CENTRIFUGE AND METHOD FOR SENSING IMBALANCES IN THE CENTRIFUGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), comprising a rotor (12), a drive shaft (14), on which the rotor (12) is supported, a motor (18), which drives the rotor (12) by means of the drive shaft (14), a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36), each of which comprises a spring axis (36a), which supporting unit supports a rotational unit (19), which comprises the motor (18) together with the drive shaft (14) and the rotor (12), a sensor unit (82, 84) for sensing the rotational speed, a distance sensor (80) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), which rotational unit rotates about an axis of rotation (14a), an acceleration sensor (88) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), and a control and evaluation unit (90), which evaluates the data of the sensors (80, 82, 88), wherein the distance sensor (80) senses distance changes in an operative axis (36b). The invention is characterized in that the operative axis (36b) is oriented in relation to the axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that an angle between the operative axis (36b) and the axis of rotation (14a) of less than 90° including 0° results, at least in a projection onto a plane parallel to the operative axis (36b) and through the axis of rotation (14a).

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A centrifuge (10), comprising: a rotor (12); a drive shaft (14); said rotor (12) is mounted on said drive shaft; a motor (18); said motor drives said drive shaft and said rotor (12); a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36); each of said damping elements includes a spring axis (36a); said supporting unit (30) supports a rotational unit (19); said rotational unit comprises said motor (18) together with said drive shaft (14) and said rotor (12); a sensor unit (82, 84) for detecting the speed of said drive shaft and said rotor; a distance sensor (80) for detecting imbalances of said rotational unit (19); said rotational unit (19) rotates around a rotation axis (14a); an acceleration sensor (88) for detecting imbalances of said rotational unit (19); a control and evaluation unit (90) which evaluates data of said sensors (80, 82, 88); said distance sensor (80) includes an operative axis (36b); said distance sensor (80) detects changes in distance in said operative axis (36b) thereof; said operative axis (36b) is aligned relative to said axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that—at least in a projection onto a plane which is parallel to said operative axis (36b) and extends through said axis of rotation (14a)—said operative axis (36b) and said axis of rotation (14a) define an angle between them which is less than 90°, including 0°.

21. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said operative axis (36b) of said distance sensor (80) is aligned in parallel to said spring axis (36a).

22. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said at least two acceleration sensors (88) are provided for determining the imbalance in a space defined by three mutually perpendicular spatial axes (x, y, z), each acceleration sensor (88) being operative in a spatial axis (x, y, z) different from that of the other acceleration sensor (88).

23. The centrifuge according to claim 22 wherein one of said spatial axes (x, y, z) in which an acceleration sensor is operative is the spatial axis in said vertical direction (z).

24. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said spring axis (36a) intersects said axis of rotation (14a).

25. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said operative axis (36b) and said spring axis (36a) are identical.

26. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein a first characteristic is stored in the control and evaluation unit (90), said first characteristic defines limit values as a function of the speed for the amplitude detected by said acceleration sensor (88) and/or said distance sensor (80), said amplitude describes the imbalance of the rotational unit (19).

27. The centrifuge according to claim 26 wherein said control and evaluation unit (90) stores a second characteristic, said second characteristic defines second limit values as a function of the speed for the amplitude detected by said acceleration sensor (88) and/or said distance sensor (80), said amplitude describes the imbalance of the rotational unit (19).

28. The centrifuge according to claim 26 wherein said control and evaluation unit activates an acoustic and/or visual signal unit and/or a display unit upon reaching said first limit value, said signal and/or display unit is used to display the evaluation result and instructions to the user for measures to be taken.

29. The centrifuge according to claim 27 wherein said control and evaluation unit switches off the motor of said rotational unit and/or of said centrifuge upon reaching said second limit value.

30. The centrifuge according to claim 29 wherein said control and evaluation unit activates an acoustic and/or visual signal unit and/or a display unit, said display unit is used to display the evaluation result and instructions to the user for the measures to be taken.

31. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said distance sensor is operative for detection of imbalances in a low speed range of said centrifuge.

32. The centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein said acceleration sensor is operative for detection of imbalances in a high speed range of said centrifuge.

33. A method for detecting imbalances in a centrifuge, said centrifuge (10), comprising: a rotor (12); a drive shaft (14); said rotor (12) is mounted on said drive shaft; a motor (18); said motor drives drive shaft and said rotor (12); a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36); each of said damping elements includes a spring axis (36a); said supporting unit (30) supports a rotational unit (19); said rotational unit comprises said motor (18) together with said drive shaft (14) and said rotor (12); a sensor unit (82, 84) for detecting the speed of said drive shaft and said rotor; a distance sensor (80) for detecting imbalances of said rotational unit (19); said rotational unit (19) latter rotates around a rotation axis (14a); an acceleration sensor (88) for detecting imbalances of said rotational unit (19); a control and evaluation unit (90) which evaluates data of said sensors (80, 82, 88); said distance sensor (80) includes an operative axis (36b); said distance sensor (80) detects changes in distance in an operative axis (36b) thereof; said operative axis (36b) is aligned relative to said axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that—at least in a projection onto a plane which is parallel to said operative axis (36b) and extends through said axis of rotation (14a)—said operative axis (36b) and said axis of rotation (14a) define an angle between them which is less than 90°, including 0°, comprising the steps of: measured values of said sensors are determined as a function of the continuous rotation; said measured values are used to form an average value which is compared with the corresponding value of a known performance characteristic of said centrifuge, and, further measures being initiated when an average value is detected that is above said known performance characteristic of said centrifuge, said further measures comprise switching off said motor of said rotational unit, reducing the rotational speed of said rotor, activating said acoustic and/or optical signals and/or outputting information on a display unit.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of: the angle of the imbalance relative to a zero point of said rotor is determined from said measured values.

35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of: deviation of the rotational unit from a central position is determined from the values measured by said distance sensor.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of: said control and evaluation unit receives the signals of said distance sensor and the acceleration sensors of the respective spatial axes simultaneously.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of the signal for each sensor is transmitted via a separate signal channel.

38. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of: data records are input to define individual process steps of said centrifuge—sedimentation, separation—for each of which a specific measure is specified in the event of an imbalance.

Description

[0055] 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 below. In the drawings:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the centrifuge according to the invention, with a support element and without its housing, in which the front of the centrifuge faces right, as viewed by the observer;

[0057] FIG. 1a is a view of the rear of the centrifuge of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 1b is a view of the left side of the centrifuge of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial view of the distance sensor shown in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1 b in its mounted state;

[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic partial view of the control and evaluation unit shown in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1 b, and

[0061] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for detecting an imbalance in the centrifuge according to the invention.

[0062] FIGS. 1, 1a and 1 b, respectively, are a perspective view, see FIG. 1, a rear view, see FIG. 1a, and a view of the left side, see FIG. 1b, each of a laboratory centrifuge 10. To provide a better view of the elements that are essential to the invention, the centrifuge housing has been omitted from these figures.

[0063] At the top end of a longitudinal and rotation axis 14a of a motor 18, which is at the same time the rotation axis of the centrifuge 10, there is a rotor 12 which receives receptacles containing material to be centrifuged. The rotor 12 is mounted on a motor shaft 14 which is driven by the motor 18 located underneath it. The motor 18 is surrounded by a motor housing 24. In a known manner, the motor shaft 14 is non-rotatably connected to the rotor 12, for example by means of a spline shaft not shown here.

[0064] On the side of the motor 18 facing away from the rotor 12, the motor housing 24 is provided with mounting feet 20 which are uniformly spaced from each other and firmly connect the motor 18 to an upper support plate 32 of a supporting unit 30. The supporting unit 30 serves to support the motor 18 as well as to dampen forces caused by the rotation of the rotor 12.

[0065] Arranged adjacent to the motor housing 24 is a mechanical limit switch 60 which is firmly connected to the centrifuge housing (not shown) via a conventional screw connection. More specifically, the mechanical limit switch 60 is spaced from the motor housing 24 in such a way that in trouble-free operation, in the event of a tumbling motion of the rotor 12 within the usual tolerance limits, the mechanical limit switch 60 will not make contact with the motor housing 24. If the tumbling motion of the rotor 12 is so strong that the supporting unit 30 cannot compensate it anymore and thus causes a horizontal shift of rotation axis 14a and thus of the motor 18 which exceeds the tolerance limits, the mechanical limit switch 60 will make contact with the motor housing 24. This contact will result in an emergency switch-off of the centrifuge 10 triggered by a control and evaluation unit 90 which is explained with reference to FIG. 3.

[0066] On the side of the supporting unit 30 which faces away from the motor 18 there is a lower support plate 38. Mounted on the lower support plate 38 are inclined rubber-metal elements 36 which serve as damping elements and which are firmly connected to the upper support plate 32 via struts 34 inclined at the same angle. With respect to the longitudinal axis 14a, generally angles of between 10° and 42° are considered advantageous as setting angles σ for the rubber-metal elements 36 and the struts 34 connected thereto, because the forces which are based on imbalance will act in this angle range during rotation of the rotor 12. For the present embodiment of the centrifuge 10, a setting angle σ of 21° has proven particularly suitable.

[0067] It is furthermore conceivable to design the supporting unit 30 without the struts 34, for example, and to connect the rubber-metal elements 36 directly to the upper support plate 32. However, it has been found that the increased diameter at the bottom side of the supporting unit 30 results in higher stability and thus an improved damping effect. As an alternative, spring bearings, magnetic bearings or hydraulic bearings can also be used as damping elements, for example. An especially good price/performance-ratio is obtained when using the rubber-metal elements 36 chosen for the centrifuge 10 of the invention.

[0068] Lastly, between the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 38 a mass element 40 is provided which is firmly connected to the struts 34 and the rubber-metal elements 36. The inclined position of the rubber-metal elements 36 and the spacing of the rubber-metal elements 36 from the motor 18 by means of the struts 34 already ensures a good damping effect, meaning that the mass element 40 could also be eliminated. However, adding a mass element 40 will clearly improve the damping effect even more.

[0069] Via the lower support plate 38, the centrifuge 10 is non-rotatably mounted on the support element 54. On the upper support plate 32, between each pair of mounting feet 20, a first elastic lug 48 can be seen, which accommodates the end of a strut 34 which faces the upper support plate 32 and thus connects the respective strut 34 elastically to the upper support plate 32. The first elastic lugs 48 may also be separate elements which are for example welded onto the upper support plate 32. However, the stability of the supporting unit 30 is increased if the first elastic lugs 48, as in the embodiment illustrated, are integrally formed with the upper support plate 32 and made of the same material as the upper support plate 32, for example by means of a die-cutting and bending process.

[0070] The lower limit of the supporting element 30 is formed by a lower support plate 38 which is connected to the rubber-metal elements 36 via second elastic lugs 50. Arranged between the lower support plate 38 and the upper support plate 32 is the mass element 40. The mass element 40 consists of three vertically stacked plates. At the center there is a fixing plate 44 which is elastically connected to the rubber-metal elements 36 and to the struts 34 via third elastic lugs 52. Above and below the fixing plate 44, there is a disk-shaped upper mass plate 42 and a disk-shaped lower mass plate 46 resp., which are both firmly connected to the fixing plate 44. In this embodiment, analogous to the first elastic lugs 48, the second elastic lugs 50 and the third elastic lugs 52 are integrally formed with the respective associated lower support plate 38 and/or fixing plate 44 and made of the same material as the respective associated plate.

[0071] Screw connections 56 firmly connect the supporting unit to the support unit 54 via the lower support plate 38. The support element 54 has supporting legs 58 at its four corners, and adjacent to these supporting legs 59 there are castors 59 on which the centrifuge 10 is supported on the ground.

[0072] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the arrangement of the distance sensor 80. The distance sensor 80 is designed as an inductive sensor and comprises a sensor head 80a which houses an induction coil that is not shown for the sake of clarity. The sensor head 80a is disposed in a third elastic lug 52 and has an operative axis 36b which extends in parallel to the spring axis 36a. Mounted on the second elastic lug 50 associated with the third elastic lug 52 is a metal head 80c which cooperates with the sensor head 80a. The metal head 80c is screw-connected to the second elastic lug 50. For this purpose, the metal head 80c has a threaded pin which engages a bore in the second elastic lug 50 and is secured with a nut 80b placed on the threaded pin. In the event of vertical oscillations of the rotor 12 due to an imbalance, the struts 34 will transfer these oscillations to the rubber-metal elements 36 for damping, and this will result in a change of the longitudinal extension of the rubber-metal elements 36 along the spring axis 36a. This will also change the distance between the third elastic lug 52 and its associated second elastic lug 50. These changes in distance can be accurately measured by the distance sensor 80, and the imbalance can be calculated on the basis of the measured data, in particular at low speeds of the centrifuge of up to 1,000 rpm.

[0073] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the control and evaluation unit 90. As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 1a and 1 b, the control and evaluation unit 90 is arranged in one unit with a segment disk 84, a fork light barrier 82, a retroreflective sensor 86 and an acceleration sensor 88 below the motor 18. The distance sensor 80 shown in FIG. 2, the fork light barrier 82, the retroreflective sensor 86 and the acceleration sensor 88 as well as a control panel (not shown) arranged on the centrifuge housing with an integrated display unit are connected to the control and evaluation unit 90. Additional distance sensors 88 may be located in the area of the struts 34, for example on the first or the second lug 50, 52. Furthermore, an electric switch (not shown) for switching off the centrifuge 10 in the event of a failure is provided in the control unit 90. The electric switch is in the form of a break contact and is connected in series with the mechanical limit switch 60, which is also in the form of a break contact, so that the opening of one of these two switches will cause the centrifuge 10 to be switched off.

[0074] The segment disk 84 is non-rotatably and concentrically mounted on the motor shaft 14 not shown in FIG. 4 so that it will rotate around the rotation axis 14a during operation of the centrifuge 10. The segment disk 84 has 30 recesses 84a circumferentially arranged on it and uniformly spaced from each other. The fork light barrier 82 which is mounted on the control and evaluation unit 90 and partially surrounds the segment disk 84 allows the speed of the centrifuge 10 to be determined based on the recesses 84a. Furthermore, a disk 85 is provided above the segment disk 84 which includes a cam 85a. Said cam 85a serves as an absolute reference for a 0° position for the detection of which a retroreflective sensor 86 is provided. The detection of the 0° position by means of the retroreflective sensor 86 and the detection of the recesses 84a by means of the fork light barrier 82 also allows the angle of rotation and the direction of rotation to be determined in the control and evaluation unit 90. The acceleration sensor 88 which is arranged adjacent to the fork light barrier 82 is operative in three spatial axes x, y and z and serves to detect imbalances, in particular at speeds of >1,000 rpm.

[0075] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a method for detecting an imbalance in a centrifuge 10 according to the invention.

[0076] The distance sensor 80, the fork light barrier 82 in connection with the retroreflective sensor 86 and the acceleration sensor 88 provide measured data to the control and evaluation unit 90 for detecting imbalances, at step 100. Such measured data is then evaluated in the control and evaluation unit 90, at step 102, and compared to two predetermined characteristics, at step 104.

[0077] If the measured data is below the first characteristic, the imbalance is found to be insignificant and the operation is continued and no further measures are taken, at step 106. If the measured data is above the first characteristic, but still below the second characteristic, a display unit 108 is activated and a corresponding warning is output, at step 110. However, operation continues, at step 106. However, in the event the measured data is also above the second characteristic, both the display unit 108 and the motor 18 are activated. A warning is then displayed on the display unit, at step 110, and the motor 18 is switched off, at step 114.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0078] 10 centrifuge [0079] 12 rotor [0080] 14 motor shaft [0081] 14a rotation axis [0082] 18 motor [0083] 19 rotational unit [0084] 20 mounting feet [0085] 24 motor housing [0086] 30 supporting unit [0087] 32 upper support plate [0088] 34 struts [0089] 36 rubber-metal elements [0090] 36a spring axis [0091] 36b operative axis [0092] 38 lower support plate [0093] 40 mass element [0094] 42 upper mass plate [0095] 44 fixing plate [0096] 46 lower mass plate [0097] 48 first elastic lugs [0098] 50 second elastic lugs [0099] 52 third elastic lugs [0100] 54 support element [0101] 56 screw connections [0102] 58 supporting legs [0103] 59 castors [0104] 60 mechanical limit switch [0105] 80 distance sensor [0106] 80a sensor head [0107] 80b nut [0108] 80c metal head [0109] 82 fork light barrier [0110] 84 segment disk [0111] 84a recesses [0112] 84b cam [0113] 86 retroreflective sensor [0114] 88 acceleration sensor [0115] 90 control and evaluation unit [0116] σ a setting angle [0117] 100 provide measuring data [0118] 102 evaluate measuring data [0119] 104 compare measuring data to predetermined characteristics [0120] 106 continue operation [0121] 108 activate display unit [0122] 110 output warning [0123] 112 activate display unit and motor [0124] 114 switch off motor