QUICK CLOSURE FOR A CENTRIFUGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (40) mounted on the drive shaft (12) so as to be detachable axially in a removal direction (66), a quick-action closure (54) integrated in the rotor (40) and the drive shaft (12), which closure can be used to secure the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) in a removal direction (66), an abutment (50, 52) in the drive shaft (12) which is engaged by a locking member (46) of the rotor (40), at least one blocking element (76), which—when activated—fixes the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) and which acts between the locking member (46) of the rotor (40) and the abutment (50, 52) of the drive shaft (12), which quick-action closure (54) includes a force-transmitting element (58, 72). The invention is characterized in that said blocking element (76) is actively connected to an actuating element (100, 100a) via the force-transmitting element (58, 72), that unlocking the quick-action closure (54) is effected by moving the actuating element (100, 100a), the force-transmitting element (58, 72) and the blocking element (76) relative to the locking member (46) in a direction in parallel to the drive shaft (12), and that during unlocking, the actuating element (100, 100a) is moved toward the drive shaft (12), and during locking, the force-transmitting element (58, 72) and the blocking element (76) on the one side and the locking member (46) on the other side are relatively moved toward each other.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A centrifuge (10), comprising: a drive shaft (12); a rotor (40); said rotor (40) mounted on said drive shaft (12); said rotor is axially detachable from said drive shaft in a removal direction (66); a quick-action closure (54); said quick-action closure integrated in said rotor (40) and said drive shaft (12); said quick-action closure secures said rotor (40) relative to said drive shaft (12) in a removal direction (66); an abutment (50, 52) in said drive shaft (12) which is engaged in a locking member (46) of said rotor (40); at least one blocking element (76); said at least one blocking element (76), when activated, affixes said rotor (40) relative to said drive shaft (12) and which acts between said locking member (46) of said rotor (40) and said abutment (50, 52) of said drive shaft (12); said quick-action closure (54) includes a force-transmitting element (58, 72); said at least one blocking element (76) is actively connected to an actuating element (100, 100a) via said force-transmitting element (58, 72); unlocking said quick-action closure (54) is effected by moving said actuating element (100, 100a), said force-transmitting element (58, 72) and said at least one blocking element (76) relative to said locking member (46) in a direction in parallel to said drive shaft (12), and that during unlocking, said actuating element (100, 100a) is moved toward said drive shaft (12), and during locking, said force-transmitting element (58, 72) and said at least one blocking element (76) on the one side and said locking member (46) on the other side are relatively moved toward each other.

17. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: a spring (74); in said locking position, said at least one blocking element (76) is preloaded into said locking position by the spring force of said spring (74).

18. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: plural blocking elements (76); said plural locking elements are positioned uniformly spaced from each other and are arranged around said locking member (46) in said locking position.

19. The centrifuge according to claim 18, further comprising: said plural blocking elements (76) are connected to springs (74); said springs (74) are elastically deflectable fingers; said elastically deflectable fingers are connected to a common support (72); said plural blocking elements (76) are preloaded in said direction of said locking member (46) of said rotor (40).

20. The centrifuge according to claim 19, further comprising: said plural blocking elements (76), said springs (74) and said common support (72) form an integral unit and constitute a locking unit (70).

21. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: said at least one blocking element (76) has a shape; said locking member (46) includes segments; said shape of said at least one blocking element (76) is adapted to an associated segment of said locking member (46) of said rotor (40).

22. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: said locking member (46) is rotationally symmetrical in shape, and initially widens conically in the direction of said drive shaft (12) and then partially narrows again.

23. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: said locking member (46) is integrally formed with said rotor (40) and also made of the same material.

24. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: said locking unit (70) is mounted on a locking piston (58); a spring (56); said locking piston (58) is biased into said locking position by the action of said spring (56).

25. The centrifuge according to claim 24, further comprising: said drive shaft (12) has a stop (38); said locking piston (58) engages said stop of said drive shaft in a maximum opening position thereof.

26. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: a handle; said actuating element (100, 100a) is formed as an actuating pin (100) which is movably mounted in said handle (90); said actuating pin (100) extends through said handle (90) and forms an actuating button (100a); said actuating pin includes a free end protruding from said handle (90).

27. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: a locking chamber (78); said locking chamber includes a boundary; said abutment (50, 52) is part of said boundary of said locking chamber (78); said locking chamber (78) includes a bore (51) for inserting said locking member (46); which is engaged by the locking member (46) of the rotor (40) and in which the locking unit (70), the locking piston (58) and the spring (56) are arranged.

28. The centrifuge according to claim 27, further comprising: a handle: said at least one blocking element (76), said springs (74) and said common support (72) form an integral unit and constitute a locking unit (70); said locking member (46), said locking chamber (78), said locking unit (70), said force-transmitting element (58, 72), said handle (90) and/or said drive shaft (12) are mounted concentrically relative to one another.

29. The centrifuge according to claim 16, further comprising: a spring (74); in said locking position; plural blocking elements (76); said at plural blocking elements (76) are preloaded into said locking position by the spring force of said spring (74); said drive shaft (12) includes a drive axle (13); said plural blocking elements (76) for unlocking and locking said quick-action closure (54) are elastically deflected said locking spring (74) so as to enable said plural blocking elements (76) to pass the widest point, relative to said drive axle (13) of said drive shaft (12), of said locking member (46).

30. The centrifuge according to claim 18, further comprising: said locking member (46) has a control surface (47b) for said plural blocking elements (76), which—when said rotor (40) is inserted by moving it in a direction opposite to said removal direction (66) into a locking position of said quick-action closure (54)—will urge said plural blocking elements (76) between said locking member (46) and said abutment (52).

Description

[0025] Throughout the description, the claims and the drawings, those terms and associated reference signs are used as are listed in the List of Reference Signs which follows below. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an angle rotor having a lid and a drive shaft along the central axis of the centrifuge, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the rotor and the drive shaft of FIG. 1, with the lid removed;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view of the integral unit of locking springs and blocking elements;

[0029] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1, with the quick-action closure in the unlocked state, but with the rotor still in place on the shaft;

[0030] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 with the quick-action closure in the locked state of rotor and drive shaft;

[0031] FIG. 6a is a sectional view of a swing-out rotor without a lid and having a handle for unlocking, in a state in which the rotor has been removed from the drive shaft, in which the pin and the spring are not yet released, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 6b is a sectional view of part of the drive shaft, in which the rotor of FIG. 6a has been removed, but the spring is still tensioned and the locking piston has not yet been moved into contact with the stop;

[0033] FIG. 7a is a sectional view of part of the rotor, in a state in which the rotor has been removed from the drive shaft as in FIG. 6a, but with the spring released, and

[0034] FIG. 7b is a sectional view of part of the drive shaft, with the rotor removed, as in FIG. 6b, but with the spring released and the locking piston moved into contact with the stop.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vertical section through a centrifuge generally indicated at 10 with an angle rotor, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. For the sake of clarity, the substructure is not shown, merely the upper portion of a drive shaft 12 is schematically indicated. A rotor 40 is mounted on the drive shaft 12. To provide a clearer illustration, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 in an unlocked state thereof, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 in a locked state thereof. FIGS. 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b are views of a second embodiment of the invention in which the centrifuge has a swing-out rotor without a lid. On the drive side, however, locking/unlocking is achieved in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the centrifuge 10 comprises a cylindrical drive shaft 12 and an adapter 14 which is mounted on the drive shaft 12 and non-rotatably connected to the latter. Mounted on the adapter 14 and concentrically arranged thereon is a rotor hub 42 of a rotor 40. The adapter 14 and the rotor hub 42 and thus the drive shaft 12 and the rotor 40 are non-rotatably connected in a manner set out below. The rotor 40 comprises a quick-action closure 54. This quick-action closure 54 is used to connect the rotor 40 to the adapter 14 and thus to the drive shaft 12.

[0037] The adapter 14 can also be designed as an integral unit with the drive shaft 12 and accordingly adapt the rotor hub 42. Otherwise the adapter 14 is optional. As an alternative, the drive shaft 12 can also be designed so as to directly accommodate the rotor hub 42.

[0038] As seen in FIGS. 6b and 7b, the adapter 14 has a lower circumferential wall 16, as viewed in a removal direction 66, which surrounds the end section of the drive shaft 12 on its cylindrical outer side 20 and its top front face 20a. The lower circumferential wall 16 has an inner contour 18 which is adapted to the free end of the drive shaft 12 and rests against it. Moreover, an upper circumferential wall 22 is provided which has an inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c and an outer contour 25a, 25b. The inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the upper circumferential wall 22 is formed in two parts and provided with a longer segment 24a whose rotor-side end is followed by a shoulder 24b. This shoulder 24b in turn is followed by a shorter segment 24c having an inner diameter that is wider than the longer segment 24a. Between the inner contour 18 of the lower circumferential wall 16 and the inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the upper circumferential wall 22 is a dividing wall 26 which has a bottom side 28, a top side 30 and a concentric threaded hole 32. The bottom side 28 rests against the front face 20a of the drive shaft 12. A threaded bolt 34 engages the concentric threaded hole 32 in the dividing wall 26. Furthermore, the front face 20a of the drive shaft 12 is provided with pins which engage bores in the dividing wall 26. These are not shown here for the sake of clarity. In this way, the drive shaft 12 and the adapter 14 are non-rotatably connected to each other.

[0039] Alternatively, the drive shaft 12 has a cone for centering the adapter 14 on the drive shaft 12, which cone widens in a direction opposite to the removal direction 66. The adapter 14 is suitably adapted to the outer shape of the drive shaft 12. The adapter and the drive shaft are screwed together for the transmission of torque.

[0040] The outer contour 25a, 25b of the adapters 14 is essentially adapted to the inner profile of the rotor hub 42 and, viewed from a shoulder 21, first extends in the form of a cone 25a which tapers towards the top, then in the form of a cylinder 25b.

[0041] The inner profile of the rotor hub 42 extends beyond the end of the upper circumferential wall 22 of the adapter 14 which is free at the top, and then transitions into a rotor central area 44 which is non-rotatably connected to the rotor hub 42.

[0042] For axially securing it in place, the rotor central area 44 has a locking member 46 which projects into the adapter 14 and has an outer contour 47 whose diameter, viewed in a direction opposite the removal direction 66, first widens up to a widest point 47a and then decreases again. The area of the outer contour 47 in which the circumference decreases in a direction opposite the removal direction 66, constitutes a control surface 47b whose function will be described below. The locking member 46 is spaced from the inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the adapter 14 and extends in an axial direction up to approx. the shoulder 24b of the inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the adapter 14. A bore 48 is provided in the locking member 46, which bore 48 extends concentrically to the drive axle 13.

[0043] Located within the adapter 14 above the dividing wall 26 is the shaft-side portion of the quick-action closure 54. This portion comprises a locking unit 70 shown in perspective view in FIG. 3 which consists of four locking springs 74 interconnected via a connecting ring 72 and which have a blocking element 76 each mounted on their respective ends. The locking unit 70 is mounted on a locking piston 58 which is loaded in the removal direction 66 by a spring 56 that rests against the dividing wall 26. The outer contour 60a, 60b, 60c of the locking piston 58, at its end facing the drive shaft 12, has a cylindrical segment 60a that is spaced from the inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the adapter 14. This is followed by a shoulder 60b which is in turn followed by a cylindrical segment 60c which rests against the inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the adapter 14 and can be moved along the inner contour. The cylindrical segment 60a is surrounded by an end portion of the spring 56 which rests against the shoulder 60b. In a bottom segment 62 of the locking piston 58 a recess 64 is provided which is engaged by a locating pin 72a which is mounted on the connecting ring 72 on the side opposite the locking springs 74.

[0044] An abutment insert 50 is screwed into the segment 24c of the adapter 14 and extends along the end of the segment 24c open to the top and whose outer contour above the segment 24c has been adapted to the inner contour of the rotor central area 44. The abutment insert 50 includes a bore 51 whose upper end is dimensioned such that it will allow the widest point 47a of the locking member 46 to pass through it. The bore 51 widens conically towards the bottom and forms an abutment surface 52 whose function will be explained below.

[0045] The inner contour 24a, 24b, 24c of the adapter 14, together with the abutment surface 52 of the abutment insert 50 and, with the rotor 40 in place, the outer contour 47 of the locking member 46, defines the boundary of a locking chamber 78 in which the rotor 40 is locked and/or unlocked and thus axially secured in place.

[0046] Provided above the rotor 40 is a detachable lid 82 which forms a non-detachable unit with a handle 90. The handle 90 is mounted on the top of the lid 82 so as to be concentric with the drive shaft 13, with the housing 92 of the handle 90 having a rotationally symmetrical outer contour 92a and a cylindrical inner contour 92b and partially extending through a recess 84 of the lid 82.

[0047] Provided at the top of the rotor central area 44 and extending concentrically relative to the drive shaft 13 is a wall 80. A centering pin 94 which has a flange-like locating ring 96 mounted on its drive-side end is likewise mounted concentrically within the wall 80 and screwed to the wall 80 via the locating ring 96 and thus connected to the rotor 40. The centering pin 94 has a free end 95a whose outer contour tapers conically in the removal direction, as well as a cylinder 95b which is arranged between the free end 95a and the locating ring 96. When the lid 82 is in place, the free end 95a and the cylinder 95b engage the housing 92 of the handle 90. The outer contour of the cylinder 95b is adapted to the inner contour 92b of the housing 92 so as to secure the lid 82 in place, while the outer contour of the free end 95a is conical in shape so as to facilitate centering of the lid 82 when it is being fitted. A snap lock is used to detach the lid 82 with the handle 90 from the centering pin 94.

[0048] The rotor side part of the quick-action closure 54 is essentially located on the inside of the handle 90 and in particular of the centering pin 94. It comprises an actuating pin 100 whose length is longer than the axial length of the handle 90 and which reaches through the locking member 46 on the side of the shaft and comes to bear against the bottom area 62 of the locking piston 58. Furthermore, the rotor-side part of the quick-action closure 54 comprises a spring 104 which acts on the actuating pin 100 in the removal direction 66. An inner contour 94a of the centering pin 94 partially serves as a guide tube for the actuating pin 100. In order to limit the vertical displacement of the actuating pin 100 in the removal direction 66, a circumferential cross piece 102 is provided which serves to widen the diameter of the actuating pin 100. On the side facing the handle 90, the cross piece 102 forms a shoulder 102a together with the actuating pin 100, which shoulder will come to bear against an associated shoulder 94b of the inner contour 94a of the centering pin 94 when the actuating pin 100 is moved in the removal direction 66, thus preventing further displacement. On the opposite side, as viewed in an axial direction, the cross piece 102 forms a shoulder 102b with the actuating pin 100, which shoulder forms a contact surface for the spring 104. At its end facing away from the shoulder 102b, the spring 104 rests on the rotor 40 in the receiving section 81 for the handle 90 which is limited by the wall 80. Alternatively, the spring 104 can also be omitted, in which case the actuating pin 100 will only cooperate with the locking piston 58 which is acted upon by the spring 56. For both options, the free end of the actuating pin 100 constitutes an actuating button 100a. Unlocking is accomplished through the cooperation of the handle 90 and the actuating button 100a. The actuating button 100a needs to be depressed, in which case the handle serves as an abutment for the user, then the rotor 40 can be removed, in particular using the handle 90.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a view of the quick-action closure 54 in an unlocked state thereof, as shown in a detail of a cross-section taken along the central axis of the centrifuge of FIG. 1, with the rotor 40 still in place on the adapter 14, however. The actuating pin 100 is depressed in a direction opposite to the removal direction 66 against the action of the spring 104. This also causes the locking piston 58, whose bottom area 62 is in contact with the actuating pin 100 on a shaft-side thereof, to be displaced in the locking chamber 78 in a direction opposite to the removal direction 66 and against the action of the spring 56 and thus rests against the head 38 of the threaded bolt 34. The locking unit 70 which is anchored in the bottom area 62 of the locking piston 58 by the locating pin 72a is likewise displaced in the direction of the drive shaft 12, thus causing the free ends of the blocking elements 76 to abut on the control surface 47b of the locking member 46 and thus be outside their locking position between the locking member 46 and the abutment surface 52.

[0050] For more clarity, FIGS. 6a and 6b are views of the rotor-side detail (FIG. 6a) and the shaft-side detail (FIG. 6b) separate from each other.

[0051] For locking, the pressure on the actuating pin 100 is relieved in a direction opposite to the removal direction 66. When fitting the rotor, the actuating pin 100 will not have to be operated manually for this purpose, the weight force of the rotor 40 and a slight downward pressure exerted by the user, if necessary, will suffice. This will cause the locking piston 58 and thus also the locking unit 70 mounted on the locking piston 58 to be displaced in the removal direction 66, due to the action of the spring 56. In this process, the blocking elements 76 will slide along the control surface 47b of the locking member 46 and past the widest point 47a, and into their locking position between the outer contour 47 of the locking member 46 and the abutment surface 52. The weight force of the rotor 40 counteracts the blocking elements 76 of the locking unit 70 which slide over the control surface 47b. Owing to the resilient design of the locking springs 74, the blocking elements 76 will be deflected laterally to enable them to pass the widest point 47a, but will then essentially reassume their original orientation abutting on the outer contour 47 of the locking member 46. This will securely mount the rotor 40 in the centrifuge in an axial direction.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a view of the quick-action closure 54 in a locked state thereof, in a detail from a cross-section taken along the central axis of the centrifuge of FIG. 1. Contrary to the view of FIG. 4, the actuating pin 100 here is in the position into which it is automatically moved by the action of the spring 104, if no external pressure is exerted on it in the direction of the drive shaft 12, and its shoulder 102a abuts on the associated shoulder 94b of the centering pin 94. Owing to the action of the spring 56 and the absence of the pressure exerted by the actuating pin 100 in the direction of the drive shaft 12, the locking piston 58 and the locking unit 70 mounted on the locking piston 58 will be located in the area of the locking chamber 78 which is close to the rotor. The blocking elements 76 are in their locking position between the outer contour 47 of the locking member 46 and the abutment surface 52. The quick-action closure 54 is locked.

[0053] For more clarity, FIGS. 7a and 7b are separate views each of the rotor-side detail, see FIG. 7a, and the shaft-side detail, see FIG. 7b.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 10 centrifuge

[0055] 12 drive shaft

[0056] 13 drive axle

[0057] 14 adapter

[0058] 16 lower circumferential wall

[0059] 18 inner contour

[0060] 20 exterior

[0061] 20a front face

[0062] 21 shoulder

[0063] 22 upper circumferential wall

[0064] 24a long segment

[0065] 24b shoulder

[0066] 24c short segment

[0067] 25a cone

[0068] 25b cylinder

[0069] 26 dividing wall

[0070] 28 bottom side

[0071] 30 top side

[0072] 32 threaded hole

[0073] 34 threaded bolt

[0074] 38 head

[0075] 40 rotor

[0076] 42 rotor hub

[0077] 44 rotor central area

[0078] 46 locking element

[0079] 47 outer contour

[0080] 47a widest point

[0081] 47b control surface

[0082] 48 bore

[0083] 50 abutment insert

[0084] 51 opening

[0085] 52 abutment surface

[0086] 54 quick-action closure

[0087] 56 spring

[0088] 58 locking piston

[0089] 60a cylindrical area

[0090] 60b shoulder

[0091] 60c cylindrical area

[0092] 62 bottom area

[0093] 64 recess

[0094] 66 removal direction

[0095] 70 locking unit

[0096] 72 connecting ring

[0097] 72a locating pin

[0098] 74 locking springs

[0099] 76 blocking elements

[0100] 78 locking chamber

[0101] 80 wall

[0102] 81 handle receiving area

[0103] 82 lid

[0104] 84 recess

[0105] 90 handle

[0106] 92 housing

[0107] 92a outer contour

[0108] 92b inner contour

[0109] 94 centering pin

[0110] 94a inner contour

[0111] 94b shoulder

[0112] 95a free end

[0113] 95b cylinder

[0114] 96 locking ring

[0115] 100 actuating pin

[0116] 100a actuating button

[0117] 102 cross piece

[0118] 102a shoulder

[0119] 102b shoulder

[0120] 104 spring