Mass flow measurement and measuring apparatus having a central bulk material feed

1. A method for measuring a mass flow of flowable bulk material according to the Coriolis principle of measurement, the method comprising:

powering, by a vertically-disposed hollow shaft, a vane wheel that is disposed below the hollow shaft; and

feeding, through the hollow shaft, the bulk material vertically from above.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising powering the hollow shaft above the vane wheel and outside of a bulk material chamber that is reserved for the bulk material, by a laterally disposed, external drive.

3. An apparatus for measuring a mass flow of flowable bulk materials according to the Coriolis principle of measurement, the apparatus comprising:

a rotablv supported drive shaft ( 9 ) that is routed in vertical alignment through the top side of a stationary housing ( 2 ) and connected to a drive; and

a vane wheel ( 3 ), which is powered by the drive and at a constant speed, by which a mass flow that is supplied in axial direction is radially redirectable and detectable with the drive torque that is necessary for the redirection inside a torque measuring means ( 7 ), and wherein the vane wheel ( 3 ) is fastened inside the housing ( 2 ) below the rotably supported drive shaft ( 9 ), and wherein an outlet cone ( 4 ) is disposed below the vane wheel ( 3 ) on the housing ( 2 ) that encloses a bulk material chamber in conjunction with the housing and contains a discharge opening ( 5 ) at its bottom end;

wherein the drive shaft ( 9 ) is configured as a hollow shaft that is open on both ends and aligned by its first opening with the feed opening ( 16 ) and opens up by its second opening to the vane wheel ( 3 ) and through which the mass flow that is to be measured can be fed in vertical direction to the vane wheel ( 3 ); and

wherein the apparatus extends essentially rotationally symmetrical around a center axis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hollow shaft ( 9 ) is rotably supported around a mounting flange ( 11 ), and wherein the mounting flange ( 11 ) is statically connected to the housing ( 2 ).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the mounting flange ( 11 ) essentially comprises a hollow cylinder that extends centrically around and along the center axis of a feed opening ( 16 ) to immediately above the vane wheel ( 3 ).

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the hollow shaft ( 9 ) is supported by a ball and/or roller bearing ( 10 ) on the mounting flange ( 11 ).

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the stationary mounting flange ( 11 ) is sealed toward the rotating hollow shaft ( 9 ) by at least one radial shaft seal ring ( 10 ).

8. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the stationary housing ( 2 ) is sealed toward the rotating hollow shaft ( 9 ) by radial shaft seal ring ( 14 ).

9. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the drive includes a drive motor ( 8 ) that is statically connected laterally and adjacent to the rotating hollow shaft ( 9 ) with the stationary housing ( 2 ), and wherein the power transmission between the drive motor ( 8 ) and the hollow shaft ( 9 ) occurs via a power transmission means ( 15 ).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the power transmission means ( 15 ) is a toothed belt drive and/or a chain drive and/or a spur gear pair.

11. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the feed opening ( 16 ) and the discharge opening ( 5 ) are aligned centrically relative to the center axis.