Vortek Instruments LLC

Sheldon Tuck

William James A Storer

A vortex shedding flowmeter includes a sensor assembly received within a sleeve assembly that has a sensor tab extending into the fluid stream. The sleeve assembly includes a flexible sleeve portion that can flex slightly in the presence of vortices. The flexible sleeve exerts a force on a rocker arm of the sensor assembly which causes the sensor assembly to pivot about a pair of piezoelectric crystals mounted therein. A unique electrode pad and split electrode arrangement relative to the piezoelectric crystals is employed to provide the voltage signals from the piezoelectric crystals to a sensing circuit. The flowmeter can be used in either in-line or insertion applications. Alternatively, the sensor assembly can be provided with a sensor tab on an end thereof and the sleeve assembly replaced with a bellows housing that retains the sensor assembly and allows the rocker arm to deflect slightly in the presence of vortices while the bellows associated with the bellows housing prevents fluid from entering the electronics portion of the flowmeter.

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Erie, CO, United States of America

Sheldon Tuck