Fixed angle centrifuge rotor with stiffening rib

Abstract

A fixed-angle rotor for centrifuges includes stiffening ribs on the lower side of its rotor body. Its rotational energy is comparatively low during operation even at high speeds, whereby safety is noticeably increased without the need for a reinforced armored vessel in the centrifuge that is equipped therewith. At the same time, the drive power required to drive the fixed-angle rotor remains low. The fixed-angle rotor also withstands extreme loads over a long period of time. In addition, the fixed-angle rotor can be manufactured cost-effectively, because no additional components are required; rather, the stiffening ribs can also be manufactured during the manufacture of the rotor body. Finally, very thin rotor shells can also be used, which improves the temperature control of the samples, because the fixed-angle rotor has very good structural stability, especially in the main load directions.

Claims

1. A fixed-angle rotor for a centrifuge, comprising: a rotor body having an upper side and an oppositely arranged lower side and a hub which is arranged around a rotor axis; at least two holders for samples to be centrifuged arranged in the rotor body around the rotor axis, wherein the at least two holders have openings on the upper side for introducing samples; and stiffening ribs formed on the lower side of the rotor body, wherein at least one of the stiffening ribs extends radially from the hub to at least one of the at least two holders and runs in a direction of a central axis of the at least one of the at least two holders.

2. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the stiffening ribs connects a wall of the at least one of the at least two holders to the hub.

3. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the stiffening ribs runs in a tangential manner with respect to the rotor axis and at a distance to the rotor axis.

4. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the stiffening ribs runs between the at least two holders.

5. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the stiffening ribs runs between the at least two holders and is connected with the at least two holders.

6. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the stiffening ribs runs between the at least two holders in direction of the respective central axis of the respective holder.

7. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein the fixed-angle rotor has a rotationally symmetrical rotor shell that encloses the at least two holders.

8. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein the at least two holders transition into the rotor shell at least in areas.

9. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein the rotor body has, in addition to the stiffening ribs, on its lower side at least one cavity extending in an axial manner with respect to the rotor axis for reducing material.

10. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 9, wherein the cavity is arranged between the at least two holders.

11. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 9, wherein the cavity is arranged a) between the rotor shell, walls of two adjacent ones of the at least two holders, and a tangentially running stiffening rib, and/or b) between a tangentially running stiffening rib, two adjacent radially running stiffening ribs and the hub and/or c) between the rotor shell, walls of two adjacent ones of the at least two holders, two adjacent radially running stiffening ribs, and the hub.

12. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 9, wherein the cavity extends at least in areas up to the rotor shell and/or up to the hub and/or up to the at least one of the at least two holders and/or up to a cover surface of the upper side of the rotor body bounding a rotor chamber.

13. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 12, wherein the cavity does not break through the rotor shell, the hub, the at least one of the at least two holders, and the cover surface.

14. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the rotor shell and/or a thickness of the stiffening rib and/or a thickness of a wall of the at least two holders and/or a thickness of the rotor body on its upper side is, at least in areas, less than 1 cm.

15. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the rotor shell and/or a thickness of the stiffening rib and/or a thickness of a wall of the at least two holders and/or a thickness of the rotor body on its upper side is, at least in areas, less than 5 mm.

16. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the rotor shell and/or a thickness of the stiffening rib and/or a thickness of a wall of the at least two holders and/or a thickness of the rotor body on its upper side is, at least in areas, less than 3 mm.

17. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 7, wherein a gradation with respect to the material thickness of the rotor body is provided, at least in areas, in a wall of the rotor shell, in a wall of the at least two holders, on the stiffening rib, and/or on a cavity between the at least two holders.

18. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 17, wherein the gradation is arranged in an axial manner with respect to the rotor axis.

19. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 17, wherein the gradation is stair-shaped.

20. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 17, wherein the gradation has a step width and/or step height in the range of 0.5 mm to 8 mm.

21. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 17, wherein the gradation has a step width and/or step height in the range of 1 mm to 6 mm.

22. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 17, wherein the gradation has a step width and/or step height in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm.

23. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein the lower side of the rotor body has a cover that covers the stiffening ribs.

24. The fixed-angle rotor according to claim 1, wherein the at least two holders are configured closed except for an opening for inserting the samples to be centrifuged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a fixed-angle rotor in a perspective view from above.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view from below.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 1 in a plan view from below.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a fixed-angle rotor in a perspective view from above.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 5 in a perspective view from below.

(7) FIG. 7 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 5 in a plan view from below.

(8) FIG. 8 shows the fixed-angle rotor according to FIG. 5 in a sectional view.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a centrifuge equipped with the fixed-angle rotor in in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first exemplary embodiment of a fixed-angle rotor 10.

(11) The fixed-angle rotor 10 has a rotor body 12 and a cover 14 that enclose a rotor chamber 16 between them. The rotor body 12 has a hub 18 that extends along the rotor axis R and serves to couple with a drive shaft of a centrifuge motor of a laboratory centrifuge in the usual manner, and therefore does not need to be shown in greater detail.

(12) In the rotor body 12, holders 22 are arranged on its upper side 20, in which sample containers with samples to be centrifuged can be inserted and centrifuged in the usual manner. The sample containers correspond with the rotor chamber 16. A seal 23 is provided between the rotor body 12 and the cover 14, by which a damping between the cover 14 and the rotor body 12 takes place, which prevents possible rattling. If the seal 23 is suitably formed, the rotor chamber 16 can also be sealed in an aerosol-tight manner against the surrounding area 24 of the fixed-angle rotor 10.

(13) With respect to the outer circumference 26 of the rotor body 12, the rotor body 12 is bounded by a rotor shell 28, which is formed to be rotationally symmetrical and thus aerodynamically encloses the centrifuge rotor, by which the fixed-angle rotor 10 in the laboratory centrifuge offers little flow resistance to the surrounding fluid.

(14) As shown, the walls 29 of the holders 22 merge into the rotor shell 28 at least in areas. The rotor shell 28 thus forms the walls 29 directly in the areas 30 where the rotor shell 28 meets the holders 22 tangentially. The walls 29 of the holder 22 is configured closed except for an opening for inserting the samples to be centrifuged.

(15) Furthermore, the rotor body 12 has numerous stiffening ribs 36, 38 on its lower side 32, which extends between the hub 18 and the lower edge 34 of the rotor shell 28. A first type of stiffening rib 36 runs in a radial manner with respect to the rotor axis R between the holders 22 and the hub 18. This stiffening rib 36 connects the hub 18 and the holder 22, and runs in direction of the central axis Z of the holder 22. A second type of stiffening rib 38 runs tangentially with respect to the rotor axis R between adjacent holders 22, i.e. with distance to the rotor axis R, wherein the second type of stiffening rib 38 is connected with each of the two holders 22 and runs in direction of the respective central axis Z of the respective holder 22. Both stiffening ribs 36, 38 extend from the lower side 32 of the rotor body 12 to the cover surface 40 of the upper side 20 of the rotor body 12, which bounds the rotor chamber 16.

(16) In addition, the rotor body 12 has numerous cavities 42, 44 on its lower side 32 for reducing material. A first type of cavity 42 is arranged between the rotor shell 28, the walls 29 of two adjacent holders 22 and the second type of stiffening ribs 38. A second type of cavity 44 is arranged between the second type of stiffening ribs 38, two adjacent stiffening ribs 36 of the first type and the hub 18. Both types of cavities each extend from the lower side 32 of the rotor body 12 to the cover surface 40 of the upper side 20 of the rotor body 12, which bounds the rotor chamber 16.

(17) The wall thicknesses are formed such that they amount to approximately 1.7 mm for the rotor shell 28, 6 mm for the stiffening ribs 36 of the first type and 5 mm for the stiffening ribs 38 of the second type. The wall thickness of the cover surface 40 in the areas of the cavities 42, 44 amounts to less than 5 mm, preferably 1.5 mm.

(18) By combining the cavities 42, 44 for reducing material with the stiffening ribs 36, 38 and the rotor shell 28, the fixed-angle rotor 10 has a very low mass, yet is particularly stable in terms of structure, such that less drive power is required. In addition, the kinetic energy stored in the fixed-angle rotor 10 during operation is relatively low.

(19) Such high structural stability is further enhanced by the fact that the inner wall 46 of the rotor shell 28, the walls 29 of the holders 22 and the transitions 48, 50 between the walls 29 of the holders 22 and the stiffening ribs 36, 38 as well was the cavities 42, 44 are provided with a gradation 54 that is arranged in an axial manner with respect to the rotor axis R. Thereby, the gradation 54 is formed to be stair-shaped, wherein the step width and step height each amount to 5 mm. On the other hand, the lower sides 56 of the holders 22 are not provided with such a gradation 54. This gradation 54 results in a particularly stable stiffening of the rotor body 12, such that it can withstand the highest loads despite the saving of weight. The gradation 54 also could be formed continuous instead of stair-shaped (discontinuous).

(20) In addition, the fixed-angle rotor 10 has a lower cover 58 that is fixed (clamped) to the lower side 32 of the rotor body 12 by means of the coupling 60 of the hub 18, and is supported laterally on projections 61 of the rotor shell 28 (for better understanding, this cover 58 is not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). Given such cover 58, the fixed-angle rotor 10 provided with the stiffening ribs 36, 38 and the cavities 42, 44 is nevertheless very favorably formed in terms of aerodynamics and has a significantly lower overall weight compared to earlier fixed-angle rotors.

(21) FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second exemplary design of the fixed-angle rotor 100. There are similarities with the fixed-angle rotor 10 of the first preferred design, such that only the differences are addressed in the following.

(22) In case of the fixed-angle rotor 100, the rotor body 102 has not only six, but ten smaller holders 104 for samples.

(23) Furthermore, the rotor body 102 has numerous stiffening ribs 114 on its lower side 106, which extends between the hub 108 and the lower edge 110 of the rotor shell 112. However, there is only one type of stiffening rib 114, which, with respect to the rotor axis R′, extends in a radial manner between the holders 104 and the central hub 108 and extend in an axial manner from the lower side 106 to the cover surface 118 of the upper side 120 of the rotor body 102 bounding the rotor chamber 116. This stiffening ribs 114 also run between hub 108 and holders 104, wherein the stiffening rips 114 are each connected with hub 108 and the holder 104, and run in direction of the central axis Z of the respective holder 104.

(24) Accordingly, there is also only one type of cavity 122 for reducing material in the rotor body 102. Such cavities 122 are arranged between the rotor shell 112, the walls 124 of two adjacent holders 104, the adjacent stiffening ribs 114 and the hub 108, extending from the lower side 106 of the rotor body 102 to the cover surface 118 of the upper side 120 of the rotor body 102 bounding the rotor chamber 116.

(25) The wall thicknesses are formed such that they amount to approximately 1.7 mm for the rotor shell 112, 7 mm for the stiffening ribs 114 and less than 5 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, for the cover surface 118 in the areas of the cavities 122.

(26) This fixed-angle rotor 100 also has a very low mass due to the combination of the cavities 122 for reducing material with the stiffening ribs 114 and the rotor shell 112, but is nevertheless particularly stable in terms of structure, such that less drive power is required. In addition, the kinetic energy stored in the fixed-angle rotor 100 during operation is relatively low.

(27) This high structural stability is further enhanced by the fact that the wall 126 of the rotor shell 112, the walls 124 of the holders 104, the transitions 128 between the walls 124 of the holders 104 and the rotor shell 112 and the transitions 130 between the stiffening ribs 114 and the hub 108 as well was the cavities 122 are provided with a gradation 132, which is arranged in an axial manner with respect to the rotor axis R′. Thereby, the gradation 132 is likewise formed to be stair-shaped, wherein the step width and the step height each amount to 2 mm. The lower sides 134 of the holders 104 are in turn not provided with such a gradation 132. This gradation 132 results in a particularly stable stiffening of the rotor body 102, such that it can withstand the highest loads despite the saving of weight.

(28) In addition, the fixed-angle rotor 100 has a lower cover 136 that is fixed to the lower side 106 of the rotor body 102 by a screw connection (not shown) and is supported laterally on projections 138 of the rotor shell 112 (for better understanding, this cover 136 is not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Given such cover 136, the fixed-angle rotor 100 provided with the stiffening ribs 114 and the cavities 122 is nevertheless very favorably formed in terms of aerodynamics and has a significantly lower overall weight compared to earlier fixed-angle rotors.

(29) With both fixed-angle rotors 10, 100, the rotor bodies 12, 102 can be manufactured in one piece, for example by milling and turning the rotor body 12, 102 out of a blank (for example, from a round material or a drop-forged piece made of aluminum or steel) by means of CNC machining. Alternatively, there could also be a multi-piece manufacturing in which the hub 18, 108 is manufactured independently and inserted into (for example, screwed in) the rotor body 12, 102.

(30) Each of the stiffening ribs 36, 38, 114 has a long side 62, 140 and a narrow side 64, 142. They also have one additional side 66, 144 which runs continuously between the long side 62, 140 and the rotor body 12, 102. Alternatively, it could also be provided that the additional side 66, 144 is not continuously formed between the long side 62, 140, whereby the stiffening ribs 36, 38, 114 would be hollow and adjacent cavities would communicate with each other, but this would also result in improved structural stability with a significantly reduced mass.

(31) FIG. 9 shows a laboratory centrifuge 200 equipped with the fixed-angle rotor 10.

(32) The laboratory centrifuge 200 is formed in the usual manner, comprising a housing 202 with a control panel 206 arranged at its front side 204 and a cover 208 provided to close the centrifuge container 210. The fixed-angle rotor 10, which can be driven by the shaft of a centrifuge motor (both not shown), is arranged in the centrifuge container 210.

(33) It has become clear from the preceding illustration that the disclosure provides a fixed-angle rotor 10, 100 for centrifuges 200, whose rotational energy is comparatively low during operation even at high speeds. Thereby safety is noticeably increased without the need for a reinforced armored vessel in the centrifuge that is equipped with the fixed-angle rotor 10, 100. At the same time, the drive power required to drive the fixed-angle rotor 10, 100 remains low. The fixed-angle rotor 10, 100 also withstands extreme loads over a long period of time. In addition, the fixed-angle rotor 10, 100 can be manufactured cost-effectively, because no additional components are required. Rather, the stiffening ribs 36, 38, 114 can be manufactured during the manufacture of the rotor body 12, 102. Finally, very thin rotor shells 28, 112 can be used, which improves the temperature control of the samples, because the fixed-angle rotor has very good structural stability, especially in the main load directions.

(34) While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed or illustrated embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications, substitutions, variations and broad equivalent arrangements that are included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(35) 10 Fixed-angle rotor in a first preferred design 12 Rotor body 14 Cover 16 Rotor chamber 18 Hub 20 Upper side of the rotor body 22 Holder 23 Seal between cover 14 and rotor body 12 24 Surrounding area of the fixed-angle rotor 10 26 Outer circumference of the rotor body 12 28 Rotor shell 29 Walls of the holders 22 30 Areas of the rotor shell 28 where the rotor shell 28 meets the holders 22 tangentially 32 Lower side of the rotor body 12 34 Lower edge of the rotor shell 28 36 Stiffening ribs of the first type 38 Stiffening ribs of the second type 40 Cover surface of the upper side 20 bounding the rotor chamber 16 42 Cavities of the first type in the rotor body 12 44 Cavities of the second type in the rotor body 12 46 Wall of the rotor shell 28 48 Transitions between the walls 29 of the holders 22 and the stiffening ribs 36 50 Transitions between the walls 29 of the holders 22 and the stiffening ribs 38 54 Gradation 56 Lower side of the holder 22 58 Lower cover 60 Coupling 61 Projections of the rotor shell 28 62 Long side of the stiffening ribs 36, 38 64 Narrow side of the stiffening ribs 36, 38 66 Additional side of the stiffening ribs 36, 38 100 Fixed-angle rotor 100 in a second preferred design 102 Rotor body 104 Holder 106 Lower side of the rotor body 108 Hub 110 Lower edge of the rotor shell 112 112 Rotor shell 114 Stiffening ribs 116 Rotor chamber 118 Cover surface of the upper side 120 120 Upper side 122 Cavities in the rotor body 102 124 Walls of the holders 104 126 Wall of the rotor shell 112 128 Transitions between the walls 124 of the holders 104 and the stiffening ribs 114 130 Transitions between the stiffening ribs 114 and the hub 108 132 Gradation 134 Lower sides of the holder 102 136 Lower cover 138 Projections of the rotor shell 112 140 Long side of the stiffening ribs 114 142 Narrow side of the stiffening ribs 114 144 Additional side of the stiffening ribs 114 200 Laboratory centrifuge 202 Housing 204 Front side of the housing 202 206 Control panel 208 Cover 210 Centrifuge container R Rotor axis R′ Rotor axis Z central axis of holder 22 Z′ central axis of holder 104