Apparatus for transmitting rotational energy from a motor to the rotor of a centrifuge

A construction for a centrifuge of the type which includes a flexible shaft to transmit the rotational motion of a motor shaft to a rotor, said flexible shaft having upper and lower connectors separated by a relatively long, thin central member, wherein the improvement comprises a shaft protector enclosing the central member of said flexible shaft, said shaft protector defining a lumen of a configuration such that the central member of the flexible shaft is free to flex within the lumen but which is sufficiently confining so as to prevent bending of the central member of the flexible shaft to a point which would result in permanent deformation of the flexible shaft, and a rotor adapter with the upper connector of the flexible shaft inserted in the rotor adaptor and the lower connector of the flexible shaft coupled to a motor shaft, and wherein there is a clearance between the rotor adapter and the shaft protector, which clearance governs the radial movement of the rotor adapter relative to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft and prevents the shaft from breaking due to a mechanical stress on the rotor.