| abstract |
Fluid density measuring apparatus and method for directly measuring fluid density or indirectly measuring pressure, temperature, acceleration, flow velocity, differential pressure and other parameters affecting the apparatus. The apparatus includes a generally rigid hollow housing having openings through which fluid may flow to the interior of the housing, and a vibratory single-ended tuning fork mounted in the housing. The apparatus also includes circuitry for causing the tines of the tuning fork to resonate, for example, 180 degrees out of phase in a transverse direction, with the frequency of the tines varying with variation in the density of the fluid surrounding the tines. Circuitry is also included for determining the frequency at which the tuning fork tines resonate. When the density of the fluid into which the housing is placed changes, the frequency of vibration of the tines of the tuning fork is caused to change to provide a measure of the density change. |