Rotor having frangible projections thereon
AssigneeE.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsDavid M. Carson, Oakley L. Weyant, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifuge rotor is provided with a pair of projections frangibly connected thereto. As the rotor reaches a predetermined speed the projections simultaneously fracture forming projectiles which puncture the evacuated chamber in which the rotor is mounted. Ambient air is drawn into the chamber, thereby windage limiting the speed of the rotor. The projections are each sized and positioned to impart a total unbalance less than the multiplication product of 0.5 gram-inches times the weight of the rotor.
Claims20
A centrifuge rotor for use in a centrifuge instrument of the type having an enclosable and evacuable chamber with a drive member adapted to connect the rotor to a source of motive energy projecting into the chamber, the rotor having a predetermined weight associated therewith,
- the rotor having at least a first projection connected thereto through a frangible connecting region, the frangible connecting region being configured so as to fracture and thereby separate the projection from the rotor when the rotor is driven to a predetermined rotational speed,
- the projection being sized and positioned on the rotor so as to exhibit an unbalance of less than the multiplication product of 0.5 gram-inches for each pound of rotor weight so that the projection may separate from the rotor without unbalancing the same to an extent sufficient to cause the rotor to leave the drive member,
- the projection upon separation from the rotor forming a projectile having an energy content sufficient to puncture the chamber to admit ambient air thereinto thereby to windage limit the rotational speed of the rotor.
A centrifuge rotor for use in a centrifuge instrument of the type having an enclosable and evacuable chamber with a drive member adapted to connect the rotor to a source of motive energy projecting into the chamber, the rotor having a predetermined weight associated therewith,
- the rotor having a first and a second projection each connected to the rotor through a frangible connecting region, each frangible connecting region being configured so as to fracture and thereby separate the projection associated therewith from the rotor when the rotor is driven to a predetermined rotational speed.
- each projection being sized and positioned on the rotor so as to exhibit an unbalance of less than the multiplication product of 0.5 gram-inches for each pound of rotor weight so that the projection may separate from the rotor without unbalancing the same to an extent sufficient to cause the rotor to leave the drive member,
- each projection being sized and configured to form a projectile having an energy content sufficient to puncture the chamber to admit ambient air thereinto and thereby to windage limit the rotational speed of the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.