Fixed angle composite centrifuge rotor fabrication with filament windings on angled surfaces

A process for the manufacture of a composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of composite material discs including at least a top disc and a bottom disc, said top disc having a relatively small diameter for forming the top of said frustum shaped rotor, said bottom disc having a relatively large diameter for forming the bottom of said frustum shaped rotor;
• each said disc having parallel and overlying laminate layers and defining said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to the central spin axis of said rotor, with said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said top disc being spaced radially inwardly of said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said bottom disc;
• placing said discs over one another defining at the periphery thereof a stepped profile containing steps with respect to the spin axis of said rotor for retaining circumferential filament windings disposed to the periphery of said rotor;
• and
• placing said circumferential filament windings disposed about said steps normal to said spin axis, said circumferential filament windings filling said steps to impart to said rotor said frustum profile.

A composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising:

• a plurality of composite material discs including at least a top disc and a bottom disc, said top disc having a relatively small diameter for forming the top of said frustum shaped rotor, said bottom disc having a relatively large diameter for forming the bottom of said frustum shaped rotor, said plurality of composite material discs forming a central rotor body;
• each said disc having parallel and overlying laminate layers and defining said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to the central spin axis of said rotor with said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said top disc being spaced radially inwardly of said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said bottom disc;
• a step defined in said top disc of said rotor at the peripheral portion thereof having a surface for receiving a loop wind of filament having a vertical component downward towards said bottom disc;
• a step defined in said bottom disc of said rotor at the peripheral portion thereof having a surface for receiving a loop wind of filament having a vertical component upward towards said top disc, said step in said bottom disc underlying said corresponding step in said top disc;
• and
• a vertical filament winding under tension encircling said steps for urging said top disc towards said bottom disc for resisting forces of vertical separation is said rotor.

A composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising:

• a plurality of composite-material discs including at least a top disc and a bottom disc, said top disc having a relatively small diameter for forming the top of said frustum shaped rotor, said bottom disc having a relatively large diameter for forming the bottom of said frustum shaped rotor;
• each said disc having parallel and overlying laminate layers and defining said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to the spin axis of said rotor, with said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said top disc being spaced inwardly of said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said bottom disc;
• said top disc defining about said sample tube apertures a female annulus;
• and
• a sample holder for placement to said sample tube apertures, said sample holder defining a male annulus complimentary to said female annulus in said top disc and having a body for extending into said sample tube apertures whereby upon centrifugation said male annulus on said sample tube holder bears down on said top disc towards the bottom disc of said rotor.

A process for the manufacture of a composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of composite material discs including at least a top disc and a bottom disc, said top disc having a relatively small diameter for forming the top of said frustum shaped rotor, said bottom disc having a relatively large diameter for forming the bottom of said frustum shaped rotor;
• each said disc having parallel and overlying laminate layers and defining said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to the central spin axis of said rotor, with said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said top disc being spaced radially inwardly of said peripheral inclined sample tube apertures symmetrically distributed with respect to said bottom disc;
• placing said discs over one another defining at the periphery thereof a stepped profile containing steps with respect to the central spin axis of said rotor for retaining circumferential filament windings to the periphery of said rotor;
• placing said circumferential filament windings disposed about said steps normal to said spin axis, said circumferential filament windings filling said steps to impart to said rotor said frustum profile;
• placing said frustum shaped rotor within a mold having the net shape of said frustum shaped rotor;
• and
• curing said rotor and windings interior of said net shaped mold.

A composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising:

• a central rotor body defining at the periphery thereof a stepped profile with respect to the spin axis of said rotor for retaining circumferential filament windings on the exterior of said rotor;
• said circumferential filament windings disposed about said stepped profile normal to said spin axis, said filament windings filling said stepped profile to impart to said rotor said frustum profile, and,
• the central rotor body includes a frustum shaped insert, said frustum shaped insert defining a stepped profile on the exterior thereof;
• said circumferential windings extend to said stepped profile defined by said frustum shaped insert;
• and,
• the central rotor body includes a vertical winding extending from the top of the central rotor body to the bottom of the central rotor body.

A process for constructing a composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising the steps of:

• providing a central rotor body defining at the periphery thereof a stepped profile with respect to the spin axis of said rotor for retaining circumferential filament windings on the exterior of said rotor;
• winding said circumferential filament windings about said stepped profile normal to said spin axis, said filament windings filling said stepped profile to impart to said rotor said frustum profile;
• providing the central rotor body with a frustum shaped insert, said frustum shaped insert defining a stepped profile on the exterior thereof;
• winding said circumferential windings to extend to said stepped profile defined by said frustum shaped insert;
• and,
• vertically winding the central rotor body with filament windings having a vertical component extending from the top of the central rotor body to the bottom of the central rotor body.

A composite fixed angle rotor having a frustum profile with a central spin axis and peripheral inclined sample tube apertures comprising:

• a central rotor body defining at the periphery thereof a stepped profile with respect to the spin axis of said rotor for retaining windings on the exterior of said rotor;
• circumferential filament windings disposed about said stepped profile normal to said spin axis, said filament windings filling said stepped profile to impart to said rotor a frustum profile;
• the central rotor body defining at the periphery thereof said stepped profile;
• said central rotor body consists of a plurality of discs;
• and,
• the central rotor body includes a vertical winding extending from the top of the central rotor body to the bottom of the central rotor body.