Centrifuge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016158769-A1
Application number	US-201414905828-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A centrifuge ( 10 ) having a driveshaft ( 12 ) which has an end section ( 13 b ) that tapers toward the central axis ( 11 ) of the driveshaft ( 12 ), a rotor ( 18 ) which is mounted on the driveshaft ( 12 ) and which can be axially removed in a removal direction ( 16 ), a bearing ( 20 ) for the rotor ( 18 ), the bearing being connected to the driveshaft ( 12 ) and holding the rotor ( 18 ) at least against the removal direction ( 16 ), a quick-action closure ( 22 ) which is integrated into the rotor ( 18 ) and by means of which the driveshaft ( 12 ) and the rotor ( 18 ) are fixed in the removal direction ( 16 ).

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A centrifuge ( 10 ), comprising:
a driveshaft ( 12 ), said driveshaft rotatable about a central axis, and said driveshaft includes an end section ( 13 b ) that tapers toward said central axis ( 11 ) of said driveshaft ( 12 ), a rotor ( 18 ) which is mounted on said driveshaft ( 12 ) and which can be axially removed in a removal direction ( 16 ); a bearing ( 20 ) for said rotor ( 18 ), said bearing being connected to said driveshaft ( 12 ) and holding said rotor ( 18 ) at least against movement in said removal direction ( 16 ); a quick-action closure ( 22 ) integrated into said rotor ( 18 ), said quick-action closure fixes movement of said driveshaft ( 12 ) and said rotor ( 18 ) in said removal direction ( 16 ); an opening ( 24 ) in said rotor ( 18 ), said driveshaft ( 12 ) includes an end section ( 13 b ) extending through said opening, which is delimited by an opening wall ( 26 ) of said rotor ( 18 ); multiple locking elements ( 30 ) are provided on said rotor for fixing said rotor ( 18 ) and said driveshaft ( 12 ) together; said locking elements ( 30 ) at least partially surround said end section ( 13 b ) in order to fix said rotor ( 18 ) relative to said driveshaft ( 12 ); said locking elements ( 30 ) include bearing surfaces ( 30 a ) facing in said removal direction ( 16 ) and rest against said end section ( 13 b ); said locking elements ( 30 ) include support surfaces ( 30 b ) facing in a direction opposite said removal direction ( 16 ) and rest against said opening wall ( 26 ) of said rotor ( 18 ); said support surfaces of said locking elements ( 30 ) form an outer circumference which is larger than an inner circumference of said opening ( 24 ) when said locking elements are resting against said opening wall; said end section ( 13 b ) has a widest portion ( 13 c ) which tapers into a remaining section of said driveshaft ( 12 ); said quick-action closure ( 22 ) has force-transmitting elements ( 32 ) which connect said locking elements ( 30 ) to a handle ( 36 ); said quick-action closure ( 22 ) is locked and/or unlocked by a respective movement of said handle ( 36 ) and said force-transmitting elements ( 32 ) in a direction parallel to said central axis of said centrifuge.

22 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
said locking elements ( 30 ) can be resiliently moved by means of at least one spring ( 32 ) and are preloaded in a direction toward said driveshaft ( 12 ).

23 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
said locking elements ( 30 ) are elastically displaced by means of a spring ( 32 ) for unlocking and/or locking said quick-action closure ( 22 ) such that said locking elements ( 30 ) move past said end section ( 13 b ) at said widest portion ( 13 c ) relative to said central axis ( 11 ) of said centrifuge.

24 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 22 , further comprising:
said spring ( 32 ) is located between said handle ( 36 ) and said locking elements ( 30 ).

25 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 22 , further comprising:
said force-transmitting elements are said springs ( 32 ).

26 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 22 , further comprising:
said force-transmitting elements ( 32 ) are spring-loaded so as to cause said locking elements ( 30 ), when initially displaced from their position by said end section ( 13 b ) of said driveshaft ( 12 ) engaging through said opening ( 24 ) as the rotor ( 18 ) is mounted, to move past said end section ( 13 b ) in a mounting direction, rest against said end section and lock said rotor to said driveshaft.

27 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
said locking elements ( 30 ) are adapted to the shape of said end section ( 13 b ) of said driveshaft ( 12 ).

28 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
said end section ( 13 b ) of said driveshaft ( 12 ) includes a ball-shaped locking ball ( 14 a ), and said driveshaft includes a transition region intermediate said ball-shaped locking ball ( 14 a ) and said driveshaft ( 12 ).

29 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
said opening wall ( 26 ) includes a control surface ( 28 ) for engagement with said locking elements ( 30 ); when said rotor ( 18 ) is moved in a direction opposite to said removal direction ( 16 ): said locking elements ( 30 ) are moved in said direction of said driveshaft ( 12 ) and urge them into said locking position against said driveshaft ( 12 ); and, said control surface is brought into a locking position of said quick-action closure ( 22 ).

30 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 29 , further comprising:
a portion of said locking elements said control surface ( 28 ) engage said end section ( 13 b ) in said locking position.

31 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 29 , further comprising:
said control surface ( 28 ), when moved in said removal direction ( 16 ), during opening of said quick-action closure ( 22 ), allows a deflection of said locking elements ( 30 ).

32 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 31 wherein said removal direction ( 16 ) is the unlocking direction.

33 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 wherein said quick-action closure ( 22 ) and said rotor ( 18 ) are mechanically coupled.

34 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
three locking elements ( 30 ) are provided and said locking elements are spaced at regular intervals from each other.

35 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
a portion of said locking elements ( 30 ) extends into said opening ( 24 ).

36 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
a pivotal axis of said locking elements ( 30 ) extends perpendicular to said central axis ( 11 ) of said centrifuge, and that in their non-deflected state, springs ( 32 ) connected to said locking elements ( 30 ) extend downward from said pivotal axis parallel to said central axis ( 11 ).

37 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 36 , further comprising:
said springs ( 32 ) and said locking elements ( 30 ) are formed in one piece and made from the same material and surround the end section ( 13 b ) of said driveshaft.

38 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 29 , further comprising:
said control surface ( 28 ) extends concentrically to said central axis ( 11 ), at least along a height thereof, and that said locking elements ( 30 ) extend concentrically to said central axis ( 11 ), at least along a height thereof.

39 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
a handle ( 36 ); said force-transmitting elements are springs ( 32 ); and. said locking elements ( 30 ) are connected to said springs ( 32 ) in series.

40 . The centrifuge as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:
said force-transmitting elements are springs ( 32 ); said springs and said locking elements ( 30 ) are aligned in parallel with said central axis when said rotor is locked with said drive shaft; and, said springs and said locking elements ( 30 ) are aligned diagonally to said central axis ( 11 ) when said rotor is not locked with said drive shaft.

Assignees

• Hettich Andreas Gmbh & Co Kg
• Hettich Andreas Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Hornek Matthias
• Thuringer Frank
• Holderle Andreas
• Eberle Klaus-Gunter

Classifications

• B04B9/08 Primary

  Arrangement or disposition of transmission gearing {(for solid bowl screw centrifuges B04B1/2016); Couplings; Brakes} · CPC title

• F16D1/108

  having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling · CPC title

• B04B2009/085

  Locking means between drive shaft and rotor · CPC title