SENSOR FOR VIBRATION DENSIMETER

Abstract

The technical result consists in increased accuracy of density measurements of a liquid using a simplified sensor configuration. The sensor for a vibration densimeter comprises a hollow cylindrical body on one end face of which is hermetically attached a metal membrane. To the inner side of the membrane is attached a piezoelectric element, and to the outer side of the membrane is attached a mechanical vibration transducer, which is made in the form of a tuning fork, to which a hollow cylindrical resonator is attached in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the base of the tuning fork is attached to the membrane, and the teeth of the tuning fork are attached to an end face of the hollow cylindrical resonator.

Claims

1. A sensor for a vibration densimeter comprising: a hollow cylindrical body having an end face; a metal membrane hermetically attached to the end face, the metal membrane having an inner side and an outer side; a piezoelectric element attached to the inner side of the metal membrane; and a mechanical vibration transducer attached to the outer side of the metal membrane, the transducer being made in a form of a tuning fork to which a hollow cylindrical resonator is attached in a longitudinal direction, wherein a base of the tuning fork is attached to the membrane, and wherein teeth of the tuning fork are attached to an end face of the hollow cylindrical resonator.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical vibration transducer is attached to the membrane by a base of the transducer.

3. A sensor for a vibration densimeter comprising: a hollow cylindrical body having an end face; a metal membrane hermetically attached to the face, the metal membrane having an inner side and the outer side; a piezoelectric element attached to the inner side of the metal membrane; and a mechanical vibration transducer attached to the outer side of the metal membrane, the transducer being made in the form of a tuning fork to which a hollow cylindrical resonator is attached in a transverse direction, wherein a base of the tuning fork is attached to the membrane, and wherein teeth of the tuning fork are attached to side surfaces of the hollow cylindrical resonator.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the vibration transducer is attached to the membrane by a base of the transducer.

5. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the teeth of the vibration transducer are attached at equal distances from end faces of the cylindrical resonator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the first embodiment in a front view.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the first embodiment in a side view.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the second embodiment in a front view.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the second embodiment in a side view.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a drawing illustrating the operation of the sensor.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows the change in the shape of the cylindrical resonator when oscillations are excited.

[0023] FIG. 7 shows a view of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the first embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows a view of the sensor for a vibration densimeter according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The sensor for a vibration densimeter (FIG. 1-FIG. 4) comprises a hollow cylindrical body 1, on one end face of which is rigidly and hermetically attached a metal membrane 3. Inside the cavity 2 of the hollow body 1 is arranged a piezoelectric element 4, attached on the inner side of the metal membrane 3. On the outer side of the metal membrane 3 is rigidly attached a vibration transducer, made in the form of a mechanical tuning fork 5, a base 7 of which is attached to the outer side of the membrane 3.

[0026] In the first embodiment of the invention, teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5 are attached to an end face 9 of a cylindrical resonator 8. (FIG. 1-FIG. 2).

[0027] In the second embodiment of the invention, the teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5 are attached to the side surface 11 of the cylindrical resonator 10. (FIG. 3-FIG. 4). In the best embodiment, the teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5 are attached at equal distances from the ends of the cylindrical resonator 10.

[0028] In the body 1 is also arranged an electronics unit (not shown in the figures), which generates an excitation signal for the piezoelectric element 4, and also serves to process the signals that occur in the piezoelectric element 4 after excitation of oscillations of the cylindrical resonator 8, 10.

[0029] The sensor in the first embodiment operates as follows.

[0030] An excitation signal is sent from the electronics unit to the terminals of the piezoelectric element 4 (FIG. 5) that is connected to the metal membrane 3. This results in that the surface of the membrane 3 is periodically bent (curved), i.e. the surface of the membrane 3 will oscillate with the frequency of the excitation signal. The same movements will be made by the base 7 of the vibration transducer, i.e. the tuning fork 5 that is connected to the outer surface of the membrane 3. In accordance with known mechanism of vibrations of the tuning fork, when the base 7 of the tuning fork 5 moves upwards, the teeth 6 of the tuning fork converge, when the base 7 moves downwards, the teeth 6 diverge. Since the teeth 6 of the tuning fork are connected to the cylindrical resonator 8, its walls will also oscillate, but in the horizontal plane (i.e. in radial direction with respect to the axis of the cylindrical resonator) (FIG. 6) and the cylindrical resonator 8 will be radially excited.

[0031] Thus, vertical vibrations of the metal membrane 3 by means of the vibration transducer, i.e. the tuning fork 5, are transformed into horizontal (in the coordinates of the figure) vibrations of the walls of the cylindrical resonator 1.

[0032] Further, using a tuning fork as a vibration transducer optimizes the adjustment of the membrane with the cylindrical resonator, since small in amplitude longitudinal vibrations of the membrane that is rigidly connected to the tuning fork base are transformed into large in amplitude transverse vibrations of the tuning fork teeth and, accordingly, into large vibration amplitudes of the cylindrical resonator walls.

[0033] If the frequency of the excitation signal coincides with the natural frequency of the cylindrical resonator 8, a resonance will be observed, accompanied by an increase in the amplitude of oscillations of the walls of the cylindrical resonator 8. Vibrations of the walls of the resonator 8, in turn, are transmitted to the teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5 and, in accordance with the mechanism of vibrations of the tuning fork, lead to vertical vibrations of the base 7 of the tuning fork 5 and further, to vibrations of the membrane 3 and compression/extension of the piezoelectric element 4.

[0034] Thus, from the side of the terminals of the piezoelectric element 4, the sensor can be considered as an electrical circuit, the frequency properties of which (resonant frequencies, quality factor/attenuation) are determined by the configuration of the sensor and the properties of the environment in which the sensor is placed.

[0035] The electronics unit measures the frequency properties of the circuit and, on their basis, determines the density of the medium and its viscosity, since the quality factor, i.e. attenuation depends not only on the configuration of the sensor, but also on the viscosity of the medium (losses due to heating of oscillating particles), in which the cylindrical resonator is placed 8.

[0036] These examinations can be carried out, for example, by the pulse method. To do this, the sensor should be periodically excited by a pulse signal. Examining the response to an impulse action, the electronic unit measures the natural frequency of the sensor in the medium and evaluates the attenuation of the medium. Based on these measured values is determined the density of the medium and its viscosity.

[0037] In the second embodiment of the sensor, its operation practically occurs the same way. Since the teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5 are attached to the side surface of the cylindrical resonator 10, the oscillations of its walls will also occur in the horizontal plane. The oscillations of the walls of the resonator 10 after its excitation are transmitted back to the teeth 6 of the tuning fork 5, and also lead to vertical vibrations of the base 7 of the tuning fork 5, and further to vibrations of the membrane 3 and compression/extension of the piezoelectric element 4.

[0038] This configuration embodiment of the sensor for a vibration densimeter is characterized by a reduction of the frontal resistance of the sensor when it is placed in a liquid or gas flow. Therefore, it can be recommended as a flow densimeter for a liquid or a gas.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0039] The drawings of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show the sensors of experimental vibration densimeters in two implementation embodiments. These densimeters offer high accuracy in density measurement, are easy to manufacture and to operate, and can be used to measure liquid and gaseous media, both at rest and in motion.