Measuring transducer of vibration-type

Abstract

The measuring transducer comprises: a transducer housing, of which an inlet-side, housing end is formed by means of a flow divider including four flow openings spaced, and an outlet-side, formed by means of a flow divider including four flow openings spaced, from one another. A tube arrangement including four curved measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers for guiding flowing medium along flow paths connected in parallel. Each measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the flow divider and with an outlet-side, measuring tube end into one the flow openings of the flow divider. The two flow dividers are embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, so that the tube arrangement extends both between a first and a second of the measuring tubes and between a third and a fourth of the measuring tubes. An imaginary longitudinal-section plane, with respect to which the tube arrangement is mirror symmetric and perpendicular to the imaginary longitudinal-section plane, an imaginary longitudinal-section plane, with respect to which the tube arrangement likewise is mirror symmetric. An electromechanical exciter mechanism of the measuring transducer serves for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the four measuring tubes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a measuring transducer of vibration-type for measuring a medium flowably guided in a pipeline, especially a gas, liquid, powder or other flowable material, especially for measuring a density and/or a mass flow rate, especially also a mass flow integrated over a time interval, of a medium flowing in a pipeline, at least at times, with a mass flow rate of more than 1000 t/h, especially more than 1500 t/h. Additionally, the invention relates to an in-line measuring device including such a measuring transducer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Often used in process measurements, and automation, technology for measuring physical parameters, such as e.g. the mass flow, the density and/or the viscosity, of media, for instance, an aqueous liquid, a gas, a liquid-gas-mixture, a vapor, an oil, a paste, a slurry or another flowable material, flowing in pipelines are in-line measuring devices, which, by means of a measuring transducer of vibration-type, through which medium flows, and a measuring, and operating, circuit connected thereto, effect, in the medium, reaction forces, such as e.g. Coriolis forces corresponding with mass flow, inertial forces corresponding with density of the medium and/or frictional forces corresponding with viscosity of the medium, etc., and produce derived from these a measurement signal representing the particular mass flow, viscosity and/or density of the medium. Such measuring transducers, especially measuring transducers embodied as Coriolis, mass flow meters or Coriolis, mass flow/densimeters, are described at length and in detail e.g. in EP-A 1 001 254, EP-A 553 939, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,191, US-A 2002/0157479, US-A 2006/0150750, US-A 2007/0151368, U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,002, U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,011, U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,580, U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,668, U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,958, U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,798, U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,347, U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,709, or WO-A 03/027616.

Each of the measuring transducers includes a transducer housing, of which an inlet-side, first housing end is formed at least partially by means of a first flow divider having exactly two, mutually spaced, circularly cylindrical, or tapered or conical, flow openings and an outlet-side, second housing end is formed at least partially by means of a second flow divider having exactly two, mutually spaced, flow openings. In the case of some of the measuring transducers illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,011, U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421, or US-A 2007/0151368, the transducer housing comprises a rather thick walled, circularly cylindrical, tubular segment, which forms at least a middle segment of the transducer housing.

For guiding the medium, in given cases, also an extremely hot, medium, which flows, at least at times, the measuring transducers include, furthermore, in each case, exactly two measuring tubes of metal, especially steel or titanium, which are connected such that the medium can flow in parallel and which are positioned within the transducer housing and held oscillatably therein by means of the aforementioned flow dividers. A first of the, most often, equally constructed and, relative to one another, parallel extending, measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, first, measuring tube end into a first flow opening of the inlet-side, first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a first flow opening of the outlet-side, second flow divider and a second of the measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a second flow opening of the first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a second flow opening of the second flow divider. Each of the flow dividers includes additionally, in each case, a flange with a sealing surface for fluid tight connecting of the measuring transducer to tubular segments of the pipeline serving, respectively, for supplying and removing medium to and from the measuring transducer.

For producing the above discussed reaction forces, the measuring tubes are caused to vibrate during operation, driven by an exciter mechanism serving for producing, or maintaining, as the case may be, mechanical oscillations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes in the so-called wanted mode. The oscillations in the wanted mode are, most often, especially in the case of application of the measuring transducer as a Coriolis, mass flow meter and/or densimeter, developed, at least partially, as lateral bending oscillations and, in the case of medium flowing through the measuring tubes, as a result of therein induced Coriolis forces, as additional, equal frequency oscillations superimposed in the so-called Coriolis mode. Accordingly, the—here most often electrodynamic—exciter mechanism is embodied in such a manner, that, therewith, the two measuring tubes are excitable in the wanted mode, at least partially, especially also predominantly, to opposite phase bending oscillations differentially—thus through introduction of exciter forces acting simultaneously along a shared line of action, however, in opposed direction.

For registering vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes excited by means of the exciter mechanism and for producing oscillation measurement signals representing vibrations, the measuring transducers have, additionally, in each case, a, most often, likewise electrodynamic, sensor arrangement reacting to relative movements of the measuring tubes. Typically, the sensor arrangement is formed by means of an inlet-side, oscillation sensor registering oscillations of the measuring tubes differentially—thus only relative movements of the measuring tubes—as well as by means of an outlet-side, oscillation sensor registering oscillations of the measuring tubes differentially. Each of the oscillation sensors, which are usually constructed equally with one another, is formed by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil held on the second measuring tube and permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet.

In operation, the above described tube arrangement formed by means of the two measuring tubes is excited by means of the electromechanical exciter mechanism, at least at times, to execute mechanical oscillations in the wanted mode at least one dominating, wanted, oscillation frequency. Selected as oscillation frequency for the oscillations in the wanted mode is, in such case, usually a natural, instantaneous, resonance frequency of the tube arrangement, which, in turn, depends essentially both on size, shape and material of the measuring tubes as well as also on an instantaneous density of the medium; in given cases, this wanted oscillation frequency can also be influenced significantly by an instantaneous viscosity of the medium. As a result of fluctuating density of the medium being measured and/or as a result of media change occurring during operation, the wanted oscillation frequency during operation of the measuring transducer varies naturally, at least within a calibrated and, thus, predetermined, wanted frequency band, which correspondingly has a predetermined lower, and a predetermined upper, limit frequency.

For defining a free, oscillatory length of the measuring tubes and, associated therewith, for adjusting the band of the wanted frequency, measuring transducers of the above described type include, additionally, most often, at least one inlet-side, coupling element, which is affixed to both measuring tubes and spaced from the two flow dividers, for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes for opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of both measuring tubes, as well as at least one outlet-side, coupling element, which is affixed to both measuring tubes and spaced both from the two flow dividers, as well as also from the inlet-side, coupling element, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes for opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes. In the case of curved measuring tubes, in such case, the length of a section of a deflection curve of any of the measuring tubes extending between the inlet side and the outlet-side coupling elements, consequently the length of an imaginary center line of the said measuring tube connecting the areal centers of gravity of all imaginary cross sectional areas of the respective measuring tube, corresponds to the free oscillatory length of the measuring tubes. By means of the coupling elements, which thus belong to the tube arrangement, additionally also an oscillation quality factor of the tube arrangement, as well as also the sensitivity of the measuring transducer, in total, can be influenced, in a manner such that, for a minimum required sensitivity of the measuring transducer, at least one minimum, free, oscillatory length is provided.

Development in the field of measuring transducers of vibration-type has, in the meantime, reached a level, wherein modern measuring transducers of the described type can, for a broad application spectrum of flow measurement technology, satisfy highest requirements as regards precision and reproducibility of the measurement results. Thus, such measuring transducers are, in practice, applied for mass flow rates from some few 1/h (gram per hour) up to some t/min (tons per minute), at pressures of up to 100 bar for liquids or even over 300 bar for gases. The accuracy of measurement achieved, in such case, lies usually at about 99.9% of the actual value, or above, or at a measuring error of about 0.1%, wherein a lower limit of the guaranteed measurement range can lie quite easily at about 1% of the measurement range end value. Due to the high bandwidth of their opportunities for use, industrial grade measuring transducers of vibration-type are available with nominal diameters (corresponding to the caliber of the pipeline to be connected to the measuring transducer, or to the caliber of the measuring transducer measured at the connecting flange), which lie in a nominal diameter range between 1 mm and 250 mm and at maximum nominal mass flow rate of 1000 t/h, in each case, for pressure losses of less than 3 bar. A caliber of the measuring tubes lies, in such case, for instance, in a range between 80 mm and 100 mm.

In spite of the fact that, in the meantime, measuring transducers for use in pipelines with very high mass flow rates and, associated therewith, very large calibers of far beyond 100 mm have become available, there is still considerable interest in obtaining measuring transducers of high precision and low pressure loss also for yet larger pipeline calibers, about 300 mm or more, or mass flow rates of 1500 t/h or more, for instance for applications in the petrochemical industry or in the field of transport and transfer of petroleum, natural gas, fuels, etc. This leads, in the case of correspondingly scaled enlarging of the already established measuring transducer designs known from the state of the art, especially from EP-A 1 001 254, EP-A 553 939, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,191, US-A 2002/0157479, US-A 2007/0151368, U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,002, U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,011, U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,580, U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,958, U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,347, U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421, or WO-A 03/027616, to the fact that the geometric dimensions would be exorbitantly large, especially the installed length corresponding to a distance between the sealing surfaces of both flanges and, in the case of curved measuring tubes, a maximum lateral extension of the measuring transducer, especially dimensions for the desired oscillation characteristics, the required load bearing ability, as well as the maximum allowed pressure loss. Along with that, also the empty mass of the measuring transducer increases unavoidably, with conventional measuring transducers of large nominal diameter already having an empty mass of about 400 kg. Investigations, which have been carried out for measuring transducers with two bent measuring tubes, constructed, for instance, according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,011, as regards their to-scale enlargement to still greater nominal diameters, have, for example, shown that, for nominal diameters of more than 300 mm, the empty mass of a to-scale enlarged, conventional measuring transducer would lie far above 500 kg, accompanied by an installed length of more than 3000 mm and a maximum lateral extension of more than 1000 mm. As a result, it can be said that industrial grade, mass producible, measuring transducers of conventional design and materials with nominal diameters far above 300 mm cannot be expected in the foreseeable future both for reasons of technical implementability, as well as also due to economic considerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the above recounted state of the art, it is consequently an object of the invention to provide a measuring transducer of high sensitivity and high oscillation quality factor, which also in the case of large mass flow rates of more than 1000 t/h, causes only a small pressure loss of, as much as possible, less than 3 bar and which also shows a construction, which is as compact as possible at large nominal diameters of over 100 mm and, not last, is also suitable for applications involving extremely hot, or extremely cold, media and/or significant fluctuating media temperatures.

For achieving the object, the invention resides in a measuring transducer of vibration-type for registering at least one physical, measured variable of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline, for example, a gas, a liquid, a powder or other flowable material, and/or for producing Coriolis forces serving for registering a mass flow rate of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline, especially a gas, a liquid, a powder or other flowable material. The measuring transducer comprises, according to the invention, a, for example, essentially tubular and/or externally circularly cylindrical, transducer housing, of which an inlet-side, first housing end is formed by means of an inlet-side, first flow divider including, especially exactly, four, for example, circularly cylindrical, tapered or conical, flow openings spaced, in each case, from one another, and an outlet-side, second housing end is formed by means of an outlet-side, second flow divider including, especially exactly, four, for example, circularly cylindrical, tapered or conical, flow openings spaced, in each case, from one another. Furthermore, the measuring transducer comprises a tube arrangement with exactly four, straight measuring tubes forming flow paths arranged for parallel flow and connected to the, for example, equally constructed, flow dividers for guiding flowing medium, especially measuring tubes held oscillatably in the transducer housing only by means of said flow dividers and/or equally constructed and/or pairwise parallel relative to one another, and bent, for example, at least sectionally V-shaped or at least sectionally circular arc shaped. Of the four measuring tubes, for example, measuring tubes constructed equally both as regards geometry as well as also as regards material, a first measuring tube, especially a circularly cylindrical, first measuring tube, opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a first flow opening of the first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a first flow opening of the second flow divider, a second measuring tube, which is at least sectionally parallel to the first measuring tube, opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a second flow opening of the first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a second flow opening of the second flow divider, a third measuring tube opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a third flow opening of the first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a third flow opening of the second flow divider, as well as a fourth measuring tube, which is at least sectionally parallel to the third measuring tube, opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening of the first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening of the second flow divider. Additionally, the measuring transducer comprises an electromechanical exciter mechanism, for example, one formed by means of an electrodynamic oscillation exciter, for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations, especially bending oscillations, of the four measuring tubes. In the case of the measuring transducer of the invention, the measuring tubes are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that the tube arrangement shows lying between the first imaginary longitudinal section plane and the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, and parallel to the first imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer and to the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, a first imaginary longitudinal section plane, with respect to which the tube arrangement is mirror symmetric, and the tube arrangement shows perpendicular to its imaginary first longitudinal section plane a second imaginary longitudinal section plane, with respect to which the tube arrangement is likewise mirror symmetric.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the two flow dividers are additionally so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that an imaginary first connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the first flow opening of the first flow divider with the first flow opening of the second flow divider extends parallel to an imaginary second connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the second flow opening of the first flow divider with the second flow opening of the second flow divider, that an imaginary third connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the third flow opening of the first flow divider with the third flow opening of the second flow divider extends parallel to an imaginary fourth connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the fourth flow opening of the first flow divider with the fourth flow opening of the second flow divider. Developing this embodiment of the invention further, it is additionally provided, that a first imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the first imaginary connecting axis and the second imaginary connecting axis extend, for example, parallel to a principal flow axis of the measuring transducer aligning with the pipeline is parallel to a second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary third connecting axis and the imaginary fourth connecting axis extend, for example, in such a manner, that the first imaginary longitudinal section plane of the tube arrangement lies between the first and second imaginary longitudinal section planes of the measuring transducer and/or is parallel to the first and second imaginary longitudinal section planes of the measuring transducer.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that a third imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary first connecting axis and the imaginary third connecting axis extend, is parallel to a fourth imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary second connecting axis and the imaginary fourth connecting axis extend. Developing this embodiment of the invention further, it is additionally provided, that the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the tube arrangement extends between the third imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer and the fourth imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, for example, in such a manner, that the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the tube arrangement is parallel to the third imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer and parallel to the fourth imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the four flow openings of the first flow divider are so arranged, that imaginary areal centers of gravity associated with cross sectional areas, especially circularly shaped, cross sectional areas, of the flow openings of the first flow divider form the vertices of an imaginary rectangle or of an imaginary square, wherein said cross sectional areas lie in a shared imaginary cross sectional cutting plane of the first flow divider, for example, perpendicular to the first imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, or to the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer.

According to a forth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the four flow openings of the second flow divider so are arranged, that imaginary areal centers of gravity associated with cross sectional areas of the flow openings of the second flow divider form the vertices of an imaginary rectangle or of an imaginary square, wherein said cross sectional areas lie in a shared imaginary cross sectional cutting plane of the second flow divider, for example, perpendicular to the first imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer, or to the second imaginary longitudinal section plane of the measuring transducer.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that each of the four measuring tubes, especially measuring tubes of equal caliber and/or equal length, shows a caliber, which amounts to more than 40 mm, especially more than 60 mm. Developing this embodiment of the invention further, it is additionally provided, that the measuring tubes are so bent and so arranged, that a caliber to height ratio of the tube arrangement, defined by a ratio of the caliber of the first measuring tube to a maximal lateral expanse of the tube arrangement, measured from a peak of the first measuring tube to a peak of the third measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.1, especially more than 0.2 and/or less than 0.35.

According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first flow divider includes a flange, especially a flange showing mass of more than 50 kg, for connecting the measuring transducer to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for supplying medium to the measuring transducer and the second flow divider includes a flange, especially a flange showing a mass of more than 50 kg, for connecting the measuring transducer to a segment of the pipeline serving for removing medium from the measuring transducer. Developing this embodiment of the invention further, each of the flanges includes a sealing surface for fluid tight connecting of the measuring transducer with the, in each case, corresponding tubular segment of the pipeline, wherein a distance between the sealing surfaces of both flanges defines an installed length of the measuring transducer, especially an installed length amounting to more than 1000 mm and/or less than 3000 mm. Especially, the measuring transducer is additionally so embodied, that, in such case, a measuring tube length of the first measuring tube corresponding to a length of a section of the deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first flow opening of the first flow divider and the first flow opening of the second flow divider is so selected, that a measuring tube length to installed length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the measuring tube length of the first measuring tube to the installed length of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.7, especially more than 0.8 and/or less than 0.95, and/or that a caliber to installed length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber of the first measuring tube to the installed length of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.02, especially more than 0.05 and/or less than 0.09. Alternatively thereto or in supplementation thereof, the measuring transducer is so embodied, that a nominal diameter to installed length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer to the installed length of the measuring transducer, is smaller than 0.3, especially smaller than 0.2 and/or greater than 0.1, wherein the nominal diameter corresponds to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer is to be used.

In a seventh embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a measuring tube length of the first measuring tube corresponding to a length of a section of the deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first flow opening of the first flow divider and the first flow opening of the second flow divider amounts to more than 1000 mm, especially more than 1200 mm and/or less than 2000 mm.

In an eighth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that each of the four measuring tubes, especially four measuring tubes of equal caliber, is so arranged, that a smallest lateral separation of each of the four measuring tubes, especially measuring tubes of equal length, from a housing side wall of the transducer housing is, in each case, greater than zero, especially greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a respective tube wall thickness; and/or that a smallest lateral separation between two neighboring measuring tubes amounts to, in each case, greater than 3 mm and/or greater than the sum of their respective tube wall thicknesses.

In a ninth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that each of the flow openings is so arranged, that a smallest lateral separation of each of the flow openings from a housing side wall of the transducer housing amounts, in each case, to greater than zero, especially greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a smallest tube wall thickness of the measuring tubes; and/or that a smallest lateral separation between the flow openings amounts to greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a smallest tube wall thickness of the measuring tubes.

According to a tenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the exciter mechanism is embodied in such a manner, that the first measuring tube and the second measuring tube are excitable during operation to opposite phase bending oscillations and the third measuring tube and the fourth measuring tube are excitable during operation to opposite phase bending oscillations.

In a eleventh embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a mass ratio of an empty mass of the total measuring transducer to an empty mass of the first measuring tube is greater than 10, especially greater than 15 and smaller than 25.

In a twelfth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that an empty mass, M₁₈, of the first measuring tube, especially each of the measuring tubes, is greater than 20 kg, especially greater than 30 kg and/or smaller than 50 kg.

According to an thirteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that an empty mass of the measuring transducer is greater than 200 kg, especially greater than 300 kg.

In a fourteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a nominal diameter of the measuring transducer, which corresponds to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer is to be used, amounts to more than 100 mm, especially greater than 300 mm. In advantageous manner, the measuring transducer is additionally so embodied, that a mass to nominal diameter ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the empty mass of the measuring transducer to the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer, is smaller than 2 kg/mm, especially smaller than 1 kg/mm and/or greater than 0.5 kg/mm.

In a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first and the second measuring tubes are of equal construction, at least as regards a material, of which their tube walls are, in each case, composed, and/or as regards their geometrical tube dimensions, especially a tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber.

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the third and fourth measuring tubes are of equal construction, at least as regards a material, of which their tube walls are, in each case, composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber.

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the four measuring tubes are of equal construction, as regards a material, of which their tube walls are composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber. It can, however, also be of advantage, when, alternatively thereto, both the third measuring tube as well as also the fourth measuring tube are different from the first measuring tube and from the second measuring tube as regards their respective geometric tube dimensions, especially a tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber.

In a eighteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a material, of which the tube walls of the four measuring tubes are at least partially composed, is titanium and/or zirconium and/or duplex steel and/or super duplex steel.

In a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the transducer housing, the flow dividers and tube walls of the measuring tubes are, in each case, composed of steel, for example, stainless steel.

In a twentieth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies at least of the first and second measuring tubes are essentially equal and the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies at least of the third and fourth measuring tubes are essentially equal. In such case, the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies of all four measuring tubes can be essentially equal or, however, also kept only pairwise equal.

According to a twenty-first embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the exciter mechanism is formed by means of a first oscillation exciter, especially an electrodynamic, first oscillation exciter and/or a first oscillation exciter differentially exciting oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube. Especially, the exciter mechanism is formed by means of a second oscillation exciter, for example, an electrodynamic second oscillation exciter and/or a second oscillation exciter differentially exciting oscillations of the third measuring tube relative to the fourth measuring tube. In such case, it is additionally provided, that the first and second oscillation exciters are interconnected electrically in series, in such a manner, that a combined driver signal excites combined oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes relative to the second and fourth measuring tube. The oscillation exciter of the exciter mechanism can be formed, for example, by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube, and wherein the second oscillation exciter is formed by means of a permanent magnet held on the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the fourth measuring tube.

In a twenty-second embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a middle segment of the transducer housing is formed by means of a straight tube, for example, a circularly cylindrical, straight tube.

In a twenty-third embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the transducer housing is essentially tubularly embodied, for example, circularly cylindrically embodied. In such case, it is additionally provided, that the transducer housing shows a largest housing inner diameter, which is greater than 150 mm, especially greater than 250 mm, especially in such a manner, that a housing to measuring tube inner diameter ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the largest housing inner diameter to a caliber of the first measuring tube is kept greater than 3, especially greater than 4 and/or smaller than 5, and/or that a housing inner diameter to nominal diameter ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the largest housing inner diameter to the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer is smaller than 1.5, especially smaller than 1.2 and/or greater than 0.9, wherein the nominal diameter corresponds to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer is to be used. The housing inner diameter to nominal diameter ratio of the measuring transducer can, in such case, in advantageous manner, be, for example, also equal to one.

In a first further development of the invention, the measuring transducer additionally comprises a first coupling element of first type, especially a plate-shaped first coupling element of first type, which is affixed at least to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced on the inlet side both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube, as well as a second coupling element of first type, especially a plate-shaped second coupling element of first type and/or a second coupling element constructed equally to the first coupling element and/or a second coupling element parallel to the first coupling element, which second coupling element of first type is affixed at least to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced on the outlet side both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider, as well as also from the first coupling element, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube.

In a first embodiment of the first further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that all four measuring tubes are connected with one another mechanically by means of the first coupling element of first type as well as by means of the second coupling element of first type.

In a second embodiment of the first further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first coupling element of first type is plate shaped, especially in such a manner, that it shows essentially a rectangular, square, round, cross shaped or H-shaped basic shape.

In a third embodiment of the first further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the second coupling element of first type, especially a coupling element of construction equal to that of the first coupling element of first type, is plate shaped, especially in such a manner, that it shows a rectangular, square, round, cross shaped or H-shaped basic shape.

In a fourth embodiment of the first further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first coupling element of first type is affixed also to the third measuring tube and to the fourth measuring tube, and that the second coupling element of first type is affixed to the third measuring tube and to the fourth measuring tube.

In a fifth embodiment of the first further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that a center of mass of the first coupling element of first type shows a distance to a center of mass of the measuring transducer, which is essentially equal to a distance of a center of mass of the second coupling element of first type to said center of mass of the measuring transducer.

In a sixth embodiment of the first further development of the invention, the measuring transducer is additionally so embodied, that a free, oscillatory length of the first measuring tube, especially of each of the measuring tubes, corresponding to a length of the section of the deflection curve extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type, amounts to less than 3000 mm, especially less than 2500 mm and/or more than 800 mm. Especially, the measuring transducer is, in such case, additionally so embodied, that each of the four measuring tubes, especially measuring tubes of equal caliber and/or equal length, shows a caliber, which amounts to more than 40 mm, especially more than 60 mm, especially in such a manner, that a caliber to oscillatory length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber of the first measuring tube to the free, oscillatory length of the first measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.03, especially more than 0.05 and/or less than 0.15. In supplementation to the sixth embodiment of the first further development of the invention further development of the invention additionally other, for example, plate-shaped, coupling elements of first type can be provided for forming inlet-side oscillation nodes for vibrations of the measuring tubes in the measuring transducer.

According to a seventh embodiment of the sixth embodiment of the first further development of the invention further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first measuring tube and the second measuring tube are parallel to one another at least over a region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type, and that the third measuring tube and the fourth measuring tube are parallel to one another at least over a region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type.

In a second further development of the invention, the measuring transducer additionally comprises a first coupling element of second type, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, first coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube and to the third measuring tube and spaced both from the first coupling element of first type as well as also from the second coupling element of first type for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube, as well as a second coupling element of second type, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, second coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube and to the fourth measuring tube and spaced both from the first coupling element of first type as well as also from the second coupling element of first type, as well as also from the first coupling element of second type, especially in such a manner, that the first and second coupling elements of second type are placed in the measuring transducer lying opposite one another, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube. In supplementation thereof, the measuring transducer can further comprise a third coupling element of second type, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, third coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube and to the third measuring tube and spaced from the first coupling element of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube, as well as a fourth coupling element of second type, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, fourth coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube and to the fourth measuring tube and spaced, in each case, from the second and third coupling elements of second type, especially in such a manner, that the third and fourth coupling elements of second type are placed lying opposite one another in the measuring transducer, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube.

Moreover, the measuring transducer can comprise, additionally, a fifth coupling element of second type, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, fifth coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube and to the third measuring tube and spaced from the first and third coupling elements of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube, as well as a, for example, a plate shaped or rod shaped, sixth coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube and to the fourth measuring tube and spaced, in each case, from the second, fourth and fifth coupling elements of second type, especially in such a manner that the fifth and sixth coupling elements of second type are placed in the measuring transducer lying opposite one another, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube.

In a third further development of the invention, the measuring transducer additionally comprises a sensor arrangement for producing oscillation measurement signals representing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes, by reacting to vibrations of the measuring tubes, especially bending oscillations excited by means of the exciter mechanism. The sensor arrangement is, for example, an electrodynamic sensor arrangement and/or is formed by means of oscillation sensors constructed equally to one another.

In a first embodiment of the third further development of the invention, it is provided, that the sensor arrangement is formed by means of an inlet-side, first oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, first oscillation sensor and/or a first oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube, as well as by means of an outlet-side, second oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, second oscillation sensor and/or a second oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube, especially in such a manner that a measuring length of the measuring transducer corresponding to a length of a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor amounts to more than 500 mm, especially more than 600 mm and/or less than 1200 mm, and/or in such a manner that a caliber to measuring length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber of the first measuring tube to the measuring length of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.05, especially more than 0.09. Additionally, the first oscillation sensor can be formed by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube, and the second oscillation sensor by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube.

In a second embodiment of the third further development of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the sensor arrangement is formed by means of an inlet-side, first oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, first oscillation sensor and/or a first oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube, by an outlet-side, second oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, second oscillation sensor and/or a second oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube, by an inlet-side, third oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, third oscillation sensor and/or a third oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the third measuring tube relative to the fourth measuring tube, as well as by an outlet-side, fourth oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic, fourth oscillation sensor and/or a fourth oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the third measuring tube relative to the fourth measuring tube, especially in such a manner, that a measuring length of the measuring transducer corresponding to a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor amounts to more than 500 mm, especially more than 600 mm and/or less than 1200 mm, and/or in such a manner that a caliber to measuring length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber of the first measuring tube to the measuring length of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.05, especially more than 0.09. In such case, in advantageous manner, the first and third oscillation sensors can be interconnected electrically in series in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal represents combined inlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes relative to the second and fourth measuring tube, and/or the second and fourth oscillation sensors can be interconnected electrically in series in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal represents combined outlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes relative to the second and fourth measuring tube. Alternatively or in supplementation, the first oscillation sensor can further be formed by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube, and the second oscillation sensor by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube, and/or the third oscillation sensor by means of a permanent magnet held on the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the fourth measuring tube and the fourth oscillation sensor by means of a permanent magnet held on the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the fourth measuring tube.

Moreover, the invention resides in an in-line measuring device for measuring a density and/or a mass flow rate, especially also a total mass flow totaled over a time interval, of a medium, especially of a gas, a liquid, a powder or other flowable material flowing in a pipeline, at least at times, especially with a mass flow rate of more than 1000 t/h, which in-line measuring device, especially an in-line measuring device embodied as a compact device, comprises one of the aforementioned measuring transducers as well as a measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer, especially also a measuring device electronics mechanically rigidly connected with the measuring transducer.

A basic idea of the invention is to use, instead of the tube arrangements with two measuring tubes, through which the medium flows in parallel, as usually used in the case of conventional measuring transducers of large nominal diameter, tube arrangements with four bent, for example V-shaped or circular arc shaped, measuring tubes, through which the medium flows in parallel, and so, on the one hand, to enable an optimal exploitation of the limited offering of space, while, on the other hand, being able to assure an acceptable pressure loss over a broad measuring range, especially also in the case of very high, mass flow rates of far over 1000 t/h. Moreover, the effective flow cross section of the tube arrangement resulting from the total cross section of the four measuring tubes can, in comparison to conventional measuring transducers of equal nominal diameter and equal empty mass having only two measuring tubes, be directly increased by more than 20%.

An advantage of the invention is additionally, among other things, that, through the application of curved measuring tubes, lasting mechanical stresses, for example, as a result of thermally related expansion of the measuring tubes or as a result of clamping forces introduced into the measuring transducer because of the tube arrangement, are largely prevented within the tube arrangement or at least kept very low and, as a result, the accuracy of measurement, as well as also the structural integrity of the measuring transducer, are safely obtained, even in the case of extremely hot media, or in the case of temperature gradients strongly fluctuating within the tube arrangement as a function of time. Moreover, due to the symmetry characteristics of the tube arrangement, also those transverse forces caused by bending oscillations of curved measuring tubes can largely be neutralized, which—as discussed, among other things, in the initially mentioned EP-A 1 248 084 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421—act essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal section planes of the measuring transducer, or its tube arrangement and can be quite damaging for the accuracy of measurement of measuring transducers of vibration-type.

A further advantage of the measuring transducer of the invention resides additionally in the fact that predominantly established, structural designs, such as regards materials used, joining technology, manufacturing steps, etc., can be applied, or must only be slightly modified, whereby also manufacturing costs are, in total, quite comparable to those of conventional measuring transducers. As a result, a further advantage of the invention is to be found in the fact that, thereby, not only an opportunity is created for implementing comparatively compact measuring transducers of vibration-type also with large nominal diameters of over 150 mm, especially with a nominal diameter of larger 250 mm, with manageable geometric dimensions and empty dimensions, but, additionally, also, this can be accomplished in an economically sensible manner.

The measuring transducer of the invention is, consequently, especially suitable for measuring flowable media guided in a pipeline having a caliber of larger 150 mm, especially of 300 mm or greater. Additionally, the measuring transducer is also suitable for measuring also mass flows, which are, at least at times, greater than 1000 t/h, especially, at least at times, amounting to more than 1500 t/h, such as can occur e.g. in the case of applications for measuring petroleum, natural gas or other petrochemical materials.

The invention, as well as other advantageous embodiments thereof, will now be explained in greater detail on the basis of examples of embodiments presented in the figures of the drawing. Equal parts are provided in the figures with equal reference characters; when required to avoid clutter or when it otherwise appears sensible, already mentioned reference characters are omitted in subsequent figures. Other advantageous embodiments or further developments, especially also combinations of first only individually explained aspects of the invention, will become evident additionally from the figures of the drawing, as well as also alone from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In particular, the figures of the drawing show as follows:

FIGS. 1,2 an in-line measuring device serving, for example, as a Coriolis flow/density/viscosity measuring device, in perspective, also partially sectioned, side views;

FIGS. 3 a,b a projection of the in-line measuring device of FIG. 1 in two different side views;

FIG. 4 a in perspective, side view, a measuring transducer of vibration-type having a tube arrangement formed by means of four bent measuring tubes and installed in an in-line measuring device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 b the tube arrangement of FIG. 4a in perspective, side view;

FIGS. 5 a,b a projection of the measuring transducer of FIG. 4 in two different side views; and

FIGS. 6 a,b projections of a tube arrangement of the measuring transducer of FIG. 4 in two different side views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the intended claims.

FIGS. 1, 2 show, schematically, an in-line measuring device 1, especially an in-line measuring device embodied as a Coriolis, mass flow, and/or density, measuring device, which serves for registering a mass flow m of a medium flowing in a pipeline (not shown) and for representing such in a mass flow, measured value representing this mass flow instantaneously. The medium can be practically any flowable material, for example, a powder, a liquid, a gas, a vapor, or the like. Alternatively or in supplementation, the in-line measuring device 1 can, in given cases, also be used for measuring a density ρ and/or a viscosity η of the medium. Especially, the in-line measuring device is provided for measuring media, such as e.g. petroleum, natural gas or other petrochemical materials, which are flowing in a pipeline having a caliber greater than 250 mm, especially a caliber of 300 mm or more. Especially, the in-line measuring device is also provided for measuring flowing media of the aforementioned type, which are caused to flow with a mass flow rate of greater than 1000 t/h, especially greater than 1500 t/h.

The in-line measuring device 1 comprises, for such purpose: A measuring transducer 11 of vibration-type, through which the medium being measured flows, during operation; as well as, electrically connected with the measuring transducer 11, a measuring device electronics 12, which is here not shown in detail, but, instead only schematically in the form of a contained unit. In advantageous manner, the measuring device electronics 12 is so designed that, during operation of the in-line measuring device 1, it can exchange measuring, and/or other operating, data with a measured value processing unit superordinated to it, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a personal computer and/or a work station, via a data transmission system, for example, a hardwired fieldbus system and/or wirelessly per radio. Furthermore, the measuring device electronics 12 is so designed, that it can be fed by an external energy supply, for example, also via the aforementioned fieldbus system. For the case, in which the in-line measuring device 1 is provided for coupling to a fieldbus, or other communication, system, the measuring device electronics 12, especially a programmable measuring device electronics, includes, additionally, a corresponding communication interface for data communication, e.g. for sending the measured data to the already mentioned, programmable logic controller or a superordinated process control system.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6b show different representations of an example of an embodiment for a measuring transducer 11 of vibration-type suited for the in-line measuring device 1, especially one serving as a Coriolis, mass flow, density and/or viscosity, transducer, which measuring transducer 11 is applied, during operation, in the course of a pipeline (not shown), through which a medium to be measured, for example, a powdered, liquid, gaseous or vaporous medium, is flowing. The measuring transducer 11 serves to produce, as already mentioned, in a medium flowing therethrough, such mechanical reaction forces, especially Coriolis forces dependent on mass flow, inertial forces dependent on density of the medium and/or frictional forces dependent on viscosity of the medium, which react measurably, especially registerably by sensor, on the measuring transducer. Derived from these reaction forces describing the medium, by means of evaluating methods correspondingly implemented in the measuring device electronics in manner known to those skilled in the art, e.g. the mass flow, the density and/or the viscosity of the medium can be measured.

The measuring transducer 11 includes a transducer housing 7₁, which is, here, essentially tubular, and externally circularly cylindrical, and which serves, among other things, also as a support frame, in which other components of the measuring transducer 11 serving for registering the at least one measured variable are accommodated to be protected against external, environmental influences. In the example of an embodiment shown here, at least one middle segment of the transducer housing 7₁ is formed by means of a straight, especially circularly cylindrical, tube, so that, for manufacture of the transducer housing, for example, also cost effective, welded or cast, standard tubes, for example, of cast steel or forged steel, can be used.

An inlet-side, first housing end of the transducer housing 7₁ is formed by means of an inlet-side, first flow divider 20₁ and an outlet-side, second housing end of the transducer housing 7₁ is formed by means of outlet-side, second flow divider 20₂. Each of the two flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, which are, in this respect, formed as integral components of the housing, includes exactly four, for example, circularly cylindrical or tapered or conical, flow openings 20_1A, 20_1B, 20_1D, 20_1D, or 20_2A, 20_2B, 20_2C, 20_2D, each spaced from one another and/or each embodied as an inner cone.

Moreover, each of the flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, for example, manufactured of steel, is provided with a flange 6₁, or 6₂, for example, manufactured of steel, for connecting of the measuring transducer 11 to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for supplying medium to the measuring transducer, or to a tubular segment of such pipeline serving for removing medium from the measuring transducer. Each of the two flanges 6₁, 6₂ shows, according to an embodiment of the invention, a mass of more than 50 kg, especially more than 60 kg and/or less than 100 kg. For leakage free, especially fluid tight, connecting of the measuring transducer with the, in each case, corresponding tubular segment of the pipeline, each of the flanges includes additionally, in each case, a corresponding, as planar as possible, sealing surface 6_1A, or 6_2A. A distance between the two sealing surfaces 6_1A, 6_2A of both flanges defines, thus, for practical purposes, an installed length, L₁₁, of the measuring transducer 11. The flanges are dimensioned, especially as regards their inner diameter, their respective sealing surface as well as the flange bores serving for accommodating corresponding connection bolts, according to the nominal diameter D₁₁ provided for the measuring transducer 11 as well as the therefor, in given cases, relevant industrial standards, corresponding to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer is to be used.

As a result of the large nominal diameter lastly desired for the measuring transducer, its installed length L₁₁ amounts, according to an embodiment of the invention, to more than 1200 mm. Additionally, it is, however, provided that the installed length of the measuring transducer 11 is kept as small as possible, especially smaller than 3000 mm. The flanges 6₁, 6₂ can, as well as also directly evident from FIG. 4a and such as quite usual in the case of such measuring transducers, be arranged, for this purpose, as near as possible to the flow openings of the flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, in order so to provide an as short as possible inlet, or outlet, as the case may be, region in the flow dividers and, thus, in total, to provide an as short as possible installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, especially an installed length L₁₁ of less than 3000 mm. For an as compact as possible measuring transducer and especially also in the case of desired high mass flow rates of over 1000 t/h, according to another embodiment of the invention, the installed length and the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer are so dimensioned and matched to one another, that a nominal diameter to installed length ratio D₁₁/L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the nominal diameter D₁₁ of the measuring transducer to the installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer is smaller than 0.3, especially smaller than 0.2 and/or greater than 0.1.

In an additional embodiment of the measuring transducer, the transducer housing comprises an essentially tubular, middle segment. Additionally, it is provided that the transducer housing is so dimensioned, that a housing inner diameter to nominal diameter ratio of the measuring transducer defined by a ratio of the largest housing inner diameter to the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer is, indeed, greater than 0.9, however, smaller than 1.5, as much as possible, however, smaller than 1.2.

In the case of the here illustrated example of an embodiment, there adjoin on the inlet and outlet sides of the middle segment, additionally, likewise tubular end segments of the transducer housing. For the case illustrated in the example of an embodiment, in which the middle segment and the two end segments, as well as also the flow dividers connected with the respective flanges in the inlet and outlet regions all have the same inner diameter, the transducer housing can in advantageous manner also be formed by means of a one piece, for example, cast or forged, tube, on whose ends the flanges are formed or welded, and in the case of which the flow dividers are formed by means of plates having the flow openings, especially plates somewhat spaced from the flanges and welded to the inner wall orbitally and/or by means of laser. Especially for the case, in which the mentioned housing inner diameter to nominal diameter ratio of the measuring transducer is selected equal to one, for manufacture of the transducer housing, for example, a tube matched to the pipeline to be connected to as regards caliber, wall thickness and material and, in that respect, also as regards the allowed operating pressure and with correspondingly suitable length can be used. For simplifying the transport of the measuring transducer, or the totally therewith formed, in-line measuring device, additionally, such as, for example, also provided in the initially mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421, transport eyes can be provided affixed on the inlet side and on the outlet side externally on the transducer housing.

For conveying the medium flowing, at least at times, through pipeline and measuring transducer, the measuring transducer of the invention comprises, additionally, a tube arrangement having exactly four curved, or bent, for example at least sectionally V-shaped, or, as shown here schematically, at least sectionally circular arc shaped, measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ held oscillatably in the transducer housing 10. The four measuring tubes, in this case, measuring tubes of equal length and pairwise parallel, communicate, in each case, with the pipeline connected to the measuring transducer and are, at least at times, caused during operation to vibrate in at least one oscillatory mode, the so-called wanted mode, suited for ascertaining the physical, measured variable. Especially suited as wanted mode and naturally inherent to each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, and 18₄ is e.g. a bending oscillation, fundamental mode, which at a minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequency, f₁₈₁, f₁₈₂, f₁₈₃, or f₁₈₄, shows exactly one oscillatory antinode.

Of the four measuring tubes, a first measuring tube 18₁ opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a first flow opening 20_1A of the first flow divider 20₁ and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a first flow opening 20_2A of the second flow divider 20₂, a second measuring tube 18₂ opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a second flow opening 20_1B of the first flow divider 20₁ and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a second flow opening 20_2B of the second flow divider 20₂, a third measuring tube 18₃ opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a third flow opening 20_1C of the first flow divider 20₁ and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a third flow opening 20_2C of the second flow divider 20₂ and a fourth measuring tube 18₄ opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening 20_1C of the first flow divider 20₁ and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening 20_2C of the second flow divider 20₂. The four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are, thus, connected to the flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, especially equally constructed flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, to form flow paths connected in parallel, and, indeed, in a manner enabling vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes relative to one another, as well as also relative to the transducer housing. Additionally, it is provided, that the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are held oscillatably in the transducer housing 7₁ only by means of said flow dividers 20₁, 20₂.

In the case of the measuring transducer of the invention, the measuring tubes are, as directly evident also from the combination of FIGS. 2, 4a and 4b, so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that the tube arrangement shows, lying both between the first measuring tube 18₁ and the third measuring tube 18₃ as well as also between the second measuring tube 18₂ and the fourth measuring tube 18₄, a first imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ, with respect to which the tube arrangement is mirror symmetric, and that the tube arrangement shows further, perpendicular to its imaginary first longitudinal-section plane XZ, and extending both between the first measuring tube 18₁ and second measuring tube 18₂ as well as also between the third measuring tube 18₃ and fourth measuring tube 18₄, a second imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ, with respect to which the tube arrangement likewise is mirror symmetric. As a result of this, not only are stresses generated by possible thermally related expansion of the measuring tubes within the tube arrangement minimized, but also transverse forces possibly induced by the bending oscillations of the bent measuring tubes within the tube arrangement and acting essentially perpendicularly to the line of intersection of the two aforementioned, imaginary, longitudinal-section planes can be largely neutralized, not lastly also those transverse forces mentioned, among other things, also in the initially mentioned EP-A 1 248 084 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,421, directed essentially perpendicularly to the first imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ.

For additional symmetrization of the measuring transducer and, thus, also for the additional simplifying of its construction, the two flow dividers 20₁, 20₂ are, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, additionally so embodied and so arranged in the measuring transducer, that, as also schematically presented in FIGS. 4a and 4b, an imaginary first connecting axis Z₁ of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the first flow opening 20_1A of the first flow divider 20₁ with the first flow opening 20_2A of the second flow divider 20₂ extends parallel to an imaginary second connecting axis Z₂ of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the second flow opening 20_1B of the first flow divider 20₁ with the second flow opening 20_2B of the second flow divider 20₂, and that an imaginary third connecting axis Z₃ of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the third flow opening 20_1C of the first flow divider 20₁ with the third flow opening 20_2D of the second flow divider 20₂ extends parallel to an imaginary fourth connecting axis Z₄ of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the fourth flow opening 20_1D the first flow divider 20₁ with the fourth flow opening 20_2B the second flow divider 20₂. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the flow dividers are additionally so embodied and so arranged in the measuring transducer, that the connecting axes Z₁, Z₂, Z₃, Z₄ also are parallel to a principal flow axis L of the measuring transducer essentially aligning with the pipeline and/or coincident with the aforementioned line of intersection of the two imaginary longitudinal-section planes XZ, YZ of the tube arrangement. Furthermore, the two flow dividers 20₁, 20₂ can additionally also be so embodied and so arranged in the measuring transducer, that a first imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ₁ of the measuring transducer, within which the first imaginary connecting axis Z₁ and the second imaginary connecting axis Z₂ extend, is parallel to a second imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ₂ of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary third connecting axis Z₃ and the imaginary fourth connecting axis Z₄ extend.

Moreover, the measuring tubes are, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, additionally so embodied and so arranged in the measuring transducer, that the imaginary first longitudinal-section plane XZ of the tube arrangement, as, among other things, also evident from the combination of FIGS. 3a and 4a, lies between the aforementioned first imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ₁ of the measuring transducer and the aforementioned second imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ₂ of the measuring transducer, for example, also such that the first longitudinal-section plane XZ of the tube arrangement is parallel to the first and second longitudinal-section planes XZ₁,XZ₂ of the measuring transducer. Additionally, the measuring tubes are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that equally also the second imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ of the tube arrangement extends between the third imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ₁ of the measuring transducer and the fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ₂ of the measuring transducer, for instance, in such a manner, that the second imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ of the tube arrangement is parallel to the third imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ₁ of the measuring transducer and parallel to the fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ₂ of the measuring transducer.

The measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, or the therewith formed, tube arrangement of the measuring transducer 11, are, such as directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4a, encased by the transducer housing 7₁, in the illustrated case practically completely. Transducer housing 7₁ serves, in this regard, thus not only as support frame or holder of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, but also for protecting them, as well as also other components of the measuring transducer placed within the transducer housing 7₁, from external environmental influences, such as e.g. dust or water spray. Moreover, the transducer housing 7₁ can additionally also be so embodied and so dimensioned, that it can, in the case of possible damage to one or a plurality of the measuring tubes, e.g. through crack formation or bursting, completely retain outflowing medium up to a required maximum positive pressure in the interior of the transducer housing 7₁ as long as possible, wherein such critical state can, such as, for example, also indicated in the initially mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,709, be registered and signaled by means of corresponding pressure sensors and/or on the basis of operating parameters produced internally, during operation, by the mentioned measuring device electronics 12. Used as material for the transducer housing 7₁ can be, accordingly, especially, steels, such as, for instance, structural steel, or stainless steel, or also other suitable, or usually suitable for this application, high strength materials.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are additionally so embodied and so installed in the measuring transducer 11, that at least the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies f₁₈₁, f₁₈₂ of the first and second measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂ are essentially equal and at least the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies f₁₈₃, f₁₈₄ of the third and fourth measuring tubes 18₃, 18₄ are essentially equal.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, at least the first and second measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂ are of equal construction as regards a material, of which their tube walls are composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a measuring tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber. Additionally, also at least the third and fourth measuring tubes 18₃, 18₄ are of equal construction as regards a material, of which their tube walls are composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a measuring tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber, so that, as a result, the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are, at least pairwise, essentially of equal construction. According to an additional embodiment of the invention, it is, in such case, additionally provided, to construct both the third measuring tube as well as also the fourth measuring tube, such that the two measuring tubes are different from the first measuring tube and from the second measuring tube, as regards their respective geometric tube dimensions, especially a measuring tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber, especially in such a manner, that the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies of the four measuring tubes are only pairwise equal. Through the, thus, created symmetry breaking in the case of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, among other things, the sensitivity, the oscillatory behavior, especially the mechanical eigenfrequencies, and/or the cross sensitivity to the primary, measuring influencing, disturbance variables, such as, for instance, a temperature, or pressure, distribution, the loading of the medium with impurities, etc., of the two, in this respect, mutually different, measuring tube pairs 18₁, 18₂, or 18₃, 18₄, can be matched, with targeting, to one another and, thus, an improved diagnosis of the measuring transducer, during operation, can be enabled. Of course, the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can, in case required, however, also be of equal construction as regards a material, of which their tube walls are composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a measuring tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter, a shape of the associated deflection curve and/or a caliber, especially in such a manner, that, as a result, the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies of all four empty measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ or all four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, through which a homogeneous medium is uniformly flowing, are essentially equal.

Suited as material for the tube walls of the measuring tubes is, again, especially, titanium, zirconium or tantalum. However, serving as material for the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can be also practically any other therefor usually applied, or at least suitable, material, especially such with a thermal expansion coefficient as small as possible and a yield point as high as possible. For most applications of industrial measurements technology, especially also in the petrochemical industry, consequently, also measuring tubes of stainless steel, for example, also duplex steel or super duplex steel, would satisfy the requirements as regards mechanical strength, chemical resistance as well as thermal requirements, so that in numerous cases of application of the transducer housing 7₁, the flow dividers 20₁, 20₂, as well as also the tube walls of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can, in each case, be made of steel of, in each case, sufficiently high quality, this being of advantage, especially as regards material, and manufacturing, costs, as well as also as regards the thermally related dilation behavior of the measuring transducer 11, during operation.

In an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow openings of the first flow divider 20₁ are additionally so arranged, that those imaginary areal center of gravity, which belong to the—here circularly shaped—cross sectional areas of the flow openings of the first flow divider form the vertices of an imaginary rectangle or of an imaginary square, wherein said cross sectional areas lie, again, in a shared imaginary, cross sectional plane of the first flow divider extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L of the measuring transducer—, for example, a longitudinal axis extending within the first longitudinal-section plane XZ of the tube arrangement, or parallel to or even coincident with the mentioned principal flow axis of the measuring transducer—, or perpendicular to the longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer. Additionally, also the flow openings of the second flow divider 20₂ are so arranged, that imaginary areal centers of gravity associated with—here likewise circularly shaped—cross sectional areas of the flow openings of the second flow divider 20₂ form the vertices of an imaginary rectangle, or square, wherein said cross sectional areas lie, again, in a shared imaginary, cross sectional plane of the second flow divider extending perpendicular to the mentioned main flow, or also longitudinal, axis, L of the measuring transducer, or perpendicular to the longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer. As a result of this, an envelope of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ forms practically a straight, for example, around the mentioned principal flow axis, or longitudinal axis L of the measuring transducer, rotationally symmetric body having a rectangular—or also square-like base having an at least two-fold symmetry, whereby the space requirement of the tube arrangement formed by means of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can be minimized in a manner supporting the compactness of the measuring transducer 11 as a whole.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, each of the measuring tubes is additionally so arranged in the measuring transducer, that a smallest lateral separation of each of the four measuring tubes (here, of equal length) from a housing side wall of the transducer housing is, in each case, greater than zero, especially, however, greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a respective tube wall thickness, or that a smallest lateral separation between two neighboring measuring tubes is, in each case, greater than 3 mm and/or greater than the sum of their respective tube wall thicknesses. Accordingly, additionally, each of the flow openings is so arranged, that a smallest lateral separation of each of the flow openings from a housing side wall of the transducer housing 7₁ is, in each case, greater than zero, especially greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a smallest tube wall thickness of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, or that a smallest lateral separation between the flow openings is greater than 3 mm and/or greater than twice a smallest tube wall thickness of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄. For such purpose, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ and the transducer housing 7₁ are so dimensioned and matched to one another, that a housing to measuring tube, inner diameter ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the largest housing inner diameter to a caliber at least of the first measuring tube is greater than 3, especially greater than 4 and/or smaller than 10. Alternatively, or in supplementation, the measuring tubes according to an additional embodiment of the invention are so bent, or curved, and so arranged, that a caliber to height ratio of the tube arrangement, defined by a ratio of the caliber, D₁₈, at least of the first measuring tube to a maximal lateral expanse of the tube arrangement, measured from a peak of the first measuring tube to a peak of the third measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.1, especially more than 0.2 and/or less than 0.35.

As already initially mentioned, in the case of the measuring transducer 11, the reaction forces required for the measuring are effected in the medium being measured by causing the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ to oscillate in the so-called wanted mode. For such purpose, the measuring transducer comprises additionally an exciter mechanism 5 formed by means of at least one electromechanical, for example, electrodynamic, oscillation exciter acting on the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, and serving for causing each of the measuring tubes, operationally, at least at times, to execute, and to maintain, oscillations suitable, in each case, for the particular measuring, especially bending oscillations, in the so-called wanted mode, with, in each case, sufficiently large oscillation amplitude for producing and registering the above named reaction forces in the medium. The at least one oscillation exciter serves, in such case, especially for converting an electrical excitation power P_exc fed from a corresponding measuring, and operating, circuit e.g. of the above named Coriolis, mass flow meter into such, e.g. pulsating or harmonic, exciter forces Fexc, which act, as simultaneously as possible, uniformly, however, with opposite sense, on the measuring tubes. The exciter forces F_exc can be tuned, in manner known, per se, to those skilled in the art, by means provided in the already mentioned measuring, and operating, electronics, e.g. by means of an electrical current, and/or voltage, control circuit, as regards their amplitude, and e.g. by means of phase control loop (PLL), as regards their frequency; compare, for this, for example, also U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,897 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,136.

As a result of medium flowing through the measuring tubes excited to oscillations in the wanted mode, there are induced in the medium Coriolis forces, which, in turn, effect deformations of the measuring tubes corresponding to an additional, higher oscillation mode of the measuring tubes, the so-called Coriolis mode. For example, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can, during operation, be excited, by the electromechanical exciter mechanism acting thereon, to bending oscillations, especially to an instantaneous mechanical eigenfrequency of the tube arrangement formed by means of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, in the case of which they are—at least predominantly—laterally deflected and, such as directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 3a, 3b, or 6a, 6b, are caused to oscillate pairwise relative to one another with essentially opposite phase. This occurs, especially, in such a manner, that vibrations executed by each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ during operation at the same time, at least at times and/or at least partially, in each case, are developed as bending oscillations about an imaginary oscillatory axis connecting the first and the, in each case, associated second measuring tube end of the respective measuring tube, and, in each case, parallel to the mentioned connecting axes Z₁, Z₂, Z₃, Z₄, wherein the four oscillatory axes in the here illustrated example of an embodiment are equally parallel to one another, as well as also to the imaginary longitudinal axis L of the total measuring transducer imaginarily connecting the two flow dividers through a center of mass of the measuring transducer. In other words, the measuring tubes can, as quite usual in the case of measuring transducers of vibration-type, in each case, be caused to oscillate at least sectionally in a bending oscillation mode in the manner of a string held at both ends, or in the manner of a terminally clamped cantilever.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are excited by means of the exciter mechanism 5, during operation, at least partially, especially predominantly, to bending oscillations, which have a bending oscillation frequency, which is about equal to an instantaneous mechanical resonance frequency of the tube arrangement comprising the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ or which at least lies in the vicinity of such an eigen—, or resonance, frequency. The instantaneous mechanical bending oscillation resonance frequencies are, in such case, as is known, dependent in special measure on size, shape and material of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, as well as also on an instantaneous density of the medium flowing through the measuring tubes, and can, thus, during operation of the measuring transducer, be variable within a wanted frequency band having an expanse of several kilohertz. In the exciting of the measuring tubes to a bending oscillation resonance frequency, on the one hand, an average density of the medium instantaneously flowing through the four measuring tubes can be easily ascertained on the basis of the instantaneously excited oscillation frequency. On the other hand, also, in such manner, the electrical power instantaneously required for maintaining the oscillations excited in the wanted mode can be minimized. Especially, the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, driven by the exciter mechanism, additionally, are, at least at times, caused to oscillate with essentially equal oscillation frequency, especially at a shared natural mechanical eigenfrequency. Moreover, it is provided that the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, caused to oscillate at essentially equal frequency, are so excited, that, at least in the case of no flowing medium, the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ oscillate essentially synchronously relative to one another, i.e. with essentially equal oscillation form, essentially equal phase position and about equal oscillation amplitude. In manner analogous thereto, in the case of this embodiment of the invention, also the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄ are caused to oscillate essentially synchronously relative to one another.

The exciter mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention, is embodied in such a manner that, therewith, the first measuring tube 18₁ and the second measuring tube 18₂ are excitable, during operation, to opposite phase, bending oscillations and the third measuring tube 18₃ and the fourth measuring tube 18₄, during operation, to opposite phase bending oscillations. In an additional embodiment of the invention, the exciter mechanism 5 is formed therefor by means of a first oscillation exciter 5₁, especially an electrodynamic, first oscillation exciter 5₁ and/or a first oscillation exciter 5₁ differentially exciting oscillations of the first measuring tube 18₁ relative to the second measuring tube 18₂.

Additionally, it is provided, that the first oscillation exciter 5₁ is an oscillation exciter of electrodynamic type acting simultaneously, especially differentially, on at least two of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄. Accordingly, the first oscillation exciter 5₁ is formed additionally by means of a permanent magnet held on the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the second measuring tube, especially in such a manner of a coil, plunging arrangement, in the case of which the cylindrical coil is arranged coaxially to the permanent magnet and the permanent magnet is embodied in the form of an armature moved plungingly within the coil. In a further development of the invention, the exciter mechanism comprises additionally a second oscillation exciter 5₂, especially an electrodynamic, second oscillation exciter 5₂ and/or a second oscillation exciter 5₂ constructed equally to the first oscillation exciter 5₁ and/or differentially exciting oscillations of the third measuring tube 18₃ relative to the fourth measuring tube 18₄. The two oscillation exciters can, in advantageous manner, be interconnected electrically in series, especially in such a manner, that a combined driver signal excites oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ together relative to the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄. In an additional embodiment, the second oscillation exciter 5₂ is formed by means of a permanent magnet held on the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held on the fourth measuring tube.

As, amongst others, also presented in FIGS. 4a, 4b, or 6b, the first oscillation exciter 5₁ can be arranged above the first and second measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂ and, thus, also above a center of gravity of the tube arrangement lying in an imaginary cross sectional plane XY of the tube arrangement passing through the installed position of said oscillation exciter and, here, in each case, perpendicular to the first imaginary longitudinal-section plane XZ and to the second imaginary longitudinal-section plane YZ of the tube arrangement. In the example of an embodiment shown here, the tube arrangement is additionally also mirror symmetric with respect to the aforementioned imaginary cross sectional plane XY. In the example of an embodiment shown here, the tube arrangement is, as directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and 6a, additionally so embodied and so placed in the measuring transducer housing, that, as a result, not only the shared line of intersection of the first and second imaginary longitudinal-section planes XZ, YZ of the tube arrangement is parallel to, or coincident with, the longitudinal axis L, but, also, a shared line of intersection of the first longitudinal-section plane XZ and the cross sectional plane XY is parallel to an imaginary transverse axis Q of the measuring transducer perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and a shared line of intersection of the second longitudinal-section plane YZ and the cross sectional plane XY is parallel to an imaginary vertical axis H of the measuring transducer perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.

It is noted here, additionally, that, although the oscillation exciter of the exciter mechanism illustrated in the example of an embodiment acts, in each case, about centrally on the measuring tubes, alternatively or in supplementation also oscillation exciters acting on the inlet and on the outlet sides on the respective measuring tubes can be used, for instance in the manner of the exciter mechanisms proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,614, U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,885, or US-A 2003/0070495.

As evident from FIGS. 2, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b and usual in the case of measuring transducers of the type being discussed, additionally provided in the measuring transducer 11 is a sensor arrangement 19, for example, an electrodynamic sensor arrangement, reacting to vibrations of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, or 18₄, especially inlet, and outlet-side vibrations, especially bending oscillations excited by means of the exciter mechanism 5, for producing oscillation measurement signals representing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the measuring tubes and influenced, for example, as regards a frequency, a signal amplitude and/or a phase position—relative to one another and/or relative to the driver signal—by the measured variable to be registered, such as, for instance, the mass flow rate and/or the density and a viscosity of the medium, respectively.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, the sensor arrangement is formed by means of an inlet-side, first oscillation sensor 19₁, especially an electrodynamic, first oscillation sensor and/or a first oscillation sensor differentially registering at least oscillations of the first measuring tube 18₁ relative to the second measuring tube 18₂, as well as an outlet-side, second oscillation sensor 19₂, especially an electrodynamic, second oscillation sensor and/or a second oscillation sensor differentially registering at least oscillations of the first measuring tube 18₁ relative to the second measuring tube 18₂, which two oscillation sensors deliver, respectively, a first, and a second, oscillation measurement signal reacting to movements of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, especially their lateral deflections and/or deformations. This, especially, in such a manner, that at least two of the oscillation measurement signals delivered by the sensor arrangement 19 have a phase shift relative to one another, which corresponds to, or depends on, the instantaneous mass flow rate of the medium flowing through the measuring tubes, as well as, in each case, a signal frequency, which depends on an instantaneous density of the medium flowing in the measuring tubes. The two oscillation sensors 19₁, 19₂, for example, oscillation sensors constructed equally to one another, can, for such purpose—such as quite usual in the case of measuring transducers of the type being discussed—be placed essentially equidistantly from the first oscillation exciter 5₁ in the measuring transducer 11. Moreover, the oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement 19 can, at least, insofar as they are of equal construction to that of the at least one oscillation exciter of the exciter mechanism 5, work analogously to its principle of action, for example, thus be likewise of electrodynamic type. In a further development of the invention, the sensor arrangement 19 is additionally formed also by means of an inlet-side, third oscillation sensor 19₃, especially an electrodynamic, oscillation sensor and/or an oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the third measuring tube 18₃ relative to the fourth measuring tube 18₄, as well as an outlet-side, fourth oscillation sensor 19₄, especially an electrodynamic, fourth oscillation sensor 19₄ and/or an electrodynamic oscillation sensor differentially registering oscillations of the third measuring tube 18₃ relative to the fourth measuring tube 18₄. For additional improving of the signal quality, as well as also for simplifying the measuring device electronics 12 receiving the measurement signals, furthermore, the first and third oscillation sensors 19₁, 19₃ can be electrically in series interconnected, for example, in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal represents combined inlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ relative to the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄. Alternatively or in supplementation, also the second and fourth oscillation sensors 19₂, 19₄ can be electrically in series interconnected in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal of both oscillation sensors 19₂, 19₄ represents combined outlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ relative to the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄.

For the aforementioned case, that the oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement 19, especially oscillation sensors constructed equally to one another, should register oscillations of the measuring tubes differentially and electrodynamically, the first oscillation sensor 19₁ is formed by means of a permanent magnet held to the first measuring tube—here in the region of oscillations to be registered on the inlet side—and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held to the second measuring tube—here correspondingly likewise in the region of oscillations to be registered on the inlet side—, and the second oscillation sensor 19₂ is formed by means of a permanent magnet held—in the region of oscillations to be registered on the outlet side—to the first measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held to the second measuring tube—here correspondingly likewise in the region of oscillations to be registered on the outlet side. Equally, additionally also the, in given cases, provided, third oscillation sensor 19₃ can correspondingly be formed by means of a permanent magnet held to the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held to the fourth measuring tube, and the, in given cases, provided, fourth oscillation sensor 19₄ by means of a permanent magnet held to the third measuring tube and a cylindrical coil permeated by the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and held to the fourth measuring tube.

It is to be noted here additionally that, although, in the case of the oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement 19 illustrated in the example of an embodiment, the oscillation sensor is, in each case, of electrodynamic type, thus, in each case, formed by means of a cylindrical magnet coil affixed to one of the measuring tubes and a therein plunging permanent magnet correspondingly affixed to an oppositely lying measuring tube, additionally also other oscillation sensors known to those skilled in the art, such as e.g. optoelectronic sensors, can be used for forming the sensor arrangement. Furthermore, such as quite usual in the case of measuring transducers of the type being discussed, supplementally to the oscillation sensors, other, especially auxiliary sensors, or sensors registering disturbance variables, can be provided in the measuring transducer, such as e.g. acceleration sensors, pressure sensors and/or temperature sensors, by means of which, for example, the ability of the measuring transducer to function and/or changes of the sensitivity of the measuring transducer to the measured variables primarily to be registered, especially the mass flow rate and/or the density, as a result of cross sensitivities, or external disturbances, can be monitored and, in given cases, correspondingly compensated.

For assuring an as high as possible sensitivity of the measuring transducer to the mass flow, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes and the oscillation sensors are so arranged in the measuring transducer, that a measuring length, L₁₉, of the measuring transducer corresponding to a separation between the first oscillation sensor 19₁ and the second oscillation sensor 19₂ measured along a deflection curve of the first measuring tube amounts to more than 500 mm, especially more than 600 mm.

The exciter mechanism 5 and the sensor arrangement 19 are additionally, such as usual in the case of such measuring transducers, coupled in suitable manner (for example, hardwired by means of corresponding cable connections) with a measuring, and operating, circuit correspondingly provided in the measuring device electronics. The measuring, and operating, circuit, in turn, produces, on the one hand, an exciter signal correspondingly driving the exciter mechanism 5, for example, an exciter signal controlled as regards an exciter current and/or an exciter voltage. On the other hand, the measuring, and operating, circuit receives the oscillation measurement signals of the sensor arrangement 19 and generates, therefrom, sought measured values, which, for example, can represent a mass flow rate, a totaled mass flow, a density and/or a viscosity of the medium being measured and which, in given cases, can be displayed on-site and/or also sent to a data processing system superordinated to the in-line measuring device, in the form of digital, measured data and there correspondingly further processed. The above mentioned application of differentially acting, oscillation exciters, or oscillation sensors introduces, among other things, also the advantage, that for operating the measuring transducer of the invention, also such established measuring, and operating, electronics can be used, such as have found broad application, for example, already in conventional Coriolis, mass flow and/or density measuring devices.

The measuring device electronics 12, including the measuring, and operating, circuit, can, furthermore, be accommodated, for example, in a separate electronics housing 7₂, which is arranged removed from the measuring transducer or, such as shown in FIG. 1, is affixed directly on the measuring transducer 1, for example, externally on the transducer housing 7₁, in order to form a single compact device. In the case of the here illustrated example of an embodiment, consequently, placed on the transducer housing 7₁ is, additionally, a neck-like, transition piece serving for holding the electronics housing 7₂. Within the transition piece can additionally be arranged a feedthrough for the electrical connecting lines between measuring transducer 11, especially the therein placed oscillation exciters and sensors, and the mentioned measuring device electronics 12. The feedthrough is manufactured to be hermetically sealed and/or pressure resistant, for example, by means of glass, and/or plastic potting compound.

As already multiply mentioned, the in-line measuring device and, thus, also the measuring transducer 11, is provided, especially, for measurements also of high mass flows of more than 1000 t/h in a pipeline of large caliber of more than 250 mm. Taking this into consideration, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer 11, which, as already mentioned, corresponds to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer 11 is to be used, is so selected, that it amounts to more than 50 mm, especially, however, is greater than 100 mm. Additionally, according to a further embodiment of the measuring transducer, it is provided, that each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ shows, in each case, a caliber D₁₈ corresponding to a particular tube inner diameter, which amounts to more than 40 mm. Especially, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are additionally so embodied, that each shows a caliber D₁₈ of more than 60 mm. Alternatively thereto or in supplementation thereof, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are, according to another embodiment of the invention, additionally so dimensioned, that they have, in each case, a measuring tube length L₁₈ of at least 1000 mm. The measuring tube length L₁₈ corresponds, in the here illustrated example of an embodiment with equal length measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, in each case, to a length of a section of the deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first flow opening of the first flow divider and the first flow opening of the second flow divider. Especially, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are, in such case, so designed, that their measuring tube length L₁₈ is, in each case, greater than 1200 mm.

Accordingly, there results, at least for the mentioned case, that the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are composed of steel, in the case of the usually used wall thicknesses of over 1 mm, a mass of, in each case, at least 20 kg, especially more than 30 kg. One tries, however, to keep the empty mass of each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ smaller than 50 kg.

In consideration of the fact that, as already mentioned, each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, in the case of the measuring transducer of the invention, weighs well over 20 kg and, in such case, such as directly evident from the above dimensional specifications, can have a capacity of easily 10 I or more, the tube arrangement comprising then the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can, at least in the case of medium with high density flowing through, reach a total mass of far over 80 kg. Especially in the case of the application of measuring tubes with comparatively large caliber D₁₈, large wall thickness and large measuring tube length L₁₈, the mass of the tube arrangement formed by the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can directly, however, also be greater than 100 kg or, at least with medium flowing through, e.g. oil or water, be more than 120 kg. As a result of this, an empty mass M₁₁ of the measuring transducer amounts, in total, also to far more than 200 kg, and, in the case of nominal diameters D₁₁ of significantly greater than 250 mm, even more than 300 kg. As a result, the measuring transducer of the invention can have a mass ratio M₁₁/M₁₈ of an empty mass M₁₁ of the total measuring transducer to an empty mass M₁₈ of the first measuring tube of easily greater than 10, especially greater than 15.

In order, in the case of the mentioned high empty mass M₁₁ of the measuring transducer, to employ the therefor, in total, applied material as optimally as possible and, thus, to utilize the—most often also very expensive—material, in total, as efficiently as possible, according to an additional embodiment, the nominal diameter D₁₁ of the measuring transducer is so dimensioned relative to its empty mass M₁₁, that a mass to nominal diameter ratio M₁₁/D₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11, as defined by a ratio of the empty mass M₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11 to the nominal diameter D₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11, is smaller than 2 kg/mm, especially as much as possible, however, smaller than 1 kg/mm. In order to assure a sufficiently high stability of the measuring transducer 11, the mass to nominal diameter ratio M₁₁/D₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11 is, at least in the case use of the above mentioned conventional materials, however, to be chosen as much as possible greater than 0.5 kg/mm. Additionally, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, for additional improvement of the efficiency of the installed material, the mentioned mass ratio M₁₁/M₁₈ is kept smaller than 25.

For creation of a nevertheless as compact as possible measuring transducer of sufficiently high oscillation quality factor and as little pressure drop as possible, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes are so dimensioned relative to the above mentioned, installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11, that a caliber to installed length ratio D₁₈/L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the caliber D₁₈ at least of the first measuring tube to the installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11, amounts to more than 0.02, especially more than 0.05 and/or less than 0.09. Alternatively or in supplementation, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are so dimensioned relative to the above mentioned installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, that a measuring tube length to installed length ratio L₁₈/L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the above-referenced measuring tube length L₁₈ at least of the first measuring tube to the installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.7, especially more than 0.8 and/or less than 0.95.

In case required, possibly or at least potentially, mechanical stresses and/or vibrations caused by the vibrating, especially in the mentioned manner, relatively large dimensioned, measuring tubes at the inlet side or at the outlet side in the transducer housing can e.g. be minimized by connecting the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ with one another mechanically at least pairwise on the inlet side, and at least pairwise on the outlet side, in each case, by means of coupling elements serving as so-called node plates—in the following referred to as coupling elements of first type. Moreover, by means of such coupling elements of first type, be it through their dimensioning and/or their positioning on the measuring tubes, mechanical eigenfrequencies of the measuring tubes and, thus, also mechanical eigenfrequencies of the tube arrangement formed by means of the four measuring tubes including thereon placed, additional components of the measuring transducer and, thus, also the oscillatory behavior of the measuring transducer as a whole can, with targeting, be influenced.

The coupling elements of first type serving as node plates can, for example, be thin plates, or washers, manufactured especially from the same material as the measuring tubes, which, in each case, corresponding with the number and the outer dimensions of the measuring tubes to be coupled with one another, are provided with bores, in given cases, supplementally, slitted to the edge, so that the washers can first be mounted onto the respective measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, or 18₄ and, in given cases, thereafter still be bonded to the respective measuring tubes, for example, by hard soldering or welding.

Accordingly, the tube arrangement comprises, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, a first coupling element 24₁ of first type, which is affixed on the inlet side at least to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube, as well as a second coupling element 24₂ of first type, especially a second coupling element 24₂ constructed equally to the first coupling element, which is affixed on the outlet side at least to the first measuring tube 18₁ and to the second measuring tube 18₂ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂, as well as also from the first coupling element 24₁, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube 18₁ and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube 18₂. As directly evident amongst others from FIGS. 4a, 4b, and FIGS. 5a, 5b, respectively, the first coupling element 24₁ of first type is affixed on the inlet side also to the third measuring tube 18₃ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂, for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes also for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃ and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄, and the second coupling element 24₂ of first type is affixed on the outlet side also to the third measuring tube 18₃ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂, as well as also from the first coupling element 24₁, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃ and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄, so that, as a result, all four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are mechanically connected with one another by means of the first coupling element 24₁ of first type as well as by means of the second coupling element 24₂ of first type. Each of the two aforementioned coupling elements 24₁, 24₂ of first type, especially coupling elements constructed equally to one another, is, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, plate shaped, especially in such a manner, that it shows, as well as also directly evident from the combination of figures, a rather rectangular or also square, basic shape or, however, that it shows, rather, a round, an oval, a cross shaped or, such as, for example, also provided in US-A 2006/0283264, a rather H-shaped basic shape.

As amongst others directly evident from FIGS. 4a, 4b, and FIGS. 5a, 5b, respectively, the two aforementioned coupling elements 24₁, 24₂ are additionally so embodied and so placed in the measuring transducer, that a center of mass of the first coupling element 24₁ of first type shows a distance to a center of mass of the measuring transducer 11, which is essentially equal to a distance of a center of mass of the second coupling element 24₂ of first type to said center of mass of the measuring transducer 11, especially in such a manner, that the two coupling elements 24₁, 24₂ are, as a result, arranged symmetrically to a shared imaginary cross sectional plane, in each case, cutting centrally through the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄.

For additionally increasing the degrees of freedom in the case of optimizing the oscillatory behavior of the tube arrangement formed by means of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, the tube arrangement comprises, according to a further development of the invention, additionally a third coupling element 24₃ of first type, which is affixed on the inlet side at least to the third measuring tube 18₃ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂ for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃ and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄. Moreover, the measuring transducer 11 comprises, in the case of this further development, a fourth coupling element 24₄ of first type, especially a fourth coupling element constructed equally to the third coupling element 24₃ of first type, which fourth coupling element is affixed on the outlet side at least to the third measuring tube 18₃ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂, as well as also from the third coupling element 24₃ of first type, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃ and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄.

Each of the two aforementioned third and fourth coupling elements 24₃, 24₄ of first type, especially third and fourth coupling elements constructed equally to one another, is embodied, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, again, plate shaped, especially in such a manner, that it shows a rectangular, square, round, cross shaped or H-shaped, basic shape.

As shown in FIG. 4a, and in FIGS. 5a, 5b, respectively, the third coupling element 24₃ of first type is affixed on the inlet side also to the first measuring tube 18₁ and to the second measuring tube 18₂ and spaced both from the first flow divider 20₁ as well as also from the second flow divider 20₂, as well as also from the first coupling element of first type 24₁ and the fourth coupling element 24₄ of first type is affixed on the outlet side also to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider, as well as also from the second coupling element, so that, as a result, all four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are also mechanically connected with one another by means of the third coupling element 24₃ of first type as well as by means of the fourth coupling element 24₄ of first type.

As directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, also the third and fourth coupling elements 24₃, 24₄ are additionally so embodied and so placed in the measuring transducer, that a center of mass of the third coupling element 24₃ of first type shows a distance to the center of mass of the measuring transducer, which essentially is equal to a distance of a center of mass of the fourth coupling element 24₄ of first type to said center of mass of the measuring transducer, especially in such a manner, that the two coupling elements 24₃, 24₄ are, as a result, arranged symmetrically to a shared imaginary cross sectional plane, in each case, cutting centrally through the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄. Additionally, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the four coupling element 24₁, 24₂, 24₃, 24₄ of first type are so arranged in the measuring transducer, that the distance of the center of mass of the third coupling element 24₃ of first type from the center of mass of the measuring transducer is greater than the distance of the center of mass of the first coupling element 24₁ of first type from said center of mass of the measuring transducer and greater than the distance of the center of mass of the second coupling element 24₂ of first type from said center of mass of the measuring transducer.

As directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, the tube form of each of the measuring tubes together with a minimum separation between the coupling element of first type affixed on the inlet side to a particular measuring tube and lying nearest to the center of mass of the measuring transducer 11—here thus the first coupling element 24₁ of first type—, and the coupling element of first type affixed on the outlet side to said measuring tube and lying nearest to the center of mass of the measuring transducer—here thus the second coupling element 24₂ of first type—, define, in each case, a free, oscillatory length, L_18x, of such measuring tube. The free oscillatory length, L_18x, of a respective measuring tube corresponds, in such case, as also schematically presented in FIGS. 5a and 5b, to a length of the section the deflection curve the said measuring tube extending between the coupling elements 24₁, 24₂, wherein, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the coupling elements of first type are so placed in the measuring transducer, that, as a result, the free, oscillatory length of each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ amounts to less than 3000 mm, especially less than 2500 mm and/or more than 800 mm. Alternatively or in supplementation, it is additionally provided, that the measuring tubes are so constructed and the coupling elements of first type are so arranged, that all four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, as a result, have the same free oscillatory length, L_18x. According to an additional embodiment of the invention, additionally, the first measuring tube and the second measuring tube are, at least over the region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type—consequently thus their free oscillatory length—parallel to one another, and also the third measuring tube and the fourth measuring tube are, at least over the region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type—consequently thus their respective free oscillatory length—parallel to one another

It can additionally, in the context of a still simpler and yet more exact adjusting of the oscillatory behavior of the measuring transducer, be quite of advantage, when the measuring transducer, such as, for example, provided in US-A 2006/0150750, moreover, includes still other coupling elements of the aforementioned type serving for forming inlet, or outlet, side, oscillation nodes for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube, or for vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube, for example, thus, in total, 6 or 8 such coupling elements of first type.

For creation of an as compact as possible measuring transducer of sufficiently high oscillation quality factor and high sensitivity in the case of as little pressure drop as possible, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are so dimensioned relative to the mentioned free, oscillatory length that a caliber to oscillatory length ratio D₁₈/L_18x of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the caliber D₁₈ of the first measuring tube to the free, oscillatory length L_18x of the first measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.03, especially more than 0.05 and/or less than 0.15. Alternatively or in supplementation, for this, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are so dimensioned relative to the above mentioned installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer that an oscillatory length to installed length ratio L_18x/L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the free, oscillatory length L_18x of the first measuring tube to the installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.55, especially more than 0.6 and/or less than 0.9.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the oscillation sensors, relative to the free, oscillatory length, are so arranged in the measuring transducer, that a measuring length to oscillatory length ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the mentioned measuring length of the measuring transducer to the free, oscillatory length of the first measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.3, especially more than 0.4 and/or less than 0.95.

For creation of an as compact as possible measuring transducer, which is, nevertheless, however, as sensitive as possible to mass flow, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, the oscillation sensors are so arranged in the measuring transducer relative to the installed length of the measuring transducer that a measuring length to installed length ratio of the measuring transducer, which is defined by a ratio of the measuring length to the installed length of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.3, especially more than 0.4 and/or less than 0.7. Alternatively or in supplementation, the oscillation sensors are, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, so placed in the measuring transducer relative to the measuring tubes, that a caliber to measuring length ratio D₁₈/L₁₉ of the measuring transducer, which is defined by a ratio of the caliber D₁₈ of the first measuring tube to the mentioned measuring length L₁₉ of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.05, especially more than 0.09. In an additional embodiment of the invention, additionally, the above mentioned measuring length L₁₉ is kept smaller than 1200 mm.

In an additional embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are driven, during operation, pairwise synchronously, thus with equal phase position, so that the oscillations of all four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are only pairwise out of phase. In advantageous manner, the oscillatory behavior of the tube arrangement formed by means of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, as well as also the driver signals controlling the exciter mechanism, are so matched to one another, that at least the oscillations of the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ excited in the wanted mode are so developed, that the first and the second measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂ oscillate with essentially opposite phase relative to one another, thus with an opposing phase shift of about 180°, and also the third and fourth measuring tubes 18₃, 18₄ oscillate with essentially opposite phase relative to one another, while, simultaneously, the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ oscillate with essentially equal phase relative to one another and the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄ oscillate with essentially equal phase relative to one another.

Therefore, the tube arrangement includes, according to a further embodiment of the invention, additionally a first coupling element 25₁ of second type, e.g. a plate shaped, first coupling element 25₁ of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube 18₁ and to the third measuring tube 18₃ and spaced both from the first coupling element 24₁ of first type as well as also from the second coupling element 24₂ of first type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube 18₁ and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃. Furthermore, the tube arrangement comprises, at least in the case of this embodiment of the invention, at least a second coupling element 25₂ of second type, e.g. a plate shaped, second coupling element 25₂ of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube 18₂ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first coupling element 24₁ of first type as well as also from the second coupling element 24₁ of first type, as well as also from the first coupling element 25₁ of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube 18₂ and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄. As directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, the first and second coupling elements 25₁, 25₂ of second type are placed in the measuring transducer 11 as oppositely lying to one another as possible.

An advantage of the mechanical coupling of the measuring tubes in the above described manner is, among other things, to be seen in the fact that the four measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ are reduced to two measuring tube composites acting, in each case, effectively as one oscillatory system, each thus acting essentially as a single measuring tube, since the exciter forces produced by the exciter mechanism 5 act, due to the mechanical coupling, both between the first and second measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂ as well as also equally between the third and fourth measuring tubes 18₃, 18₄, and, in turn, also the reaction forces caused in the through-flowing media for purposes of the measuring are transmitted, in each case, together back to the oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement 5. Furthermore, possible differences between the individual measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄ can as regards their nominal oscillatory behavior, e.g. as a result of non-uniform flow, different temperatures, and/or different density distributions, etc., be cancelled in very simple manner. The application of coupling elements of second type has additionally also the advantage, that each of the two measuring tube composites formed, thus, in very simple manner, acts, not only for the exciter mechanism, but equally also for the sensor arrangement 19, and, thus, also for the measuring, and operating, circuit of the measuring device electronics 12, in total, practically, in each case, as a single measuring tube, and the measuring transducer 11, thus, from the point of view of the measuring, and operating, circuit, seems to have only two measuring tubes oscillating relative to one another. As a result of this, at least for the preprocessing and possible digitizing of the oscillation measurement signals, proven signal processing technologies and also proven, especially two channel (thus processing oscillation measurement signals delivered from only two oscillation sensors) measuring circuits from the field of Coriolis, mass flow, or density measurement, can be utilized. Equally, thus, also for the operating circuit driving the exciter mechanism, driver circuits known to those skilled in the art, especially such operating on one channel, thus delivering exactly one driver signal for the exciter mechanism, can be directly used. In case required, however, also the oscillation measurement signals delivered, in each case, from the two or more oscillation sensors can, however, also be individually preprocessed and correspondingly digitized in, in each case, separate measuring channels; equally, in case required, also the, in given cases, present, two or more oscillation exciters can be operated separately by means of separate driver signals.

In case required—for example, because the measuring transducer is used for the measuring extremely hot media, or for measuring in applications with operating temperatures fluctuating over a broad region, for instance, as a result of recurringly in-situ performed, cleaning procedures for the measuring transducer (“cleaning in process”, “sterilizing in process”) and, thus, mentionable thermal expansions of the measuring tubes are to be expected—, the coupling elements second type can additionally be so embodied, that they expand essentially the same as the measuring tubes and/or that they are sufficiently flexible, at least relative to forces, which extend in the direction of a line of action extending through the peaks of the two measuring tubes connected with one another by the particular coupling elements of second type or a line of action parallel thereto. The latter can be implemented, for example, by slits formed correspondingly in the particular coupling element—here, in each case, extending essentially transversely to aforementioned line of action—or, however, also by application of thin plates, or rods as coupling elements of second type. As a result, there is so also possible a small relative movement of the two measuring tubes connected by means of the respective coupling elements of second type, whereby the bent measuring tubes can—in case required for the particular application—be excited in the wanted mode, in each case, also to typical bending oscillations in the manner of a terminally clamped cantilever.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, as well as the coupling elements connecting these with one another, are, consequently, additionally so formed and so mechanically coupled with one another by means of coupling elements of second type, in given cases, supplementally also by means of coupling elements of first type, that a first measuring tube composite formed from the first and the third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ and a second measuring tube composite formed by the second and the fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄ have essentially the same mechanical eigenfrequencies.

In the example of an embodiment shown here, the first coupling element 25₁ of second type is affixed to the first and third, measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃, respectively, in the region of 50% of a minimum separation between the first coupling element 24₁ of first type and the second coupling element 24₂ of first type—, as a result, thus at about half the free, oscillatory length of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃, respectively. Additionally, also the second coupling element of second type is in corresponding manner affixed to the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄, respectively, in the region of 50% of a minimum separation between the first coupling element 24₁ of first type and the second coupling element 24₂ of first type, thus at about half the free, oscillatory length of the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄, respectively.

In advantageous manner, the coupling elements of second type can supplementally also serve as holders of components of the exciter mechanism 5. Therefore, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, it is provided, that each of the oscillation exciters 5₁, 5₂, especially equally constructed and/or equally heavy oscillation exciters, is held, partially, in each case, on two coupling elements of second type—here, the first and second coupling elements 25₁, 25₂—lying opposite to one another. Thus, it can, in very effective and, equally as well, very simple manner, be assured, that the exciter force generated by means of the oscillation exciter 5₁ effects at least predominantly synchronous, especially also of essentially equal phase to one another, bending oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃, or the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄. For example, in the case of electrodynamic oscillation exciters, the cylindrical coils can be affixed to the first coupling element of second type and the, in each case, associated permanent magnet to the oppositely lying, second coupling element of second type. For the mentioned case, in which the exciter mechanism 5 includes two oscillation exciters 5₁, 5₂, especially oscillation exciters as equally heavy as possible, both the first oscillation exciter 5₁ as well as also the second oscillation exciter 5₂ can, in each case, be held on the first and second coupling elements 25₁, 25₂ of second type, for example, also in such a manner, that, as directly evident from FIG. 4, or FIG. 5a, there is a minimum separation between the first and second oscillation exciters 5₁, 5₂ of more than three times as large as a tube outer diameter of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, at least, however, of the first measuring tube 18₁, while being kept, in total, as small as possible, in order to enable an optimal exploitation of the available room in the inner space of the transducer housing 7₁, as well as also a simple mounting of the oscillation exciters 5₁, 5₂. Alternatively to the application of a second oscillation exciter 5₂ held on the first and second coupling elements 25₁, 25₂ of second type or in supplementation thereof, balancing masses can, as, for example, also shown in the initially mentioned US-A 2007/0151368, be placed on the two coupling elements for the purpose of preventing of undesired torsional moments, especially such around the longitudinal axis L.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the measuring transducer comprises, additionally, a third coupling element 25₃ of second type, for example, again, a plate shaped or rod shaped, coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube 18₁ and to the third measuring tube 18₃ and spaced both from the first coupling element 24₁ of first type as well as also from the second coupling element 24₂ of first type, as well as also from the first coupling element 25₁ of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube 18₁ and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃, as well as a fourth coupling element 25₄ of second type, especially a plate shaped or rod shaped, coupling element of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube 18₂ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced both from the first and second coupling elements of first type as well as also from the second and third coupling elements of second type, in each case, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube 18₂ and thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube 18₄. The third and fourth coupling elements 25₃, 25₄ of second type are, such as directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and 6a, preferably placed in the measuring transducer 11 lying opposite to one another.

Additionally, the measuring transducer 11 comprises, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, a fifth coupling element 25₅ of second type, especially a plate shaped or rod shaped fifth coupling element 25₅ of second type, which is affixed only to the first measuring tube 18₁ and to the third measuring tube 18₃ and spaced both from the first and second coupling elements of first type as well as also from the first and third coupling elements of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the first measuring tube 18₁ and of thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the third measuring tube 18₃, as well as a sixth coupling element 25₆ of second type, especially a plate shaped or rod shaped, sixth coupling element 25₆ of second type, which is affixed only to the second measuring tube 18₂ and to the fourth measuring tube 18₄ and spaced, in each case, both from the first and second coupling elements of first type as well as also from the second, fourth and fifth coupling elements of second type, for synchronizing vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the second measuring tube and of thereto equal frequency vibrations, especially bending oscillations, of the fourth measuring tube. The fifth and sixth coupling elements 25₅, 25₆ of second type are, preferably, again, placed lying opposite to one another in the measuring transducer 11.

Furthermore, it can be of advantage to use the aforementioned coupling elements of second type additionally also for holding individual components of the sensor arrangement. In accordance therewith, it is provided, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, that the inlet-side, first oscillation sensor 19₁ is held, partially, in each case, on the third and fourth coupling elements 25₃, 25₄ of second type. Additionally, the second oscillation sensor 19₂ is, in corresponding manner, held on the fifth and sixth coupling elements 25₅, 25₆ of second type. Thus, it can, in very effective, equally as well very simple manner, be assured, that the oscillation measurement signal generated, during operation, by means of the first oscillation sensor 19₁ represents. at least predominantly, synchronous, inlet-side, bending oscillations (especially also bending oscillations of equal phase to one another) of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ relative to the equally synchronized, inlet-side, bending oscillations (especially also bending oscillations of phase equal to one another) of the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄, or that the oscillation measurement signal generated, during operation, by means of the second oscillation sensor 19₂ represents, at least predominantly, synchronous, outlet-side, bending oscillations (especially also bending oscillations of phase equal to one another) of the first and third measuring tubes 18₁, 18₃ relative to the equally synchronized, outlet-side, bending oscillations (especially also bending oscillations of phase equal to one another) of the second and fourth measuring tubes 18₂, 18₄. For example, in the case of electrodynamic oscillation sensors, the cylindrical coil of the first oscillation sensor 19₁ can be affixed to the third coupling element of second type and the associated permanent magnet to the oppositely lying, fourth coupling element of second type, or the cylindrical coil of the second oscillation sensor 19₂ can be affixed to the fifth, and the associated permanent magnet to the oppositely lying, sixth coupling element of second type. For the mentioned case, in which the sensor arrangement 19 is formed by means of four oscillation sensors 19₁, 19₂, 19₃, 19₄, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, both the first oscillation sensor 19₁ as well as also the third oscillation sensor 19₃ are, in each case, partially held on the third and fourth coupling elements of second type, especially in such a manner, that, such as directly evident from the combination of FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, a minimum separation between the first and third oscillation sensors 19₁, 19₃ is more than twice, especially more then 2.5 times, as large as a tube outer diameter of the first measuring tube 18₁. In corresponding manner, additionally, also the second oscillation sensor 19₂ and the fourth oscillation sensor 19₄ can, in each case, be held on the fifth and sixth coupling elements of second type. Alternatively to the application of third and fourth oscillation sensors held on coupling elements 25₁, 25₂ of second type or in supplementation thereto, balancing masses can, as, for example, also shown in the initially mentioned US-A 2007/0151368, be placed on the respective coupling elements for the purpose of preventing of undesired torsional moments, especially such around the longitudinal axis L.

For additional improving of the oscillation quality factor of the tube arrangement in the case of an as short as possible installed length L₁₁ of the measuring transducer 11, or in the case of an as short as possible free oscillatory length L_18x of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, or 18₄, additionally, annular stiffening elements can be used on the measuring tubes, of which each is so placed on exactly one of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, 18₄, that it grips around such along one of its, especially circular orbiting, imaginary peripheral lines; compare, for this, also the initially mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,798. Especially, it can, in such case, be of advantage, when on each of the measuring tubes 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, or 18₄, at least four such stiffening elements, especially equally constructed stiffening elements, are placed. The stiffening elements can, in such case, for example, be so placed in the measuring transducer 11, that two adjoining stiffening elements mounted on the same measuring tube have a separation from one another, which amounts to at least 70% of a pipe outer-diameter of said measuring tube, at most, however, 150% of such pipe outer-diameter. Proved as especially suitable has been, in such case, a separation from one another of neighboring stiffening elements lying in the range of 80% to 120% of the pipe-outer diameter of the respective measuring tube 18₁, 18₂, 18₃, or 18₄.

Through the application of four instead of, such as to this point, two measuring tubes flowed-through in parallel, it is then also possible to manufacture, cost effectively, measuring transducers of the described type also for large mass flow rates, or with large nominal diameters of far over 250 mm, on the one hand, with an accuracy of measurement of over 99.8% at an acceptable pressure drop, especially of about 1 bar or less, and, on the other hand, to keep the installed mass, as well as also the empty mass, of such measuring transducers sufficiently in limits, that, in spite of large nominal diameter, manufacture, transport, installation, as well as also operation can always still occur economically sensibly. Especially also through implementing of above explained measures for further developing the invention—individually or also in combination—, measuring transducers of the type being discussed can also, in the case of large nominal diameter, be so embodied and so dimensioned, that a mass ratio of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the mentioned empty mass of the measuring transducer to a total mass of the tube arrangement can be kept directly smaller than 3, especially smaller than 2.5.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and forgoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein are desired to protected.

Claims

1. A measuring transducer of vibration-type for registering at least one physical, measured variable of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline and/or for producing Coriolis forces serving for registering a mass flow rate of a flowable medium guided in a pipeline, said measuring transducer comprising: a transducer housing, of which an inlet-side, first housing end is formed by means of an inlet-side, first flow divider including four, mutually spaced, flow openings, and an outlet-side, second housing end formed by means of an outlet-side, second flow divider including four, mutually spaced, flow openings;a tube arrangement including four curved measuring tubes connected to said first and second flow dividers, of whicha first measuring tube of said four curved measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a first flow opening of said first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a first flow opening of said second flow divider,a second measuring tube of said four curved measuring tubes, which is at least sectionally parallel to said first measuring tube, opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a second flow opening of said first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a second flow opening of said second flow divider,a third measuring tube of said four curved measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a third flow opening of said first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a third flow opening of said second flow divider, anda fourth measuring tube of said four curved measuring tubes, which is at least sectionally parallel to the third measuring tube, opens with an inlet-side, first measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening of said first flow divider and with an outlet-side, second measuring tube end into a fourth flow opening of said second flow divider; andan electromechanical exciter mechanism for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of said four curved measuring tubes;wherein said four curved measuring tubes are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that:said tube arrangement defines a first imaginary longitudinal-section plane with respect to which said tube arrangement is mirror symmetric, said first imaginary longitudinal-section plane lying between said first measuring tube and said third measuring tube as well as between said second measuring tube and said fourth measuring tube; andsaid tube arrangement defines perpendicular to its imaginary first longitudinal-section plane a second imaginary longitudinal-section plane, with respect to which said tube arrangement likewise is mirror symmetric, said second imaginary longitudinal-section plane extending between said first measuring tube and said second measuring tube as well as between said third measuring tube and said fourth measuring tube.

2. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that an imaginary first connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting said first flow opening of said first flow divider with said first flow opening of said second flow divider extends parallel to an imaginary second connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting said second flow opening of said first flow divider with said second flow opening of said second flow divider, and an imaginary third connecting axis of the measuring transducer imaginarily connecting said third flow opening of said first flow divider with said third flow opening of said second flow divider extends parallel to an imaginary fourth connecting axis of said measuring transducer imaginarily connecting said fourth flow opening of said first flow divider with said fourth flow opening of said second flow divider.

3. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that a first imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which said first imaginary connecting axis and said second imaginary connecting axis extend, is parallel to a second imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which said imaginary third connecting axis and said imaginary fourth connecting axis extend.

4. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer in such a manner, that said first imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the tube arrangement lies between said first and second imaginary longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer and/or is parallel to the first and second imaginary longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer; and/orsaid two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that a third imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which said imaginary first connecting axis and said imaginary third connecting axis extend, is parallel to a fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which said imaginary second connecting axis and said imaginary fourth connecting axis extend; and/orsaid two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that said first and second connecting axes are parallel to a principal flow axis of the measuring transducer aligning with the pipeline.

5. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said two flow dividers are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer in such a manner, that the first imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the tube arrangement lies between the first and second imaginary longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer and/or is parallel to the first and second imaginary longitudinal-section planes of the measuring transducer, and that a third imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary first connecting axis and the imaginary third connecting axis extend, is parallel to a fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer, within which the imaginary second connecting axis and the imaginary fourth connecting axis extend.

6. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said measuring tubes are so embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer, that the second imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the tube arrangement extends between the third imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer and the fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer.

7. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the measuring tubes are embodied and arranged in the measuring transducer in such a manner, that the second imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the tube arrangement is parallel to the third imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer and parallel to the fourth imaginary longitudinal-section plane of the measuring transducer.

8. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first coupling element of first type which is affixed on the inlet side at least to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider, for forming inlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations of the second measuring tube, as well asa second coupling element of first type, which is affixed on the outlet side at least to the first measuring tube and to the second measuring tube and spaced both from the first flow divider as well as also from the second flow divider, as well as also from the first coupling element, for forming outlet-side, oscillation nodes at least for vibrations of the first measuring tube and for thereto opposite phase vibrations of the second measuring tube.

9. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the first flow divider includes a flange for connecting the measuring transducer to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for supplying medium to the measuring transducer and the second flow divider includes a flange for connecting the measuring transducer to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for removing medium from the measuring transducer, each of said flanges including, respectively, a sealing surface for fluid tight connecting of the measuring transducer with a corresponding tubular segment of the pipeline, and a distance between the sealing surfaces of both flanges defines an installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer, andan oscillatory length to installed length ratio, L18x/L11, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the free, oscillatory length, L18x, of the first measuring tube, corresponding to a free, oscillatory length, L18x, of the first measuring tube corresponding to a length of a section of the deflection curve extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type, to the installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.55.

10. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 8, wherein a free, oscillatory length, L18x, of the first measuring tube corresponding to a length of a section of the deflection curve extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type, amounts to more than 800 mm; and/or wherein the first measuring tube and the second measuring tube are parallel to one another at least over a region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type, and wherein the third measuring tube and the fourth measuring tube are parallel to one another at least over a region extending between the first coupling element of first type and the second coupling element of first type.

11. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 10, wherein a caliber to oscillatory length ratio, D18/L18x, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber, D18, of the first measuring tube to the free, oscillatory length, L18x, of the first measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.03.

12. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the four measuring tubes shows a caliber, D18, which amounts to more than 40 mm; and/or wherein the measuring tubes are so curved and so arranged, that a caliber to height ratio of the tube arrangement, defined by a ratio of a caliber, D18, of the first measuring tube to a maximal lateral expanse of the tube arrangement, measured from a peak of the first measuring tube to a peak of the third measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.1; and/orwherein a measuring tube length, L18, of the first measuring tube corresponding to a length of a section, extending between the first flow opening of the first flow divider and the first flow opening of the second flow divider, of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube amounts to more than 1000 mm.

13. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first flow divider includes a flange for connecting the measuring transducer to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for supplying medium to the measuring transducer and the second flow divider includes a flange for connecting the measuring transducer to a tubular segment of the pipeline serving for removing medium from the measuring transducer.

14. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the flanges includes, respectively, a sealing surface for fluid tight connecting of the measuring transducer with a corresponding tubular segment of the pipeline, and a distance between the sealing surfaces of both flanges defines an installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer.

15. The measuring transducer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the installed length amounts to more than 1200 mm; wherein a measuring tube length to installed length ratio, L18/L11, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a measuring tube length, L18, of the first measuring tube to the installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.7, said measuring tube length, L18, corresponding to a length of a section, extending between the first flow opening of the first flow divider and the first flow opening of the second flow divider, of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube; and/orwherein a caliber to installed length ratio, D18/L11, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber, D18, of the first measuring tube to the installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.02; and/orwherein a nominal diameter to installed length ratio, D11/L11, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of the nominal diameter of the measuring transducer, which diameter corresponds to a caliber of the pipeline, in whose course the measuring transducer is to be used, to the installed length of the measuring transducer, is smaller than 0.3; and/orwherein the sensor arrangement includes an inlet-side, first oscillation sensor, an outlet-side, second oscillation sensor, an inlet-side, third oscillation sensor, and a fourth oscillation sensor, and a measuring length to oscillatory length ratio, L19/L18x, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a measuring length, L19, of the measuring transducer corresponding to a length of a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor to the free, oscillatory length, L18x, of the first measuring tube, amounts to more than 0.3.

16. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor arrangement reacting to vibrations of the measuring tubes for producing oscillation measurement signals representing vibrations of the measuring tubes.

17. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensor arrangement includes an inlet-side, first oscillation sensor, an outlet-side, second oscillation sensor, an inlet-side, third oscillation sensor, and a fourth oscillation sensor.

18. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and third oscillation sensors are interconnected electrically in series, in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal represents combined inlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes relative to the second and fourth measuring tubes, and the second and fourth oscillation sensors are interconnected electrically in series, in such a manner, that a combined oscillation measurement signal represents combined outlet-side oscillations of the first and third measuring tubes relative to the second and fourth measuring tubes.

19. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 17, wherein a measuring length, L19, of the measuring transducer corresponding to a length of a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor amounts to more than 500 mm; and/or wherein a measuring length to installed length ratio, L19/L11, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a measuring length, L19, corresponding to a length of a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor, to the installed length, L11, of the measuring transducer, amounts to more than 0.3; and/orwherein a caliber to measuring length ratio, D18/L19, of the measuring transducer, as defined by a ratio of a caliber, D18, of the first measuring tube to a measuring length, L19, of the measuring transducer corresponding to a length of a section of a deflection curve of the first measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor, amounts to more than 0.05.

20. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mass ratio, M11/M18: of an empty mass, M11, of the total measuring transducer to an empty mass, M18, of the first measuring tube is greater than 10; and/or wherein each of the two flow dividers shows a mass of more than 20 kg; and/orwherein an empty mass, M18, of the first measuring tube is greater than 20 kg; and/orwherein an empty mass, M11, of the measuring transducer is greater than 200 kg; and/or

21. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the four measuring tubes are of equal construction as regards a material, of which their tube walls are composed, and/or as regards their geometric tube dimensions, especially a measuring tube length, a tube wall thickness, a tube outer diameter and/or a caliber; and/or wherein a material, of which the tube walls of the four measuring tubes are at least partially composed, is titanium and/or zirconium and/or duplex steel and/or super duplex steel.

22. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transducer housing, the flow dividers and tube walls of the measuring tubes are composed, in each case, of steel, especially stainless steel.

23. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the measuring tubes shows a bending oscillation fundamental mode of minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequency, f181; f182; f183; f184, with the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies, f181, f182, at least of the first and second measuring tubes are essentially equal and the minimum bending oscillation, resonance frequencies, f183, f184, at least of the third and fourth measuring tubes are essentially equal.

24. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the four flow openings of the first flow divider are so arranged, that imaginary areal centers of gravity associated with the cross sectional areas of the flow openings of the first flow divider form the vertices of an imaginary square, said cross sectional areas lying in a shared imaginary cross sectional cutting plane of the first flow divider, andthe four flow openings of the second flow divider are so arranged, that imaginary areal centers of gravity associated with cross sectional areas of the flow openings of the second flow divider form the vertices of an imaginary square, said said cross sectional areas lying in a shared imaginary cross sectional cutting plane of the second flow divider.

25. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exciter mechanism is embodied in such a manner that the first measuring tube and the second measuring tube are excitable during operation to opposite phase, bending oscillations and the third measuring tube and the fourth measuring tube are excitable during operation to opposite phase bending oscillations; and/or wherein the exciter mechanism is formed by means of a first oscillation exciter differentially exciting oscillations of the first measuring tube relative to the second measuring tube, and by means of a second oscillation exciter differentially exciting oscillations of the third measuring tube relative to the fourth measuring tube.

26. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a middle segment of the transducer housing is formed by means of a straight tube.

27. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, comprising not more than four measuring tubes.

28. Measuring transducer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the four measuring tubes are aligned only pairwise parallel.

29. In-line measuring device for measuring a density and/or a mass flow rate, especially also a total mass flow totaled over a time interval, of a medium, especially a gas, a liquid, a powder or other flowable material, flowing in a pipeline, at least at times, especially with a mass flow rate of more than 1000 t/h, which in-line measuring device, especially an in-line measuring device embodied as a compact device, comprises: a measuring transducer as claimed in one of the preceding claims; as well as a measuring device electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer, especially also a measuring device electronics mechanically rigidly connected with the measuring transducer.

30. Use of a measuring transducer according to claim 1 for measuring a density and/or a mass flow rate, especially also a total mass flow totaled over a time interval, of a medium, especially a gas, a liquid, a powder or other flowable material, flowing in a pipeline, at least at times, with a mass flow rate of more than 1000 t/h, especially more than 1500 t/h.