 220c may be such that the strut-shaped rib connector 220c is connected between different positions or the same positions of the respective surfaces of the ribs 108a and 108b. For example, the strut-shaped rib connector 220c may be one or more attached to a position on the first rib 108a that is up 153 from a position on the corresponding surface of the second rib 108b to which the same strut-shaped rib connector 220c may be attached attached to a position on the first rib 108a that is up 143 from a position on the corresponding surface of the second rib 108b to which the same strut-shaped rib connector 220c can be attached, and/or the like.

In the embodiments expressed in FIG. 2A-2C, it should be understood that any of the rib connectors 120a and/or 120b, regardless of shape or structure, may be attached to each of the ribs 108a and/or 108b at any position or in the manner disclosed in this specification.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a flow sensor system 300 with a finned sensor 302 having a variable base 306 in a balanced base assembly. The cross section from the cross section view is a cross section in the plane defined by the vertical axis 151 and the transverse axis 131. The sensor system 300 may have a rib sensor 302 with a variable base 306, a first rib 308a, a second rib 308b, a submerged side 342, and an outer side 344 The flow sensor system 300, fin sensor 302, variable base 306, first fin 308a, and second fin 308b may be embodiments of fin sensor system 100, fin sensor 102, base 106, first fin 108a, and second fin 108b in FIG. 1, respectively. The changeable base 306 may have a first harder piece 310, a second harder piece 312, and a softer piece 314. The coordinate and axes directions are shown as viewed in FIG. 3. It should be understood that the images shown may not be to scale, and embodiments with different relative sizes are considered.

In the embodiment shown, the softer piece 314 is in the middle of the changeable base 306 (the middle of the changeable base 306 along the transverse axis 131), and the first and second harder pieces 310 and 312 of the changeable base 306 are on the sides of the changeable base 306 closer to where the changeable base is. 306 is connected to the pipeline. It may be understood that, in various embodiments, the transition between the softer fragment 314 and the harder fragments 310 and 312 can be smooth in terms of increasing stiffness from the middle of the changeable base 306 to each of the edges on each of the first and second sides of the changeable base. 306, or the transition may be staggered with increasing stiffness in blocks from the middle of the changeable base 306 to each of the edges on each of the first and second sides of the changeable base. In an embodiment, the difference in softness and stiffness can be achieved by making the softer pieces thinner and the harder pieces thicker, perhaps by cutting out a portion of the base 106 or forming the base 106 as a variable base 306 with varying thickness. In another embodiment, softness and hardness can be varied by using different materials or alloys along the transverse axis 131 that are harder in the harder pieces 310 and 312 and softer in the softer piece 314. A balance rib 118 can be attached to a variable base 306 in the middle of the transverse axis 131 of the variable base 306, the length of the balancing rib 118 along or substantially along the flow axis 141 (not visible in this figure in the plane representing the transverse and vertical axes 131 and 151).

As shown, with balance rib 118 attached to variable base 306, softer portion 314 may represent areas around balance rib 118. It may be appreciated that, in the absence of balance rib 118, 314, it would not be necessary to represent separate softer areas, such as shown (balance rib 118 can add stiffness when attached to sensor 302). In an embodiment, the variant base portion 306 between the two ribs 108a and 108b (along the lateral axis 131) may be softer than the variant base portions 306 between each of the ribs 108a and 108b and the edges of the variant base 306 (along the lateral axis 131). In an embodiment, softer fragment 314 and harder fragments 310 and 312 can be formed by attaching at least one of the ribs 108a and 108b closer along the transverse axis 131 to the edge of the variable base 306 compared to the balancing rib 118.

Embodiments are contemplated in which the variable base 306 does not have a balancing rib 118, and embodiments in which the fin sensor 102 has a balancing rib 118 without a variable base 306. For example, an embodiment may have a base 106 with uniform properties in the insulation such that the thickness and the material is consistent (with any variability in the plate due to attachment to the environment, such as conduit 110), and may still have a balancing rib 118. In this embodiment, base 106 may be a uniform, thin plate.

In an embodiment, the base 106 is a substantially flat feature with a thin edge relative to the surface area of the two opposing surfaces. One of the two surfaces may be referred to as the surface of the dip side 342, and the side that opposes the surface of the dip side 342 may be referred to as the surface 344 of the outer side. The immersed side 342 represents the side of the base 106 on which the rib fragments 108a and 108b and/or the base 106 are exposed to the flowing fluid to be measured. Outer side 344 represents the side of base 106 on which fin protrusions 114a and 114b may be positioned and possibly attached to transducers.

In an embodiment, the rib protrusions 114a and 114b may have segments, the segments possibly each protruding through holes in the base 106 when the rib sensor 302 is assembled. In an embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Rib projections 114a and 114b may have different segments for attaching transducers. For example, in an embodiment, each of the projections 114a and 114b may have three segments, the segments, say, having complementary surfaces that are opposed to each other between the projections 114a and 114b of the ribs. Each of the protrusions 104a-c can be attached to one of the respective segments of the protrusions 114a and 114b of the ribs (the respective segments optionally face each other along the transverse axis 131). In this embodiment, the three transducers 104a-c can be aligned with each other along the flow axis 141 (at least when the fin sensor 102 is not operating). In this embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to ribs 108a and 108b at positions located on the outside 344 of base 106.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of computer system 400. In an embodiment, computer system 400 may be meter electronics, such as meter electronics 112. In various embodiments, computer system 400 may be composed of ASICs, or may have discrete processor and memory elements, processor elements for processing commands from and storing data in memory elements. Computer system 400 may be an isolated physical system, a virtual machine, and/or may be installed in a cloud computing environment.

The computer system may have a processor 410, a memory 420, an I/O 430, and a communications interconnect 440. The memory 420 may store and/or may have integrated circuits representing, for example, a drive module 422, a signal module 424, and a processing module 426. In various embodiments, the computer system 400 may have other computer elements incorporated into the articulated elements, or in addition to or in connection with the articulated computer elements, such as buses, other communication protocols, and the like.

The processor 410 is a data processing element. Processor 410 can be any processing element such as a CPU, ASIC, other integrated circuit, analog controller, graphics processor, field programmable gate array, any combination of these or other commonly used processing elements, and/or the like. . The processor 410 may have a cache for storing processing data. The processor 410 may benefit from the methods in this specification as the methods can improve the resolution of calculations and reduce the error of such calculations using the inventive structures presented.

Memory 420 is an electronic storage device. Memory 420 may be any non-volatile storage medium and may include one, some, or all of a hard disk drive, solid state drive, volatile memory, integrated circuits, field programmable gate array, random access memory, read only memory, dynamic random access memory. , an erasable programmable read only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory, a cache, and/or the like. Processor 410 may execute instructions from and use data stored in memory 420.

Computer system 400 may be configured to store any data that will be used by excitation module 422, signal module 424, and/or processing module 426, and may store historical data over any time interval representing any parameter received or used by the module. 422 excitation, signal module 424 and/or processing module 426, 420. Computer system 400 may also store any data that represents definitions of any intermediate forms in memory 420, possibly with timestamps representing when the data was received. or defined. While drive module 422, signal module 424, and processing module 426 are shown as three separate and discrete modules, the specification considers any number (even one or three as indicated) and multiple modules working together to perform the methods expressed in this specifications.

The driver module 422 is a module that transmits a driver signal to a transducer (eg, driver transducer 104b in FIG. 1) to vibrate the elements of the sensor assembly. Driver module 422 may be configured to transmit data representing commands for driving in a variety of different modes. For example, drive module 422 may be configured to transmit data representing commands for drive in IP modes and/or OOP modes.

Signal module 424 is a module that receives sensor data, such as data representing phase differences, time delays, and/or frequency responses. In the fin sensor 102, signal module 424 may receive frequency data from upstream transducer 104a and downstream transducer 104c. The determination of the phase difference or time delay between frequencies is represented by the frequency data of the upstream transducer 104a and the downstream transducer 104c.

The processing module 426 is a module that determines the operation mode of the rib sensor 102 and/or outputs data related to the fin sensor 102. The processing module 426 may determine the flow characteristics from the data received by the signal module 424. For example, the processing module 426 may use data about phase difference or time delay to calculate the mass flow rate of the flowing fluid using methods known in the art. In an embodiment, processing module 426 may use the drive signal from drive module 422 as a signal from which time delay or phase difference is derived (when compared with another transducer signal). Processing module 426 may also derive flow fluid density from frequency data received via signal module 424. Processing module 426 may also derive flow fluid viscosity from frequency and/or phase data received via signal module 424.

Processing module 426 may further be configured to determine the modes and/or frequencies at which to drive the driver, possibly through closed or open loop drive, to achieve one or more of the desired frequency or phase difference. When determining an information command representing the drive mode to be driven, the processing module 426 may send the command to the drive module 422 to send commands for driving the driver circuit, for example, driving the driver converter 104b.

The capabilities of drive module 422, signal module 424, and processing module 426 are considered relative to and reflect the methods that are performed in the presented flowcharts. All methods in this specification are considered with respect to each flowchart and flowchart description, and all methods and capabilities of drive module 422, signal module 424, and processing module 426 are considered for the purposes of any method claims that follow. by this description, in the order of steps presented, and in any other order that would be reasonable to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context of this specification.

I/O 430 is a device used to communicate the computer system 400 with external elements. The I/O 430 is adapted to connect the computer system 400 to external elements using known technologies such as universal serial bus, ProLink serial connection, advanced technology serial connections, and/or the like. The input/output 430 may have a communication connector 440. The communication connector 440 is used to connect the computer system 400 to components external to the computer system 400, such as external computing devices, sensors, transducers (e.g., transducers 104a-c), other sensor assemblies and/or the like.

Flowcharts

Fig. 5-9 show flowcharts of embodiments of methods for creating and using embodiments of rib connector nodes, balanced base nodes, and combined rib connector and balanced base nodes. The methods disclosed in the flowcharts are not exhaustive, but simply demonstrate potential embodiments of the steps and orders. The methods are to be construed in the context of the entire specification, including the elements disclosed in the descriptions of FIG. 1-4, including, for example, base 106 (eg, variable base 306), ribs 108a and 108b, balance rib 118, and rib connectors 120a and 120b.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 500 for using a fin sensor fin connector assembly 102. Method steps for method 500 are presented with embodiments that include references to elements presented in other drawings and descriptions of other drawings. All possibilities, structures, relative connections and positioning of these elements, disclosed in other drawings and in the descriptions of other drawings, are considered for the purpose of performing these steps.

Step 502 is determining, by means of the processing unit 426, data representing the first vibration to be excited by the driving converter 104b. In an embodiment, the first drive to be driven by the drive converter 104b may be one or more of an IP mode and an OOP mode. In an embodiment, the out-of-phase mode is a mode with a 180º separation between the vibration frequency of the fins 108a and 108b. The processing module 426 may itself transmit the data representing the first vibration to the driving device (eg, the driving converter 104b), or the transmission may be carried out by the driving module 422 .

Step 504 is vibration, by driving transducer 104b, based on data representing the first vibration to be driven.

Step 506 is at least partially restricting, via at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b that connects the first rib 108a to the second rib 108b, the movement of the first rib 108a relative to the second rib 108b. In an embodiment, the at least partial restriction may restrict the movement of the free edge 199 of the first rib 108a relative to the movement of the free edge 199 of the second rib 108b. In an embodiment, the at least partial restriction includes restricting the movement of the first rib 108a at a location where at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b is attached to the first rib relative to the movement of the second rib 108b. In one embodiment, at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b does not directly restrict movement of any base element 106, at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b does not attach to base element 106. In an embodiment, , the at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b does not directly restrict the movement of any element of the transducers 104a-c, the at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b does not attach to the element of the transducers 104a-c. All connection methods, structures, and alternative arrangements of ribs 108a and 108b and rib connectors 120a and 120b are considered for this step.

Step 508 is optionally receiving, by signal module 424 or processing module 426, data representing at least one sensor signal. In an embodiment, when the signal module 424 receives data representing at least one sensor signal, the signal module 424 may transmit this information or process the output data obtained from the data representing the at least one signal from the signal module, in module 426 processing.

Step 510 is optionally determining, by processing module 426, a property of the flowing fluid, such as mass flow and/or density.

In an embodiment, each of the steps of the method shown in FIG. 5 is a separate step. In another embodiment, although depicted as separate steps in FIG. 5, steps 502-512 may not be separate steps. In other embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 5 may not have all of the above steps and/or may have other steps in addition to or in place of the steps listed above. The steps of the method shown in FIG. 5 may be performed in a different order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of the method shown in FIG. 5, can be used to shape your own way. The steps of method 500 may be repeated in any combination and order any number of times, such as continuously in a loop, in order to maintain control.

Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 600 for using a fin sensor balance base assembly 102. Method steps for method 600 are presented with embodiments that include references to elements presented in other drawings and descriptions of other drawings. All possibilities, structures, relative connections and positioning of these elements, disclosed in other drawings and in the descriptions of other drawings, are considered for the purpose of performing these steps.

Step 602 is driving, by driving transducer 104b, motion in ribs 108a and 108b.

Step 604 is to limit, through the balancing rib 118, the movement of the base 106 in response to the excitation. In an embodiment, balancing rib 118 may restrict movement of base 106 along a fragment at or substantially in the middle of base 106, the middle being defined as the midpoint of transverse axis 131. Step 604 may result in movement of ribs 108a and 108b not generating actual movement away from the center. piping, through the middle of the sensor assembly, providing balance and no movement of the sensor assembly relative to the support structure to which the rib sensor 102 is attached. In an embodiment, this may not provide for actual movement of the fins 108a and/or 108b and/or the fin sensor 102 in a direction away from the center of the conduit through the middle of the base 106, possibly defined along the vertical axis 151. It may be understood that, in some embodiments, the ribs 108a and 108b of the rib sensor 102 are rotatable about respective center points of the ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 at least partially limits the movement of the base 106 along the vertical axis 151 along the middle fragment of the base 106, the middle fragment being the fragment defined by the middle of the transverse axis 131. In the embodiment, the balancing rib 118 at least partially limits base 106 at a position between a position on the base 106 at which the first rib 108a is attached or to be attached and another position on the base 106 at which the second rib 108 is attached or to be attached on the transverse axis 131. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may at least partially restrict the movement of the base 106 at a position equidistant from the position of the first rib 108a and another position of the second rib 108b on the transverse axis 131. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may at least partially restrict the movement of the base 106, along at least along the linear fragment of the base 106, which is parallel to the axis 141 of the flow. In an embodiment, the balance rib 118 may at least partially restrict the movement of the base 106 such that movement of one or more of the downstream 145 end of the base 106 and the upstream 143 end of the base 106 is limited to less than the middle of the base 106, the middle of the base 106 is the middle of the base 106 along the axis 141 of the flow. Alternatively, the balancing rib 118 may at least partially restrict the movement of the base 106 such that the movement of one or more of the downstream 145 end of the base 106 and the upstream 143 end of the base 106 is limited to more than the middle of the base 106, the middle of the base 106 is the middle base 106 along the axis 141 of the flow.

In an embodiment, each of the steps of the method shown in FIG. 6 is a separate step. In another embodiment, although depicted as separate steps in FIG. 6, steps 602-604 may not be separate steps. In other embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 6 may not have all of the steps described above and/or may have other steps in addition to or instead of the steps listed above. The steps of the method shown in FIG. 6 may be performed in a different order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of the method shown in FIG. 6, can be used to shape your own way. The steps of method 600 may be repeated in any combination and order any number of times, such as continuously in a loop, in order to maintain control.

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 700 for manufacturing a rib connector assembly of a fin sensor 102. The method steps for method 700 are presented with embodiments that include references to elements presented in other drawings and descriptions of other drawings. All possibilities, structures, relative connections and positioning of these elements, disclosed in other drawings and in the descriptions of other drawings, are considered for the purpose of performing these steps. In an embodiment, a rib connector assembly may be combined with base 106 (eg, variable base 306) and/or balance rib 118 to create a combined balance base and rib connector assembly. In an embodiment, the rib connector assembly may be a component of the rib sensor 102.

Step 702 is optionally generating first and second ribs 108a and 108b. The manufacturing methods used to form these components may be any suitable manufacturing techniques known in the art, such as molding, extrusion, and other methods, and/or any combination thereof. Rib connectors may be formed, for example, from metal or composite, and may be formed, for example, through additive manufacturing (3D printing), machining from a solid block, machining in parts, and assembly with any or any combination of fasteners, adhesive, welded parts, solders and/or the like.

Step 704 is generating at least one edge connector (eg, first and second edge connectors 120a and/or 120b). Manufacturing methods for making elements such as a rib connector are well known in the art, such as molding, extrusion, and other methods. Rib connectors may be formed from, for example, metal, plastic, or other composite. The at least one rib connector may be formed in a variety of shapes, such as rods, strips, or balance bars. In an embodiment, at least one rib connector may be formed with ribs 108a and 108b as a single piece, negating the need for a separate step for forming ribs 108a and 108b (as in step 702) and/or a separate attachment step for at least at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, at least one rib connector may be formed with one or more connectors configured to more easily and/or more efficiently connect at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b, such as one or more tips of at least one rib connector. In another embodiment, one or more ribs 108a and 108b may be formed with connectors to more easily and/or more efficiently attach at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In yet another embodiment, the at least one rib connector and ribs 108a and 108b may each have corresponding or complementary connectors for attaching the at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, the at least one rib connector may be two, three, four, five, six, or any other number of rib connectors. In an embodiment, one or more of at least one rib 108a and/or 108b and at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b may be formed with a connector configured to provide a connection between at least , one rib 108a and/or 108b, and at least one rib connector 120a and/or 120b.

Step 706 is attaching at least one edge connector to the first and second edges 108a and 108b. In embodiments in which one or more ribs 108a and 108b and at least one rib connector have connectors, at least one rib connector and ribs 108a and 108b may be connected in/or by connectors. Any method of attachment is considered, such as welding, brazing, 3D printing, low temperature soldering, adhesive bonding, plastic molding or molding, mating physical or mechanical connectors (e.g. screws), recess insertion, and/or the like. In an embodiment, a rib connector 120a is attached to a rib 108a at a position closer to the free edge 199 of the rib 108a as compared to the edge of the rib 108a that is or is to be attached to the base 106. In an embodiment, two rib connectors 120a and 120b are attached to the ribs 108a and 108b . In this embodiment, the first fin connector 120a can be attached to at least one position that is or will be at a different point along the flow axis 141 for at least one position at which the second fin connector 120b can be connected .

Step 708 is optionally configuring meter electronics 112 to store and/or execute one or more of driver module 422, signal module 424, and/or processing module 426.

Step 710 is optionally attaching ribs 108a and 108b to base 106. In an embodiment, ribs 108a and 108b protrude through openings in base 106 such that ribs 108a and 108b have submerged pieces configured to be immersed in a fluid flow and projections 114a and 114b of ribs that protrude from the side of the base 106 that opposes the submerged fragments.

In an embodiment, each of the steps of the method shown in FIG. 7 is a separate step. In another embodiment, although depicted as separate steps in FIG. 7, steps 702-710 may not be separate steps. In other embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 7 may not have all of the steps described above and/or may have other steps in addition to or instead of the steps listed above. The steps of the method shown in FIG. 7 may be performed in a different order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of the method shown in FIG. 7, can be used to shape your own way. The steps of method 700 may be repeated in any combination and order any number of times, such as continuously in a loop, in order to maintain control.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 800 for fabricating a fin sensor balance base assembly 102. Method steps for method 800 are presented with embodiments that include references to elements presented in other drawings and descriptions of other drawings. All possibilities, structures, relative connections and positioning of these elements, disclosed in other drawings and in the descriptions of other drawings, are considered for the purpose of performing these steps. In an embodiment, the balanced base assembly may be provided with one or more rib connectors 120a and/or 120b to create a combined balanced base and rib connector assembly. In an embodiment, the balanced base assembly may be a component of the rib sensor 102.

Step 802 is optionally forming transducers 104a-c, first and second ribs 108a and 108b, meter electronics 112, balance rib 118, base connector 116, and first and second rib connector 120a and 120b. The manufacturing methods used to form these components are well established in the art, such as 3D printing, molding, joining separately formed components, and/or the like.

Step 804 is the formation of at least one base 106. The base 106 may be a flat or substantially flat element with a small thickness relative to the area of its larger surfaces. In an embodiment, the base 106 may be formed as thin and/or may be formed with varying or uniform hardness. For example, the base 106 may be formed as a changeable base 306 such that the middle of the changeable base 306 (being the middle of the lateral axis 131) is less rigid compared to the edges (of the changeable base 306 along the lateral axis 131). This change can be made by molding the base 106 so that it creates a variable base 306 with the middle (on the transverse axis 131) being thinner (having less material) compared to the edges (variable base 306 on the transverse axis 131). In another embodiment, the change may be made by removing, possibly by cutting, fragments of the base 106 to make the base 106 a variable base with the middle (along the transverse axis 131) being thinner (having less material) compared to the edges (of the variable base 306 along transverse axis 131). In another embodiment, the base 106 may be composed of different materials along the transverse axis 131 making the base the changeable base 306 so that the middle of the changeable base 306 (along the transverse axis 131) is softer compared to the edges (of the changeable base 306 along the transverse axis 131) .

Step 806 is the formation of the balance rib 118. The balance rib 118 may be an elongated element and may be manufactured using any standard manufacturing methods, and from any materials known in the art, that are sufficient to at least limit, to some degree, movement of the base 106. In an embodiment, the balance rib 118 may have a center line 198 representing the center of the longest length of the balance rib 118 if the balance rib 118 is symmetrical along that length in at least one axis, such as symmetrical along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198. The balance rib 118 may have a varying thickness around the center line 198 along the length of the center line 198. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balance rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198 may be greater than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198. In another implementation, the thickness of at least one tip of the balancing rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198 may be less than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198.

Step 808 is attaching the balance bar 118 to the base 106. The balance bar 118 may be attached to the base at a mid-position of the base along the transverse axis 131, optionally with an elongated portion along or substantially along the flow axis 141. In an embodiment in which base 106 has ribs 108a and 108b attached to base 106, or will have ribs 108a and 108b attached to base 106, a balance rib 118 may be attached to base 106 between attached ribs 108a and 108b, possibly attached between the ribs 108a and 108b along the transverse axis 131, and optionally attached equidistant from the attachment position or attached to the first attachment rib 108a and another attachment position or attached to the second rib 108b along the transverse axis 131. A knot formed when the balance rib 118 is attached to base 106 (or variable base 306) may be considered to be the balanced base assembly of the rib sensor 102. In an embodiment, a balancing rib 118 may be attached to the rib sensor 102 such that the center line 198 is parallel or substantially parallel to the flow axis 141. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may have a uniform thickness relative to the center line 198, along the flow axis 141. In another embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may have a varying thickness along the flow axis 141, around the center line 198 along the transverse axis 131. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balancing rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198 may be greater than the thickness of the middle portion of the balance rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balance rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198 may be less than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balance ribs 197 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198.

Step 810 is optionally forming the rib sensor 102 by attaching a balance base assembly to ribs 108a and 108b (possibly with a balance rib 118 between ribs 108a and 108b on base 106), transducers 104a-c, meter electronics 112, base connector 116, and/or to the first and second rib connectors 120a and 120b. In an embodiment, the rib protrusions 114a and 114b may have segments, the segments possibly each protruding through holes in the base 106 when the rib sensor 302 is assembled. In an embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Rib projections 114a and 114b may have different segments for attaching transducers. For example, in an embodiment, each of the fin protrusions 114a and 114b may have three segments, the segments say having complementary surfaces that are opposed to each other between the fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Each of the protrusions 104a-c can be attached to one of the respective segments of the protrusions 114a and 114b of the ribs (the respective segments optionally face each other along the transverse axis 131). In this embodiment, the three transducers 104a-c can be aligned with each other along the flow axis 141 (at least when the fin sensor 102 is not operating). In this embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fins 108a and 108b at positions on the side of base 106 that is opposite to the side of base 106 that has rib pieces 108a and 108b that sink. The meter electronics 112 may be attached to the base 106 or the ribs 108a and 108b, and may optionally be attached to the outside 344 of the base 106.

In an embodiment, each of the steps of the method shown in FIG. 8 is a separate step. In another embodiment, although depicted as separate steps in FIG. 8, steps 802-810 may not be separate steps. In other embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 8 may not have all of the steps described above and/or may have other steps in addition to or instead of the steps listed above. The steps of the method shown in FIG. 8 may be performed in a different order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of the method shown in FIG. 8, can be used to shape your own way. The steps of method 800 may be repeated in any combination and order any number of times, such as continuously in a loop, in order to maintain control.

Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 900 for manufacturing a balance base assembly and a fin sensor rib connector 102. The method steps for method 900 are presented with embodiments that include references to elements presented in other drawings and descriptions of other drawings. All possibilities, structures, relative connections and positioning of these elements, disclosed in other drawings and in the descriptions of other drawings, are considered for the purpose of performing these steps. In an embodiment, the balanced base assembly may be a component of the rib sensor 102.

Step 902 is optionally forming transducers 104a-c, first and second ribs 108a and 108b, meter electronics 112, base connector 116, and first and second rib connector 120a and 120b. The manufacturing methods used to form these components are well established in the art, such as 3D printing, molding, joining separately formed components, and/or the like.

Step 904 is the formation of at least one base 106. The base 106 may be a flat or substantially flat element with a small thickness relative to the area of its larger surfaces. In an embodiment, the base 106 may be formed as thin and/or may be formed with varying or uniform hardness. For example, the base 106 may be formed as a changeable base 306 such that the middle of the changeable base 306 (being the middle of the lateral axis 131) is less rigid compared to the edges (of the changeable base 306 along the lateral axis 131). This change can be made by molding the base 106 so that it creates a variable base 306 with the middle (on the transverse axis 131) being thinner (having less material) compared to the edges (variable base 306 on the transverse axis 131). In another embodiment, the change may be made by removing, possibly by cutting, fragments of the base 106 to make the base 106 a variable base with the middle (along the transverse axis 131) being thinner (having less material) compared to the edges (of the variable base 306 along transverse axis 131). In another embodiment, the base 106 may be composed of different materials along the transverse axis 131 making the base the changeable base 306 so that the middle of the changeable base 306 (along the transverse axis 131) is softer compared to the edges (of the changeable base 306 along the transverse axis 131) .

Step 906 is the formation of the balance rib 118. The balance rib 118 may be an elongated element and may be manufactured using any standard manufacturing methods, and from any materials known in the art that are sufficient to at least limit, to some degree, movement of the base 106. In an embodiment, the balance rib 118 may have a center line 198 representing the center of the longest length of the balance rib 118 if the balance rib 118 is symmetrical along that length in at least one axis, such as symmetrical along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198. The balance rib 118 may have a varying thickness around the center line 198 along the length of the center line 198. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balance rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198 may be greater than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198. In another embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balancing rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198 may be less than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 along the transverse axis 131 around the center line 198.

Step 908 is attaching the balance bar 118 to the base 106. The balance bar 118 may be attached to the base at a mid-position of the base along the transverse axis 131, optionally with an elongated portion along or substantially along the flow axis 141. In an embodiment in which base 106 has ribs 108a and 108b attached to base 106, or will have ribs 108a and 108b attached to base 106, a balance rib 118 may be attached to base 106 between attached ribs 108a and 108b, possibly attached between the ribs 108a and 108b along the transverse axis 131, and optionally attached equidistant from the attachment position or attached to the first attachment rib 108a and another attachment position or attached to the second rib 108b along the transverse axis 131. A knot formed when the balance rib 118 is attached to base 106 (or variable base 306) may be considered to be the balanced base assembly of the rib sensor 102. In an embodiment, a balancing rib 118 may be attached to the rib sensor 102 such that the center line 198 is parallel or substantially parallel to the flow axis 141. In an embodiment, the balancing rib 118 may have a uniform thickness around the center line 198 along the flow axis 141. In another embodiment, the balance rib 118 may have a varying thickness along the flow axis 141, around the center line 198 along the transverse axis 131. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness along the transverse axis 131 of at least one tip of the balance rib 118 around the center line 198 may be greater than the thickness along the transverse axis 131 of the middle fragment of the balancing rib 197 around the center line 198. For example, in an embodiment, the thickness of at least one tip of the balancing rib 118 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198 may be less than the thickness of the middle fragment of the balancing ribs 197 along the transverse axis 131 relative to the center line 198.

Step 910 is forming at least one edge connector (eg, first and second edge connectors 120a and/or 120b). Manufacturing methods for making elements such as a rib connector are well known in the art, such as molding, extrusion, and other methods. Rib connectors may be formed from metal or composite, for example. The at least one rib connector may be formed in a variety of forms, such as rods, strips, or spacers. In an embodiment, at least one rib connector may be formed with ribs 108a and 108b as a single piece, negating the need for a separate step for forming ribs 108a and 108b (as in step 702) and/or a separate attachment step for at least at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, at least one rib connector may be formed with one or more connectors configured to more easily and/or more efficiently connect at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b, such as one or more tips of at least one rib connector. In another embodiment, one or more ribs 108a and 108b may be formed with connectors to more easily and/or more efficiently attach at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In yet another embodiment, the at least one rib connector and ribs 108a and 108b may each have corresponding or complementary connectors for attaching the at least one rib connector to ribs 108a and 108b. In an embodiment, the at least one rib connector may be two, three, four, five, six, or any other number of rib connectors.

Step 912 is attaching at least one edge connector to the first and second edges 108a and 108b. In embodiments in which one or more ribs 108a and 108b and at least one rib connector have connectors, at least one rib connector and ribs 108a and 108b may be connected in/or by connectors. Any connection method is considered, such as welding, brazing, low temperature soldering, adhesive bonding, plastic molding or injection molding, mating physical or mechanical connectors, and the like.

Step 914 is attaching the ribs 108a and 108b to the base 106. The ribs 108a and 108b may be attached to the base 106 in any manner, such as being formed together by molding, attached by adhesive bonding, welding or brazing, and other methods known in the art. In an embodiment, the base 106 has openings through which the fin protrusions 114a and 114b can protrude and the connection is established by standard connection methods such as adhesive bonding, welding, and brazing.

Step 916 is the optional formation of a ribbed sensor 102 by attaching a balanced base assembly to ribs 108a and 108b (possibly with a balancing rib 118 between ribs 108a and 108b on base 106), transducers 104a-c, meter electronics 112, and/or base connector 116. In an embodiment, the rib protrusions 114a and 114b may have segments, the segments possibly each protruding through holes in the base 106 when the rib sensor 302 is assembled. In an embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Rib projections 114a and 114b may have different segments for attaching transducers. For example, in an embodiment, each of the fin protrusions 114a and 114b may have three segments, the segments say having complementary surfaces that are opposed to each other between the fin protrusions 114a and 114b. Each of the protrusions 104a-c can be attached to one of the respective segments of the protrusions 114a and 114b of the ribs (the respective segments optionally face each other along the transverse axis 131). In this embodiment, the three transducers 104a-c can be aligned with each other along the flow axis 141 (at least when the fin sensor 102 is not operating). In this embodiment, transducers 104a-c may be attached to fins 108a and 108b at positions on the side of base 106 that is opposite to the side of base 106 that has rib pieces 108a and 108b that sink.

The specification considers alternative orders of these steps, including all of those that make sense given the necessary order of some of the steps. For example, the steps in which the rib connectors 120a and 120b are connected to the ribs 108a and 108b and the ribs 108a and 108b are connected to the base 106 may be carried out in any order relative to each other. Also, the balanced base assembly may be formed before, during, or after the rib connector assembly is formed.

In an embodiment, each of the steps of the method shown in FIG. 9 is a separate step. In another embodiment, although depicted as separate steps in FIG. 9, steps 902-916 may not be separate steps. In other embodiments, the method shown in FIG. 9 may not have all of the steps described above and/or may have other steps in addition to or instead of the steps listed above. The steps of the method shown in FIG. 9 may be performed in a different order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of the method shown in FIG. 9, can be used to shape your own way. The steps of method 900 may be repeated in any combination and order any number of times, such as continuously in a loop, in order to maintain control.

Comparisons

Fig. 10-11 show comparisons explaining some of the results of Applicant's embodiments of features presented in this Specification.

Fig. 10 shows a comparison of 1000 embodiments of a rib sensor 102 with and without fin connectors 120a and 120b driven in in-phase (IP) modes and out-of-phase (OOP) modes. Fin sensors 102a and 102b are embodiments of fin sensor 102 with and without rib connectors 120a and 120b, respectively. Comparison 1000 has a first row 1042, a second row 1044, a first picture 1052, a second picture 1054, a third picture 1056, and a fourth picture 1058.

The first row 1042 is a row of pictures representing the rib sensor 102a without the rib connectors 120a and 120b, the first row 1042 has the first picture 1052 and the second picture 1054. in in-phase mode. The second image 1054 shows an embodiment of the edge sensor 102a driven in the out-of-phase mode. It can be seen that, at point 1055, the edges of the out-of-phase mode show a slight swirl, effectively remaining flat. It can be understood that there is little frequency separation between the in-phase mode and the out-of-phase modes, since both are driven with the same force, with their response frequencies approaching almost the same values. This lack of separation between vibrational modes can result in the coupling of the drive mode and eigenmode and contaminate the intended drive shape, so that calibration and measurement error can result.

The second row 1044 is a row of pictures representing a fin sensor 102b with rib connectors 120a and 120b, the second row 1044 has a third picture 1056 and a fourth picture 1058. in-phase mode. The second image 1054 shows an embodiment of an edge sensor 102b having edge connectors 120a and 120b driven in an out-of-phase mode. It can be seen that, at point 1059, the out-of-phase mode exhibits significant swirl, producing greater amplitude, frequency, and phase resolution. This creates a significant frequency separation between the in-phase mode and the out-of-phase mode, since both are driven with the same force, with the edge sensor 102b in the out-of-phase mode generating a frequency that, in this embodiment, is 20% higher than the frequency generated by in-phase mode. This frequency separation between the in-phase and out-of-phase modes can at least limit the connection between the in-phase mode and out-of-phase mode, potentially allowing for better measurement and calibration. The increased swirl may allow the finned sensor 102b to better attach the fins to the flowing medium and induce Coriolis reactions, possibly similar to typical Coriolis mass flowmeters.

Fig. 11 shows a comparison of 1100 embodiments of a fin sensor 102 with and without a balancing rib 118 in the undeformed and deformed positions. Edge sensors 102c and 102d are embodiments of edge sensor 102 with and without balancing rib 118, respectively. Comparison 1100 has a first row 1142, a second row 1144, a first picture 1152, a second picture 1154, a third picture 1156, and a fourth picture 1158.

The first row 1142 is a series of images representing the rib sensor 102c without the balancing rib 118, the first row 1142 has the first image 1152 and the second image 1154. The first image 1152 shows an embodiment of the rib sensor 102c without the balancing rib 118, the rib sensor 102c is in an undeformed position. The second image 1154 shows an embodiment of the fin sensor 102c without the balancing rib 118 in the deformed position. It can be seen that, at points 1155a and 1155b, the axes of rotation of the ribs 108a and 108b are at the edges of the base 106. It can be appreciated that the resulting movement of the sensor assembly will generate an actual movement in the direction of the vertical axis 151, through the sensor assembly, causing imbalance and moving the sensor assembly relative to the support structure to which the fin sensor 102c is attached.

The second row 1144 is a series of images representing the rib sensor 102d with the balancing rib 118, the second row 1144 has the third image 1156 and the fourth image 1158. The third image 1156 shows an embodiment of the rib sensor 102d with the balancing rib 118, the rib sensor 102d is in an undeformed position. The fourth image 1154 shows an embodiment of the rib sensor 102d having a balancing rib 118, the rib sensor 102d is in a deformed position. It can be seen that, at points 1159a and 1159b, that the axes of rotation of the ribs 108a and 108b are at the attachments of the ribs 108a and 108b to the base 106. It may be appreciated that the resulting movement of the ribs 108a and 108b will not generate an actual movement along the vertical axis 151 , through the middle of the sensor assembly, providing balance and not moving the sensor assembly relative to the support structure to which the rib sensor 102d is attached. In an embodiment, this may not provide actual movement of the ribs (or teeth) in the vertical direction. It may be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the ribs 108a and 108b of the rib sensor 102d may rotate around the respective center points of the ribs 108a and 108b (at 1159a and 1159b, respectively).

Fig. 12 shows a comparison of 1200 embodiments of edge sensor 102 with and without edge connectors 120a and 120b on the outside 344 of base 106 driven in in-phase (IP) modes and out-of-phase (OOP) modes. Fin sensors 102e and 102f are embodiments of rib sensor 102 with and without fin connectors 120a and 120b, respectively. Comparison 1200 has a first row 1242, a second row 1244, a first picture 1252, a second picture 1254, a third picture 1256, and a fourth picture 1258.

The first row 1242 is a row of pictures representing the rib sensors 102e without the rib connectors 120a and 120b, the first row 1242 has the first picture 1252 and the second picture 1254. in in-phase mode. The second image 1254 shows an embodiment of the edge sensor 102a driven in the out-of-phase mode. It can be seen that, at point 1255, the edges of the out-of-phase mode show a slight swirl, effectively remaining flat. It can be understood that there is little frequency separation between the in-phase mode and the out-of-phase modes, since both are driven with the same force, with their response frequencies approaching almost the same values. This lack of separation between vibrational modes can result in the coupling of the drive mode and eigenmode and contaminate the intended drive shape, so that calibration and measurement error can result.

The second row 1244 is a row of pictures representing fin sensors 102b with rib connectors 120a and 120b, the second row 1244 has a third picture 1256 and a fourth picture 1258. in-phase mode. The second image 1254 shows an embodiment of an edge sensor 102b having edge connectors 120a and 120b driven in an out-of-phase mode. This creates a significant frequency separation between the in-phase mode and the out-of-phase mode, since both are driven with the same force, with the edge sensor 102b in the out-of-phase mode generating a frequency that, in this embodiment, is 20% higher than the frequency generated by in-phase mode. This frequency separation between the in-phase and out-of-phase modes can at least limit the connection between the in-phase mode and out-of-phase mode, potentially allowing for better measurement and calibration. The increased swirl may allow the finned sensor 102b to better attach the fins to the flowing medium and induce Coriolis reactions, possibly similar to typical Coriolis mass flowmeters.

The detailed descriptions of the above embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive descriptions of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors as being within the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain elements of the above described embodiments may be combined or omitted in various ways to create additional embodiments, and such additional embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above described embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the present disclosure. When the wording "and/or" is used, it is to be understood that embodiments in which one or more of "and" and "or" are used are fully contemplated and disclosed for the purposes of this specification.

Thus, while specific embodiments are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the present description, as those skilled in the related art will appreciate. The teachings provided herein may be applied to other methods and apparatus for determining the vibrational response parameter of a vibratory element, and not only to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the scope of the embodiments described above should be determined from the following claims.

Claims (130)

1. A ribbed sensor (102) of a Coriolis mass flow meter with a base (106), wherein the base is connected to the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b), the finned sensor (102) additionally has at least two measuring transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), the first rib (108a) is connected to the second rib (108b) by at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b). 2. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is a rod-like fin connector (220a). 3. Coriolis mass flowmeter sensor (102) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is a spacer bar (220c). 4. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 1, wherein at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is a strip fin connector (220b). 5. Coriolis mass flowmeter sensor (102) according to claim 4, wherein the rib strip connector (220b) has at least one tapered end. 6. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 4 and 5, wherein the rib strip connector (220b) tapers such that one or more of the upstream (143) end and the downstream (145) end of the rib strip connector (220b) have a smaller cross-sectional area in the plane defined by vertical axis (151) and transverse axis (131), compared to the cross-sectional area in the plane defined by the vertical axis (151) and transverse axis (131) for a more central position along the axis (141) of the flow for the strip connector (220b) of the ribs . 7. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cross section in the plane defined by the vertical and flow axes of the strip connector (220b) of the ribs is narrower along the vertical axis (151) at one or more of the upper flow (143) end and downstream (145) end of the cross section compared to at least one central fragment along the axis (141) of the flow between the upstream (143) end and downstream (145) end of the cross section . 8. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-7, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) connects the ribs (108a and 108b) at locations that are substantially the same on the respective surfaces of the ribs (108a and 108b). 9. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-8, wherein the ribs are configured to have the same placement such that at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is parallel to the transverse axis (131) when the ribs (108a and 108b) are placed in the same and the same or substantially the same position in the plane defined by the flow axis (141) and the vertical axis (151). 10. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-6, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is attached at various locations on each of the ribs (108a and 108b). 11. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-10, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b) represented by the lowest (155) and the most upstream (143) quadrant fragment of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b). 12. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-10, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) represented by the bottommost (155) and downstream (145) quadrant fragment of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b). 13. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-10, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b) represented by the lowest (155) and the most upstream (143) corner of at least one of the fins (108a and/or 108b). 14. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-10, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) in the area or projected surface area of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) represented by the lowest (155) and downstream (145) corner of at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b). 15. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-14, wherein the ribs (108a and 108b) have rib protrusions (114a and 114b) that protrude through holes in the base (106), transducers (104a and 104b) are attached to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the protrusions (114a and 114b) ribs. 16. Sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 15, wherein the base (106) has a submerged side (342) and an outer side (344), the protrusions (114a and 114b) of the ribs protrude through the base (106) to the outer side ( 344). 17. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 16, wherein the fin protrusions (114a and 114b) have respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131). 18. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 16, with transducers (104a and 104b) each connected to two respective segments. 19. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-18, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside of the base (106). 20. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 15-18, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to at least one rib protrusion (114a or 114b) of the rib protrusions (114a or 114b). 21. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 17 and 18, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to a segment of at least one rib protrusion (114a or 114b). 22. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-21, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) at a downward position (155) from the connection between the ribs (108a and 108b) and at least two converters (104a and 104b). 23. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-22, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside (344) of the base (106) at a position closer to the base (106) compared to the location on the fins (108a and/or 108b) where the transducers (104a-c) are attached. 24. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-22, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the outside (344) of the base (106) at a position closer to the location on the ribs (108a and/ or 108b) in which the transducers (104a-c) are attached as compared to the base (106). 25. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-24, wherein the rib protrusions (114a and 114b) have respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131). 26. Coriolis mass flowmeter sensor (102) according to claim 25, with transducers (104a and 104b) each connected to two respective segments. 27. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-26, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) includes a first rib connector (120a) and a second rib connector (120b), the first rib connector (120a) is attached to the ribs (108a and 108b) at a location upstream of the location where the second rib connector (120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b). 28. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-27, with the sensing element transducer (104a) attached to the fins (108a and 108b) upstream from where the driving transducer (104b) is attached to the fins (108a and 108b). 29. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-28, wherein the base (106) is a non-uniform base (306) that has a non-uniform hardness. 30. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 29, in which the heterogeneous base (306) has a softer fragment in the middle of the heterogeneous base (306) and harder fragments at the edges of the heterogeneous base (306), the middle and edges are the middle and the edges of the non-uniform base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 31. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 29 and 30 in which the non-uniform base (306) is thinner in the middle compared to the edges. 32. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 31, wherein the non-uniform base (306) has a non-uniform composition of materials along the transverse axis (131). 33. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 29-32, in which the non-uniform base (306) has a softer material in the middle of the non-uniform base (306) and a harder material at the edges of the non-uniform base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 34. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-33, further comprising a balancing rib (118) that is attached to one or more of the base (106) and the base connector (116), the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially restrict the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle piece of the base (106), the middle piece of the base (106) is the piece defined by the middle of the transverse axis (131). 35. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-34 further comprising meter electronics (112), one of at least two transducers (104a and 104b) is a drive converter (104b), meter electronics (112) is configured to transmit data representing commands to the drive converter (104b) to drive edges (108a and 108b) in one or more of an in-phase (IP) mode and an out-of-phase (OOP) mode. 36. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 35, in which the other of at least two transducers (104a and 104b) is a meter (104a) with a sensing element, the meter electronics (112) receives signal data from the meter (104a) with a sensing element to support the drive modes with a controlled feedback loop. 37. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-36, wherein one or more of at least one of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) and at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) has a connecting element, the connecting element is configured to attach at least one of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) via the connecting element. 38. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-36, wherein the first rib connector (120a) has a connector and the first rib (108a) has another connector (120b), wherein the connector is complementary to the other connector such that the connector is configured to connect to the other connecting element. 39. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 37 and 38, the connecting element being a recess in the first rib (108a). 40. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 1-39, wherein the at least one fin connector (120a and/or 120b) is not an element of either the base (106) or any of the at least two transducers (104a-c). 41. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 1-40, wherein the at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to neither the base (106) nor any of the at least two transducers (104a-c). 42. The fin sensor (102) of a Coriolis mass flow meter with a base (106) and a balancing fin (118), in which the base (106) attached to the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b), the rib sensor (102) additionally has , at least two transducers (104a and 104b) attached to the ribs (108a and 108b), the balancing rib (118) is connected to one or more of the base (106) and the connector (116) of the base. 43. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 42, in which the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially limit the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle fragment of the base (106), the middle fragment of the base (106) is the fragment defined by the middle of the transverse axis (131). 44. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 43, in which the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) in the middle fragment of the base (106). 45. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 43 and 44, wherein the balancing rib (118) is attached to the middle portion of the connector (116) of the base. 46. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 43-45, wherein the balancing rib (118) is configured to at least partially prevent the ribs (108a and 108b) from actually moving along the vertical axis (151). 47. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 42-46, wherein the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) between the first rib (108a) and the second rib (108b). 48. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 42-47, wherein the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) at a position between a position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached and another position on the base (106) at which the second the rib (108b) is attached, or should be attached, on the transverse axis (131). 49. Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) according to claim 48, wherein the balancing rib (118) is connected equidistant from a position and another position on the transverse axis (131). 50. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 42-49, wherein the balance rib (118) is attached to the base (106) so that the center line (198) of the balance rib (118) is parallel to the flow axis (141). 51. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 42-49, wherein the balancing rib (118) is symmetrical in at least one axis with respect to the center line (198). 52. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 42-51, wherein the balance rib (118) has a thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balance rib (118), which is less than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118). 53. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 42-51, wherein the balance rib (118) has a thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the balance rib (118) at one or more of the downstream (145) end of the balance rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balance rib (118), which is greater than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118). 54. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 42-53 further comprising at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b). 55. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 42-54, wherein the base (106) is a non-uniform base (306) which has a non-uniform hardness. 56. Sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flowmeter according to claim 55, wherein the heterogeneous base (306) has a softer fragment in the middle of the heterogeneous base (306) and harder fragments at the edges of the heterogeneous base (306), the middle and edges are the middle and edges heterogeneous base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 57. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 55 and 56, wherein the non-uniform base (306) is thinner in the middle of the non-uniform base (306) compared to the edges of the non-uniform base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 58. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 55-57, wherein the non-uniform base (306) has a non-uniform composition of materials along the transverse axis (131). 59. The Coriolis mass flow sensor (102) of claim 58, wherein the non-uniform base (306) has a softer material in the middle and a harder material at the edges along the transverse axis (131). 60. The sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter according to paragraphs. 55-59, wherein the fragment of the irregular base (306) between the ribs (108a and 108b) along the transverse axis (131) is softer compared to the fragments of the irregular base (306) between each of the ribs (108a and 108b) and the edges of the irregular base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 61. Sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis according to paragraphs. 55-60, wherein the softer fragment (314) and the harder fragments (310 and 312) can be formed by attaching at least one of the ribs (108a and 108b) closer along the transverse axis (131) to the edge of the variable base (106) compared to the balancing rib (118). 62. A method of manufacturing a connector node of the fins of the sensor (102) of the Coriolis mass flow meter, comprising steps, which are: form at least one first rib (108a); forming at least a second rib (108b); at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed and at least the first one rib (108a) is connected via at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to at least , one second edge (108b). 63. The method according to p. 62, wherein the connecting node is formed by molding, so that at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) of the ribs is formed already attached to at least one rib (120a and/or 120b ). 64. The method according to paragraphs. 62 and 63, wherein forming the rib connector assembly comprises forming the rib connector (120a), wherein the rib connector (120a) is different from the base (106) and the transducer (104a-c). 65. The method according to paragraphs. 62-64, wherein forming the rib connector assembly further comprises the steps of: forming a rib (108a) from at least one rib (108a and/or 108b); And attaching a rib connector (120a) of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to the rib (108a). 66. The method of claim 65, wherein attaching the rib connector (120a) to the rib (108a) comprises the step of attaching the rib connector (120a) to the rib (108a) at a position closer to the free edge (199) of the rib (108a) compared to the position of the rib (108a) that is or is to be attached to the base (106). 67. The method of claim 62, the method comprises the steps of: attaching a first rib connector (120a) of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to both ribs (108a and 108b); And attaching a second rib connector (120b) from at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) to both ribs (108a and 108b), wherein the first rib connector (120a) is connected at least at one position that is or will be at another point along the flow axis (141) for at least one position at which the second rib connector (120b) is connected . 68. The method of claim 62, wherein forming the rib connector assembly comprises: one or more of at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) and at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) are formed with a connecting element configured to allow connection between at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) and at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b). 69. The method according to paragraphs. 62-68, wherein at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) on a fragment of at least one connector (120a and/ or 120b) ribs that is or will be on the submersible side (342) of the base (106). 70. The method according to paragraphs. 62-68, wherein at least one rib (108a and/or 108b) is connected to at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) on a fragment of at least one connector (120a and/ or 120b) ribs that are or will be on the outside (344) of the base (106). 71. The method according to paragraphs. 62-70, further comprising forming a balancing rib (118) and connecting the balancing rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116). 72. The method according to paragraphs. 62-71, wherein the base (106) is formed as a non-uniform base (306) with a non-uniform hardness. 73. The method according to paragraphs. 62-72, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a rod-like rib connector (220a). 74. The method according to paragraphs. 62-72, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a spacer bar (220c). 75. The method according to paragraphs. 62-72, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is formed as a strip rib connector (220b). 76. The method according to paragraphs. 62 and 63, further comprising forming the base (106) and attaching the base (106) to the ribs (108a and 108b). 77. The method of claim 76, wherein the ribs (108a and 108b) are formed having rib protrusions (114a and 114b) that protrude through holes in the base (106), at least one transducer (104a and/or 104b) attaches to the ribs (108a and 108b) on the ledges (114a and 114b) of the ribs. 78. The method of claim 77, wherein the projections (114a and 114b) of the ribs are formed with respective segments, wherein the respective segments are segments that are at least partially aligned with the transverse axis (131), at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) ribs are attached to ribs (108a and 108b) in respective segments. 79. The method according to paragraphs. 76-78, wherein the base (106) is formed as a non-uniform base (306) with a non-uniform hardness. 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the heterogeneous base (306) is formed as softer in the middle fragment of the heterogeneous base (306) compared to the edges of the heterogeneous base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 81. The method of claim 80, further comprising attaching the balancing rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116). 82. The method of claim 81, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the ribs (108a and 108b) at at least one location in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118) and at least one location in the second direction (135) of the balancing rib (118). 83. The method according to paragraphs. 62-82, further comprising the steps of: the meter electronics (112) are formed and the meter electronics (112) are communicatively connected to the meters (104a and/or 104b and/or 104c), the meter electronics (112) has a processor and a memory, the memory is configured to store instructions and data for the processor to execute operations; And configuring the meter electronics (112) for in-phase and out-of-phase excitation. 84. A method of manufacturing a node balanced base rib sensor (102) mass flowmeter Coriolis, containing steps, which are: form the base (106); while the base (106) is formed as a non-uniform base (306); forming a balancing rib (118); and attaching the balancing rib (118) to one or more of the base (106) and base connector (116). 85. The method of claim 84, wherein the heterogeneous base (306) is formed by changing the thickness of the heterogeneous base (306) during molding or by cutting off a fragment of the heterogeneous base (306). 86. The method according to paragraphs. 84 and 85, with the thickness changing so that the middle of the irregular base (306) is thinner compared to the edges of the irregular base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 87. The method according to paragraphs. 84-86, wherein the heterogeneous base (306) is formed by changing the material of which the heterogeneous base (306) is composed, at least along the transverse axis (131). 88. The method according to claim 87, wherein changing the material comprises the step of composing at least part of the heterogeneous base (306) from the material in the middle of the heterogeneous base (306), which is softer compared to the material at the edges of the heterogeneous base (306) along the transverse axis (131). 89. The method according to paragraphs. 84-88, wherein the formation of the balancing rib (118) comprises the step of forming the balancing rib (118) as an elongated element. 90. The method according to paragraphs. 84-89, wherein attaching the balance bar (118) to the base (106) comprises attaching the balance bar (118) to the base (106) at a position in the middle of the base (106) on the transverse axis (131). 91. The method according to paragraphs. 84-90, wherein the attachment of the balance rib (118) to the base (106) comprises the step of attaching the balance rib (118) to the base (106) at a position between the position on the base (106) in which the first rib (108a) is attached or to be attached, and another position on the base (106) at which the second rib (108b) is attached or to be attached, the position and the other position are on the transverse axis (131). 92. The method of claim 91, wherein the balancing rib (118) is attached to the base (106) at a position between the position on the base (106) at which the first rib (108a) is or is to be attached and another position on the base (106) ) in which the second rib (108b) is attached or is to be attached on the transverse axis (131) comprises the step of attaching the balancing rib (118) equidistant from the position and the other position on the transverse axis (131). 93. The method according to paragraphs. 84-92, wherein the attachment of the balancing rib (118) to the base (106) comprises the step of attaching the balancing rib (118) to the base (106) with the center line (198) of the balancing rib (118) parallel to the axis (141) flow. 94. The method of claim 93, wherein forming the balancing rib (118) comprises forming the balancing rib (118) such that the balancing rib (118) is symmetrical in at least one axis with respect to the center line ( 198). 95. The method according to claim 94, wherein the formation of the balancing rib (118) further comprises the step of forming the balancing rib (118) so that the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the balancing rib (118) on one or more of the lower along the flow (145) of the end of the balancing rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balancing rib (118) is less than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118) along the axis (141) of the flow. 96. The method according to claim 94, wherein the formation of the balancing rib (118) further comprises the step of forming the balancing rib (118) so that the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the balancing rib (118) on one or more of the lower along flow (145) of the end of the balancing rib (118) and the upstream (143) end of the balancing rib (118) is greater than the thickness along the transverse axis (131) of the middle fragment of the balancing rib (118) along the axis (141) of the flow. 97. The method according to paragraphs. 84-96 further comprising forming the ribs (108a and 108b) and attaching the ribs (108a and 108b) to the base (106). 98. The method of claim 97, the method further comprising the steps of: form at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) ribs; And attach at least one connector (120a and/or 120b of the ribs) to the ribs (108a and 108b). 99. The method of claim 98, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the first of the ribs (120a) in a first direction (133) away from the balance rib (118) and at least , one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is connected to the second of the ribs (120b) in the second direction (135) from the balancing rib (118). 100. The method according to paragraphs. 97-98, wherein at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) is attached to the base (106) at a position that is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), and the position is closer to edge of the base (106), which is in the first direction (133) from the balance rib (118), compared with the balance rib (118), along the transverse axis (131). 101. The method according to paragraphs. 97-98, wherein at least one of the ribs (108a and/or 108b) is attached to the base (106) at a position that is in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), and the position is further from the edge of the base (106), which is located in the first direction (133) from the balancing rib (118), compared with the balancing rib (118), along the transverse axis (131). 102. The method according to paragraphs. 97-101, further comprising the steps of: the meter electronics (112) are formed and the meter electronics (112) are communicatively connected to the meters (104a and/or 104b and/or 104c), the meter electronics (112) has a processor and a memory, the memory is configured to store instructions and data for the processor to execute operations; And meter electronics (112) are configured to drive fins (108a and 108b) in in-phase and out-of-phase modes. 103. A method of using a finned sensor (102) of a Coriolis mass flowmeter with an excitation transducer (104b), characterized in that vibrations are excited in the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b), wherein the first and second fins (108a and 108b) are connected to base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, comprising the step of at least partially limiting, by means of at least one connector (120a and/or 120b) of the ribs, the movement of the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b). 104. The method of claim 103, wherein at least partially restricting, by means of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), the movement of the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b) includes a step in which at least partially limit the movement of the free edge (199) of the first rib (108a) relative to the free edge (199) of the second rib (108b). 105. The method according to paragraphs. 103 and 104, in which the vibrations are driven by the drive transducer (104b) to drive the ribs (108a and 108b) in an out of phase (OOP) mode. 106. The method of claim 105, wherein the out-of-phase (OOP) mode represents a phase separation between the motion of the first edge (108a) and the second edge (108b) of about 180°. 107. The method according to paragraphs. 103-106, wherein at least partially limiting, by means of at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b), the movement of the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b) comprises, at least partially limit the movement of the first rib (108a) at any location where at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is attached to the first rib (108a) relative to the movement of the second rib (108b). 108. The method according to paragraphs. 103-107, wherein at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) does not directly restrict the movement of any base element (106), at least one rib connector (120a and/or 120b) is not attached to or is not an element of the base (106). 109. The method according to paragraphs. 103-108, in which the method further comprises the step of at least partially limiting the movement of the base (106) using a balancing rib (118). 110. A method of using a finned sensor (102) of a Coriolis mass flowmeter with an excitation transducer (104b), characterized in that vibrations are excited in the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b), wherein the first fin (108a) and the second fin (108b) attached to the base (106), the edge sensor (102) has at least one transducer (104a) with a sensing element to receive response data, the edge sensor (102) has a balancing edge (118) comprising the step of, at least partially limit, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106). 111. The method according to p. 110, in which, at least partially limiting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106) comprises the step of at least partially limiting the movement of the base (106) along the vertical axis (151) along the middle fragment of the base (106), the middle fragment is the fragment defined by the middle of the transverse axis (131). 112. The method according to paragraphs. 110 and 111, in which at least partially restricting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106) comprises the step of at least partially preventing the ribs (108a and 108b) from actually moving along the vertical axis ( 151). 113. The method according to p. 112, in which, at least partially limiting, by means of a balancing rib (118), the movement of the base (106) comprises the step of at least partially preventing the actual movement of the rib sensor (102) along vertical axis (151). 114. The method according to paragraphs. 110-113, in which at least partially limiting the movement of the base (106) comprises at least partially limiting the base (106) in a position between the position on the base (106) in which the first rib (108a ) is attached or should be attached, and another position on the base (106) at which the second rib (108b) is attached or should be attached, on the transverse axis (131). 115. The method according to paragraphs. 110-114, in which at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) comprises the step of at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) to a position equidistant from the position and the other position on the transverse axis (131) . 116. The method according to paragraphs. 110-115, in which at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) comprises the step of at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106) at least along a linear fragment of the base (106), which is parallel to the flow axis (141). 117. The method according to p. 116, in which at least partial restriction of the movement of the base (106) includes the step of at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106), so that the movement of one or more of the downstream (145) of the end of the base (106) and the upstream (143) end of the base (106) is less limited compared to the middle of the base (106), the middle of the base (106) is the middle of the base (106) along the axis (141) of the flow. 118. The method according to p. 116, in which at least partial restriction of the movement of the base (106) includes the step of at least partially restricting the movement of the base (106), so that the movement of one or more of the downstream (145) of the end of the base (106) and the upstream (143) end of the base (106) is limited more compared to the middle of the base (106), the middle of the base (106) is the middle of the base (106) along the axis (141) of the flow.

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