Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 1 of 25 PageID #: 3898
`Case 6:l2—cv—00799—JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 1 of 25 Page|D #: 3898
`
`EXHIBIT 9
`
`EXHIBIT 9
`
`
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 2 of 25 PageID #: 3899
`
`United States Patent [t9J
`Thompson
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`(45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,050,439
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`[54] CORIOLIS-TYPE MASS FLOWMETER
`CIRCUITRY
`Inventor: Duane T. Thompson, Franklin, Mass.
`(75]
`[73] Assignee: The Foxboro Company, Foxboro,
`Mass.
`[21] Appl. No.: 420,569
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 12, 1989
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[60] Division of Ser. No. 116,257, Oct. 29, 1987, Pat. No.
`4,911,020, which is a continuation-in-pari of Ser. No.
`923,847, Oct. 28, 1986, Pat. No. 4,891,991.
`Int. Cl.s ................................................ GOlF 1/84
`[51]
`[52] u.s. Cl. ···························•······················ 73/861.38
`[58] Field of Search ......................... 73/861.38, 861.37
`[56]
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Re. 31,450 11/1983 Smith ............................... 73/861.38
`3,509,767 5/1970 Greer ................................... : 73/705
`3,927,565 12/1975 Pavlin eta!. .: ................... 73/194 M
`4,127,028 11/1978 Cox eta!. ......................... 73/861.38
`4,187,721 2/1980 Smith ................................ 73/194 B
`4,192,184 3/1980 Cox eta!. .......................... 73/194 B
`4,252,028 2/1981 Smith eta! ....................... 73/861.38
`4,311,054 1/1982 Cox eta!. ......................... 73/861.38
`4,422,338 12/1983 Smith ............................... 73/861.38
`4,491,009 1/1985 Ruesch ............................... 73/32 A
`4,655,089 4/1987 Kappelt eta!. .................. 73/861.38
`4,660,421 4/1987 Dahlin eta!. .................... 73/861.38
`4,691,578 9/1987 Herzl ................................ 73/861.38
`4,703,600 11/1987 Brenneman ...................... 73/861.38
`4,747,312 5/1988 Herzl ................................ 73/861.38
`4,756,197 7/1988 Herzl ................................ 73/861.38
`4,759,223 7/1988 Frost ................................ 73/861.38
`
`4,777,833 10/1988 Carpenter ........................ 73/861.38
`4,782,711 11/1988 Pratt ................................. 73/861.38
`4,817,448 4/1989 Hargarten eta! ................ 73/861.38
`4,823,614 4/1989 Dahlin .............................. 73/861.38
`4,831,855 5/1989 Dahlin .............................. 73/861.38
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0212782 3/1987 European Pat. Off ..
`W08505677 12/1985 PCT Int'l Appl. .
`W08600699 1/1986 PCT Int'l Appl. .
`W08702469 4/1987 PCT Int'l Appl. .
`Primary Examiner-Herbert Goldstein
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fish & Richardson
`(57]
`ABSTRACT
`Displacement sensors at opposite ends of at least one
`oscillating conduit produce output signals from which
`the drive component or the Coriolis component, or
`preferably both, are recovered. An oscillatory drive
`signal is derived from the drive component, and a mass
`flow signal is derived from the Corio lis component. The
`remaining drive component in a combination of the two
`sensor outputs is nulled by amplitude control of one
`sensor output. Two force drivers at opposite ends of the
`conduit are driven by complementary drive signals to
`which a perturbation signal is added. The remaining
`perturbation signal in a combination of the two sensor
`outputs is nulled by adding compensation to both drive
`signals to eliminate drive force imbalance. Synchronous
`demodulation is used in the preferred embodiment to
`detect several parameters in a combination of the sensor
`outputs. In a dual loop configuration, pairs of sensors
`and/or force drivers are located at opposite ends of
`each conduit section.
`
`21 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`MM1098911
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 3 of 25 PageID #: 3900
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`5,050,439
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 4 of 25 PageID #: 3901
`.
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 2 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`FIG. 2
`
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`MM1098913
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`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 5 of 25 PageID #: 3902
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`FIG. 4
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`MM1098914
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 6 of 25 PageID #: 3903
`.
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`Sheet 4 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`U.S. Patent
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`MM1098915
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 7 of 25 PageID #: 3904
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`FIG. 10A
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 8 of 25 PageID #: 3905
`.
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 6 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`FIG.12
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`MM1098917
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 9 of 25 PageID #: 3906
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 10 of 25 PageID #: 3907
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 11 of 25 PageID #: 3908
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 12 of 25 PageID #: 3909
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 13 of 25 PageID #: 3910
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`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 14 of 25 PageID #: 3911
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 1991
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
`
`5,050,439
`
`~ .
`
`MM1098923
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 15 of 25 PageID #: 3912
`
`1
`
`5,050,439
`
`CORIOLIS-TYPE MASS FLOWMETER
`CIRCUITRY
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`The present application is a division of application
`Ser. No. 07/116,257, filed Oct. 29, 1987, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,911,020, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 923,847 filed Oct. 28, 1986,
`now U.S. Pat No. 4,891,991 by Wade M. Mattar et al.
`entitled "Coriolis-Type Mass Flowmeter" assigned to
`the assignee of the present application and incorporated
`herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`5
`
`2
`point for oscillation and thus obviate separate rotary or
`flexible joints and moreover offers the possibility of
`using the resonant frequency of vibration to reduce
`drive energy.
`Several aspects of oscillating conduit Coriolis mass
`flowmeters require electronic instrumentation. First,
`inducing the oscillation in the conduit requires a drive
`control system sensitive to spurious vibration and capa(cid:173)
`ble usually of maintaining a constant amplitude as well
`10 as frequency of oscillation. Second, the movement of
`the conduit has to be detected and measured in such a
`- way as to reveal the amount of the extraneous deflec"
`tion or offset of the conduit due exclusively to Coriolis
`force. This application presents electronic instrumenta(cid:173)
`lS tion for implementing drive control and sensing func(cid:173)
`tions in oscillating conduit Coriolis mass flowmeters.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to electronic control
`and sensing circuitry for oscillating conduit Coriolis(cid:173)
`type mass flowmeters.
`A mass flowmeter is an instrument which provides a 20
`direct indication of the quantity or mass, as opposed to
`volume or velocity, of material being transferred
`through a pipeline.
`·
`One class of mass measuring flowmeters is based on
`the well-known Coriolis effect. Coriolis forces are ex- 25
`hibited in the radial movement of mass on a rotating
`body. Imagine a planar surface rotating at constant
`angular. velocity about an axis, perpendicularly inter(cid:173)
`secting the surface. A mass travelling radially outward
`on the surface at what appears to be a constant linear 30
`speed actually speeds up in the tangential direction
`because the larger the radial distance of a point from the
`center of rotation, the faster the point must travel. The
`increase in velocity, however, means that the mass has
`been indirectly accelerated. The acceleration of the 35
`mass generates a -reaction force, called the Cor:iolis
`effect, in the"plane of rotation perpendicular to the
`instantaneous radial movement of the mass. In vector
`terminology, the Coriolis force vector is the cross(cid:173)
`product of the angular velocity vector (parallel to the 40
`rotational axis) and the velocity vector of the mass in
`the direction of its travel with respect to the axis of
`rotation (e.g., radial). Consider the mass as a person
`walking a straight line radially outward on a turntable
`rotating clockwise at a constant rate and the reaction 45
`force will be manifested as a listing to the left to com(cid:173)
`pensate for acceleration.
`The potential applicability of the Coriolis effect to
`mass flow measurement was recognized long ago. If a
`pipe is rotated about a pivot axis orthogonal to the pipe,. 50
`material flowing through the pipe becomes a radially
`travelling mass which, therefore, experiences accelera(cid:173)
`tion. The Coriolis reaction force experienced by the
`travelling fluid mass is transferred to the pipe itself as a
`deflection or offset of the pipe in the direction of the 55
`Coriolis force vector in the. plane of rotation.
`Coriolis-type mass flowmeters induce a Corio lis force
`in two significantly different ways: by continuously
`rotating or by oscillating back and forth. The principal
`functional difference is that the oscillating version, un- 60
`like the continuously rotating one, has periodically (i.e.,
`usually sinusoidally) varying angular velocity produc(cid:173)
`ing, as a result, a continuously varying level of Coriolis
`force. A major difficulty in oscillatory systems is that
`the Coriolis effect is relatively small compared not only 65
`to the drive force but even to extraneous vibrations. On
`the other hand, an oscillatory system can employ the
`bending resiliency of the pipe itself as a hinge or pivot
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A general feature of the invention is a signal process(cid:173)
`ing and control system for a Corio lis-type mass flowme(cid:173)
`ter characterized by oscillating several conduit sections
`in synchronism, detecting displacement of respective
`ends of the sections and producing two corresponding
`complementary sensor outputs for each section, each
`including a drive component and a Coriolis component,
`combining corresponding ones of the displacement sen(cid:173)
`sor outputs for both conduit sections and recovering at
`least one of the components from the two combined
`sensor outputs.
`Preferred embodiments of the invention include the
`following features taken individually and in various
`combinations~ An oscillatory drive signal is derived
`from the drive component and a mass flow signal is
`derived from the Coriolis component. Preferably, a
`mass flow indication is derived by synchronous demod(cid:173)
`ulation of the recovered Coriolis component with re(cid:173)
`spect to a quadrature reference signal. An oscillatory
`drive signal is derived from the recovered drive compo-
`nent. The natural resonant frequency of the conduit
`section is tapped by proportioning the drive signal to
`the first derivative of the recovered drive component.
`In the preferred embodiment, a dual loop configuration,
`pairs of sensors and force drivers, are located at oppo(cid:173)
`site ends of each conduit section. The outputs of sensors
`at corresponding ends are summed. Complementary
`drive signals are applied to the respective drivers at
`opposite ends.
`Another general feature of the invention is related to
`providing gain balance between the sensor· channels.
`Any remnant of the drive component remaining in a
`combination of the two sensor outputs designed to can(cid:173)
`cel the drive components is nulled by amplitude control
`of one sensor output or output channel for a combina(cid:173)
`tion of corresponding sensor outputs. In a preferred
`embodiment of this system, a channel gain imbalance
`signal is developed and employed to control the ampli(cid:173)
`tude of one sensor output. In the preferred system, the
`recovered Coriolis component is synchronously de(cid:173)
`modulated with respect to an in-phase reference signal
`to generate a balance error signal.
`Another general feature of the invention provides
`· compensation for drive force imbalance. In particular,
`two force drivers at opposite ends of the conduit section
`are driven by complementary drive signals to which a
`perturbation signal is added. Any remnant of the pertur(cid:173)
`bation signal in a combination of the two sensor outputs
`designed to cancel the drive components is nulled by
`
`MM1098924
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 16 of 25 PageID #: 3913
`
`5,050,439
`
`4
`tor output to improve gain balance. A perturbation
`signal is applied to both channels corresponding to
`opposite ends of the loop sections in quadrature with
`the sensed drive component with phase reversal every
`few cycles. The resulting third demodulator output is
`combined with the drive signals to reduce drive imbal(cid:173)
`ance.
`The signal processing and control system based· on
`phase measurements, according to the invention, elimi(cid:173)
`nates the need for tracking absolute amplitude of tube
`deflections. In the preferred system, the same signals
`which are employed to derive the mass flow indication
`develop the self-oscillating drive signal. The parallel
`arrangement of drivers and/or sensors for two loops
`enhances the symmetry and balance of the drive signals
`and increases the number of shared common elements.
`Imbalances inherent in the system due to differences in
`channel gain and drive force are automatically reduced
`by closed loop control systems which improve the ac(cid:173)
`curacy and reliability of the flowmeter.
`Other advantages and features will become apparent
`from the following description of the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment and from the claims.
`
`3
`adding compensation to both drive signals to eliminate
`drive force imbalance. In the preferred embodiment,
`the perturbation signal is out-of-phase with the drive
`signal, preferably in quadrature therewith. Since such a
`perturbation signal would cause a gradual rotation of 5
`drive phase if continuously applied, the polarity of the
`perturbation signal is periodically reversed. In the pre(cid:173)
`ferred system, the recovered Coriolis component is
`synchronously demodulated with a reference signal
`replicating the phase and frequency of the perturbation 10
`signal to produce a drive force balance error signal. A
`compensation signal is derived by algebraic combina(cid:173)
`tion of the error signal with the drive signal.
`Another general feature of the Invention is the tech(cid:173)
`nique of synchronously demodulating one of the recov- 15
`ered components with respect to a reference signal
`having a predetermined phase relationship with the
`other component. For example, the recovered Coriolis
`component is synchronously demodulated in the pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment with a reference in quadrature with 20
`the recovered drive component to yield a mass flow
`indication. A specific feature of the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention is the provision of plural synchro(cid:173)
`nous demodulators employing a plurality of respective
`reference signals each having a different phase relation- 25
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`ship with the other recovered component. One or more
`EMBODIMENTS
`of these reference signals is developed by generating an
`We first briefly describe-the drawings.
`intermediate signal, with a voltage controlled oscillator,
`FIG. 1 is an oblique isometric view of a double loop,
`for example, phase-locked to the recovered drive com-
`ponent and at a frequency which is a multiple of the 30 dual drive, central manifold, Coriolis effect mass flow(cid:173)
`meter.
`frequency of the recovered drive component, counting
`FIG. 2 is a plan schematic view of the flowmeter of
`transitions of the intermediate signal to produce a plu(cid:173)
`FIG. 1 with a· parallel flow manifold block.
`rality of counter outputs, and logically combining the
`FIG. 2A is a plan schematic fragmentary view like
`counter outputs to produce one or more reference sig(cid:173)
`that of FIG. 2 with a series flow manifold block.
`nals at the same frequency and with a selected phase 35
`FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the apparatus of
`relationship to the recovered drive component for use
`FIG. 2 in elevation taken in the indicated direction
`as a synchronous demodulator reference.
`along lines 3-3.
`In the preferred embodiment, the drive control and
`FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of
`measurement system is employed with a dual parallel
`FIG. 1 in more detail with portions of the central mani(cid:173)
`loop, dual drive Coriolis mass flowmeter in which each 40
`fold assembly broken away to reveal the inlet and outlet
`loop has an oscillating straight section with sensors and
`chambers.
`drivers located respectively at both ends of the straight
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view with portions in plan taken
`section. Sensor outputs and drive inputs for correspond(cid:173)
`in the direction indicated along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.
`ing ends of the two loop sections are connected in paral-
`FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the central mani(cid:173)
`lel to form respective channels. In the embodiment 45
`fold assembly with the tubes and support arm in section
`specific to the configuration having two loops and two
`taken in the direction indicated along the lines 6-6 of
`pairs of displacement sensors, output signals from sen(cid:173)
`FIG. 4.
`sors at corresponding ends are summed and demodu(cid:173)
`FIG. 7 is a plan view of an in-line embodiment of a
`lated before being combined with demodulated summed
`double loop, dual drive Cbriolis effect mass flowmeter
`output signals from the sensors at the opposite ends to .50
`in which the planes of the loops are oriented parallel to
`yield sum and difference signals representing, by design,
`the process line.
`Coriolis mode deflection and the sensed drive compo(cid:173)
`FIG. 8 is a side elevational. view of the apparatus of
`nent. The sensed drive component signal is differenti(cid:173)
`FIG. 7.
`ated and passed through a linear attenuator controlled
`FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of three modes
`by comparison of the full-wave-rectified drive signal 55
`of motion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 7.
`component to a DC reference voltage. Complementary
`FIGS. lOA and lOB are contrasting schematic repre(cid:173)
`versions of the gain-controlled-differentiated drive sig(cid:173)
`sentations of dual and single node plates respectively
`nal component are applied respectively to force drivers
`under exaggerated torsional in-plane deflection.
`for corresponding ends of the loop section.
`FIGS. llA and liB are contrasting schematic repre(cid:173)
`The Coriolis mode deflection signal in the preferred 60
`sentations of the effect of exaggerated torsional deflec(cid:173)
`embodiment is demodulated synchronously with three
`tion on the pipeline connected to the casting 16 in the
`different reference signals: a first signal in quadrature
`·perpendicular and in-line embodiments, respectively.
`with the sensed drive component (yielding flow data), a
`FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic, perspective and plan
`second signal in phase with the sensed drive component
`(yielding gain imbalance data), and third signal alter- 65
`representations of alternate loop configurations, respec(cid:173)
`nately in phase and tso• out of phase with the sensed
`tively.
`drive component (yielding drive imbalance data). The
`FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of an electrical
`gain of one channel is adjusted by the second demodula-
`circuit for the drivers and detectors associated with the
`
`MM1098925
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 17 of 25 PageID #: 3914
`
`5,050,439
`
`5
`perpendicular and in-line embodiments of FIG. 1 and
`FIG. 7.
`FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of another
`electrical circuit for the drivers and detectors associated
`with the perpendicular and in-line embodiments of FIG.
`1 and FIG. 7.
`FIG .. 16 is a schematic illustration of tube end dis(cid:173)
`placement polarity assignments for the circuit of FIG.
`15.
`FIG. 17 is a detailed electrical schematic of the three
`part demodulator circuit of FIG. 15 which acts on the
`Coriolis mode deflection signal.
`FIG. 18 is a detailed electrical schematic of the phase
`locked reference generator of FIG. 15.
`FIG. 19 is a timing diagram for representative signals
`in the circuit of FIG. 18.
`
`6
`for example, 0.825 inch in a one-inch pipe embodiment.
`The node plate serves as a stress isolation bar and de(cid:173)
`fines a common mechanical ground for each loop.
`An advantage of the node plate 41 as mechanical
`5 ground compared to the casting 16 is that the intercon(cid:173)
`nection of the plate and inlet/outlet legs 22, 24 is by way
`of completely external circular weldments on the upper
`and lower surfaces of the plate, forming two external
`rings around each leg. In contrast, the butt welds of the
`to tube ends to the bosses on the casting 16 are exposed on
`the interior to the process fluid which will tend in time
`- to cotrode the weldments faster if they are in constantly
`reversing torsional stress.
`Manifold casting 16 is channeled inside so that the
`15 inlet stream is diverted in parallel to upright legs 22 of
`loops 18 and 20 as sho..yn in FIG. 2. The loop outlet
`from upright legs 24 is combined and diverted to the
`MECHANICAL DESIGN
`outlet of the meter, back to the pipeline 10. The loops 18
`and 20 are thus connected in parallel, flow-wise as well
`A specific tubular configuration is described herein in
`two orientations, perpendicular and in-line with respect 20 as geometry-wise.
`to the direction of the process flow, i.e., the direction of
`FIG. 2A shows a variation in which the channels in
`flow in a straight section of pipeline in which the meter
`manifold block 16' are modified for series flow through
`is to be inserted. The implementations illustrated herein
`the loops. Blocks 16 and 16' are otherwise interchange-
`are designed for one inch pipelines for a variety of prod-
`able.
`ucts including petroleum based fuels, for example. The 25
`The manifold casting 16 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A
`flowmeter described herein, of course, is applicable to a
`pair of offset overlapping channels 42 and 44, parallel to
`wide variety of other specific designs for the same or
`the process line, are connected to the respective integral
`different applications.
`inlet and outlet pipe sections 10' by means of larger
`FIG.· 1 illustrates a double loop, dual drive/detector
`offset openings 46 and 48. Channels 42 and 44 are in
`system with torsional loading of the tube ends where 30 communication respectively with the inlet and outlet of
`they are connected to a single rigid central manifold
`the meter to form intake and exhaust manifolds. A pair
`connected in line with the process flow. The same em-
`of vertical spaced ports 52 through the casting 16 com-
`bodiment is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3-6 with more
`municate the inlet legs 22 of the loops 18 and 20 with the
`detail being provided in FIGS. 4-6.
`intake manifold formed by channel 42. Likewise, a pair
`The mass flowmeter of FIG. 1 is designed to be in- 35 of vertical spaced ports 54 communicate the upright
`outlet legs 24 of loops 18 and 20 with the exhaust mani-
`serted in a pipe!i'l.e 10 which has had a small section
`removed or rl!served to make room for the meter: The
`fold formed by channel 44. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6,
`pipeline 10 is equipped with opposing spaced flanges 12
`the ends of the two pairs of upright legs 22 and 24 are
`which mate with mounting flanges 14 welded to short · butt welded to hollow conical bosses 56 rising integrally
`sections of pipe 10' connected to a massive central mani- 40 from the casting coaxially with respective ports 52 and
`fold block 16 supporting the two parallel planar loops
`54.
`18 and 20. The configuration of loops 18 and 20 is essen-
`The electrical drjver/detector assemblies are sup-
`tially identical. Thus, the description of the shape of
`ported independently on the outboard ends of rigid
`loop 18 holds true for loop 20 as well. Manifold block
`opposed arms 60 and 62 in the form ofT-beams securely
`16 is preferably a casting in the shape of a solid retangu- 45 attached to opposite faces of the manifold casting 16 by
`Jar block with a flat horizontal upper surface or top 16a
`disk shaped mounting flanges 64. Flanges 64 and casting
`and integral pipe sections 10'. The ends of loop 18 com-
`16 may be matingly keyed as shown in FIG. 5 for extra
`stability. Cantilevered arms 60 and 62 extend parallel
`prise straight preferably vertical parallel inlet and outlet
`sections or legs 22 and 24 securely affixed, e.g., by butt
`within the planes of the two loops 18 and 20 and the
`welding, to the top of the manifold 16a in close proxim- 50 vertical plates of the arms pass between the corners 38
`and 40 where the driver/detector assemblies are located
`ity to each other. The base of loop 18 is a long straight
`section 26 passing freely through an undercut channel
`for both loops.
`28 in the bottom face of the casting 16. The long straight
`As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 at the end of the upper
`section 26 at the base of the loop 18 is connected to the
`deck of each cantilevered arm 60, 62, two identical
`upright legs 22 and 24 by respective diagonal sections 55 solenoid type driver assemblies 70 are located and held
`30 and 32. The four junctions between the various
`in position by driver brackets 72. Each driver comprises
`straight segments of the loop 28 are rounded by large
`a pair of push/pull solenoid coils and pole pieces 74
`radii turns to afford as little resistance to flow as posssi-
`which act on ferromagnetic slugs 76 welded onto oppo-
`ble. In particular, upright legs 22 and 24 are connected
`site sides of the lower turn 38, 40. Thus, there are eight
`to the respective diagonal segments 30 and 32 by means 60 independent drivers, one pair for each end of each loop
`of apex turns 34 and 36 respectively. The ends of the
`18, 20. Each driver imparts reciprocal sideways motion
`long straight base section 26 are connected to the re-
`to the tube between the slugs 76.
`spective ends of the diagonal segments 30 and 32 by ·
`Problems have surfaced with solenoid drivers of the
`lower rounded turns 38 and 40.
`type shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The solenoid actuators
`The parallel inlet/ ou~let ends 22, 24 of both loops 18 65 are highly nonlinear and force is dependent on static
`positions. These problems are alleviated by changing to
`and 20 pass through a correspondingly apertured isola-
`tion plate or node plate 41 which is. parallel to surface
`a moving magnet design. The magnet may be mounted
`16a and spaced therefrom by a predetermined distance,
`to and extend laterally from the side of the tube at the
`
`MM1098926
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 124-9 Filed 03/07/14 Page 18 of 25 PageID #: 3915
`
`7
`location of one of the slugs 76 inside a stationary coil
`with a ferromagnetic cover, as shown schematically in
`FIG. 6A. In this embodiment, the drivers or drive mo(cid:173)
`tors as they are more properly termed, are energized by
`passing current through the coils in a similar manner.
`However, only one drive motor is needed for each end
`of each tube and coils for drive motors or correspond(cid:173)
`ing ends of respective tubes are electrically connected
`in series rather than in parallel, as indicated in FIG. 15,
`for example.
`By energizing the driver pairs on opposite ends of the
`same tube with current of equal magnitude but opposite
`sign (180° out of phase), straight section 26 is caused to
`rotate about its coplanar perpendicular bisector 79
`which intersects the tube at point cas shown in FIG. 1. 15
`The drive rotation is thus preferably in a horizontal
`plane about point c. The perpendicular bisectors for the
`straight sections of both loops preferably lie in a com(cid:173)
`mon plane of symmetry for both loops as noted in FIG.
`1.
`
`Repeatedly reversing (e.g., controlling sinusoidally)
`the energizing current of the drives 70 causes the
`straight section 26 of the loop 18 to execute an oscilla(cid:173)
`tory motion about point c in the horizontal plane. The
`motion of each straight section 26 sweeps out a bow tie 25
`shape. The entire lateral excursion of the loop at the
`corners 38 and 40 is small, on the order of § of an inch
`for a two foot long straight section 26 for a one inch
`pipe. This displacement is coupled to the upright paral-
`lel legs 22 and 24 as torsional deflection about t