Donald R Cage

US Patent:

6415668, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911000

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G01F 184

US Classification:

73861355

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a Coriolis mass flowmeter having first and second generally parallel flowtubes which each extend between an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold and comprise respective first and second centerlines that lie in corresponding parallel first and second planes, at least one force driver for vibrating the first and second flowtubes in a natural mode of vibration and at least one motion sensor for detecting the vibrating motion of the flowtubes. In particular, the invention comprises at least one brace bar for decoupling extraneous modes of vibration in the flowtubes from the desired driven and Coriolis modes of vibration. The brace bar includes a first stiffening member having a first opening through which the first flowtube is received and secured; a second stiffening member having a second opening though which the second flowtube is received and secured; and at least one bridge component which is connected to the first stiffening member proximate the first plane and the second stiffening member proximate the second plane.

US Patent:

6439060, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Oct 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687292

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G01F 184

US Classification:

73861357, 73861355

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a counterbalance apparatus for a Coriolis-type mass flowmeter having a flowtube through which a fluid to be measured is permitted to flow, the counterbalance apparatus comprising a counterbalance beam which is coupled to the ends of the flowtube; a force driver for vibrating the flowtube and the counterbalance beam in opposition to one another; at least one pair of inertial masses, each of which is movably coupled to the counterbalance beam; and an apparatus for selectively positioning the inertial masses longitudinally along the counterbalance beam; wherein the frequency response of the counterbalance beam can be selectively altered by appropriately positioning the inertial masses along the counterbalance beam to thereby achieve a desired condition of balance between the counterbalance beam and the flowtube.

US Patent:

6494106, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Aug 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/641488

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO
Larry K. Carmichael - Platteville CO

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G01F 184

US Classification:

73861357

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a Coriolis-type flowmeter having a dynamic counterbalance system which comprises a flowtube through which a fluid to be measured is permitted to flow; the flowtube comprising first and second ends; a counterbalance which is vibrationally coupled to the flowtube proximate the first and second ends; an electromagnet device for vibrating the flowtube and the counterbalance in opposition to one another; the flowtube having a first frequency response to the vibrating means and the counterbalance having a second frequency response to the vibrating means; at least one inertial mass; and means for selectively coupling the inertial mass to the counterbalance to thereby alter the second frequency response by a desired amount; wherein in the event the second frequency response is different from the first frequency response, the inertial mass may be coupled to the counterbalance to alter the second frequency response by the desired amount to thereby make the second frequency response approximately the same as the first frequency response.

US Patent:

6502466, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Jun 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/342560

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO
Gabriel S. Dragnea - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Direct Measurement Corporation - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G01F 184

US Classification:

73861355, 73861356, 73861357

Abstract:

A Coriolis mass flowmeter having a flowtube and excitation circuitry, coupled to the flowtube, that can excite the flowtube at varying frequencies of vibration and a method of operating the same to compensate for effects of fluid compressibility. In one embodiment, the Coriolis mass flowmeter includes: (1) flowrate measurement circuitry, coupled to the flowtube, that measures a first mass flowrate of a fluid flowing through the flowtube at a first vibration frequency and a second mass flowrate of the fluid at a second vibration frequency and (2) fluid compressibility compensation circuitry, coupled to the flowrate measurement circuitry, that employs the first and second mass flowrates to determine a frequency response of the fluid and a fluid compressibility compensation adjustment from the frequency response.

US Patent:

6639495, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Mar 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804356

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01F 700

US Classification:

335229, 335220

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to an electromagnetic actuator for a device having a first component which is movable relative to a second component, the electromagnetic actuator comprising a coil which is coupled to the first component; a magnetically permeable core which is coupled to the second component and which comprises an annular pole having first and second ends, a cylindrical keeper positioned around the pole, and a base connecting the first end of the pole to an adjacent end of the keeper; wherein the inner diameter of the keeper is greater than the outer diameter of the pole and the coil is positioned between the keeper and the pole; a magnet which is magnetically coupled to the core and which produces a magnetic field having flux lines that flow through the keeper, the base and the pole and across the coil; wherein the pole comprises an inner annular surface which is tapered from the first end to the second end to reduce the inductance of the coil and thereby permit the actuator to generate a greater force while remaining within the inductance and current limits pertaining to intrinsically safe devices.

US Patent:

6684715, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Sep 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/654118

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO

Assignee:

FMC Technologies, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G01F 178

US Classification:

73861357

Abstract:

The present invention is a Coriolis mass flowmeter which comprises at least one flowtube through which a fluid to be measured is allowed to flow; a number of force drivers for vibrating the flowtube in at least one mode of vibration of the flowtube; the vibration of the flowtube causing a driven deflection of the flowtube and the fluid flowing through the vibrating flowtube generating Coriolis forces which cause a Coriolis deflection of the flowtube; a plurality of strain-sensing transducers connected to the flowtube for generating signals representative of the driven deflection of the flowtube and the Coriolis deflection of the flowtube; and a signal processing circuit connected to the strain-sensing transducers for producing an indication of the mass flow rate of the fluid from the signals generated by the strain-sensing transducers.

US Patent:

6782762, Aug 31, 2004

Filed:

Sep 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/238968

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Direct Measurement Corporation - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G01F 184

US Classification:

73861355

Abstract:

A Coriolis mass flowmeter which comprises at least first and second generally parallel flowtubes, each of which includes a first half that is connected to an inlet manifold and a second half that is connected to an outlet manifold, a first brace bar which is attached to the first halves of the flowtubes, and a second brace bar which is attached to the second halves of the flowtubes. The first and second brace bars are oriented on the flowtubes such that, when the flowtubes are vibrated in at least one of a driven mode of vibration and a Coriolis mode of vibration, the resulting reaction forces at the inlet and outlet manifolds are less than those that exist when the first and second brace bars are oriented generally perpendicular to the flowtubes.

US Patent:

7731602, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Sep 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/530163

Inventors:

Donald R. Cage - Longmont CO, US

International Classification:

A63B 53/00

US Classification:

473324, 473221, 473222, 473223, 473224, 473234, 434 1, 434 2, 434 3, 434 4, 434252

Abstract:

Apparatus and a method that enables an assistive energy type golf club to sense the approach of the club face toward a golf ball, and to trigger the release of the assistive energy at the optimum time to achieve the desired golf ball velocity and distance.