The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2000
William James A. Storer, Loveland, CO (US);
Sheldon Tuck, Erie, CO (US);
VorTek Instruments LLC, Longmont, CO (US);
Abstract
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.