Flexible shaft drive system for centrifuge with pivoting arms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9347540-B2
Application number	US-201214113110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2012
Priority date	Sep 22, 2011
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A drive assembly for a centrifugal processing system is provided for rotating the yoke assembly ( 36 ) about a first axis at a first angular velocity and rotating the chamber assembly ( 30 ) coaxially with the yoke assembly at a second angular velocity A drive motor ( 60 ) is provided for rotating the yoke assembly at the first angular velocity A stationary gear ( 70 ) is mounted coaxially with the yoke assembly, with a drive linkage ( 72 ) comprising a shaft ( 74 ) secured to the yoke assembly so as to be rotatable therewith. The shaft is operatively connected on its first end to the stationary gear ( 70 ), so that the shaft rotates about its axis as the yoke assembly ( 36 ) rotates relative to the stationary gear. The shaft ( 74 ) is rotatably connected on its second end to the chamber assembly ( 30 ), so that when the shaft is rotated, the shaft rotates the chamber assembly. Preferably, the yoke assembly ( 36 ) comprises a first arm ( 38 ) and a second arm ( 40 ), with the chamber assembly ( 30 ) being rotatably secured to the first arm and the first arm being pivotably connected to the second arm, and the shaft ( 74 ) being flexible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive assembly for rotating a first structure about a first axis at a first angular velocity and rotating a second structure coaxially with the first structure at a second angular velocity comprising:
a drive motor for rotating the first structure at the first angular velocity;
a stationary gear mounted coaxially with the first structure;
and a drive linkage comprising a shaft secured to the first structure so as to be rotatable therewith, the shaft being operatively connected on a first end to the stationary gear so that the shaft is rotated about its axis as the first structure is rotated relative to the stationary gear by the drive motor, the shaft being operatively connected on a second end to the second structure so that when the shaft is rotated, the shaft rotates the second structure, wherein the first structure comprises a first arm and a second arm, the second structure being rotatably secured to the first arm and the first arm being pivotably connected to the second arm, and the shaft being flexible to accommodate the pivoting of the first arm to the second arm.

2. The drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the second structure comprises a first pulley and wherein a second pulley is mounted to the second end of the shaft, the first and second pulleys being connected by a drive belt.

3. The drive assembly of claim 2 wherein both the stationary gear and the first end of the shaft comprise intermeshing gears.

4. The drive assembly of claim 3 wherein the ratio of the stationary gear to the gear associated with the first end of the shaft is substantially the same as the ratio of the first pulley to the second pulley, such that the angular velocity of the second structure is twice the angular velocity of the first structure.

5. A centrifuge system having a drive assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which the first structure is a yoke and the second structure is a chamber assembly.

Assignees

• Pieper Gregory G
• Manzella Salvatore
• Calhoun Daryl
• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Pieper Gregory G
• Manzella Salvatore
• Calhoun Daryl

Classifications

• B04B5/0442 Primary

  with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation · CPC title

• Y10T74/19051

  Single driven plural drives · CPC title

• F16H37/065 Primary

  with a plurality of driving or driven shafts (F16H37/0806 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B04B2005/0492

  with fluid conveying umbilicus between stationary and rotary centrifuge parts · CPC title

• B04B9/08

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