Nozzle for centrifuge rotors and method of removing same
AssigneeFluid-Quip, Inc.
InventorsLarry D. Garrison, Kim E. Greenwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nozzle removal assembly including an outlet nozzle for centrifuge rotors and cooperating hand tool. The nozzle has an improved structure for facilitating the installation within and removal from a rotor wall. The centrifuge nozzle includes a body portion having inlet and outlet ends wherein the outlet end includes a placement channel. The placement channel defines a radially inwardly facing engagement surface supported externally to the rotor wall for engagement with a hand tool. The hand tool is adapted for engaging the radially inwardly facing engagement surface of the placement channel wherein both rotational and axial forces may be applied to assist in the removal of the nozzle from the rotor wall. 5
Claims16
An outlet nozzle for use with a centrifuge rotor, said outlet nozzle comprising:
- a body portion having opposing inlet and outlet ends;
- an inlet bore extending within said body portion from said inlet end;
- an outlet bore intersecting said inlet bore at an angular offset;
- a resilient sealing member received by an outer surface of said body portion between said inlet and outlet ends;
- a locking mechanism integral with said body portion for securing said body portion to a centrifuge rotor wall;
- a placement channel formed within said outlet end of said body portion;
- and
- an engagement surface defined by said placement channel and facing inwardly toward said inlet end.
A nozzle removal assembly comprising:
- an outlet nozzle including a body portion having opposing inlet and outlet ends, a resilient sealing member received by an outer surface of said body portion between said inlet and outlet ends, a locking mechanism integral with said body portion for securing said body portion to a centrifuge rotor wall, a placement channel formed within said outlet end of said body portion, and an engagement surface defined by said placement channel and facing inwardly toward said inlet end;
- a hand tool for engaging said outlet nozzle, said hand tool including a shaft having opposing first and second ends, a nozzle engaging device supported on said first end, said nozzle engaging device slidably received within said placement channel and including a turning member and a pulling member connected to said turning member;
- and
- wherein said pulling member is engagable with said inwardly facing engagement surface.
A method of removing a nozzle from an outer wall of a centrifuge rotor, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a nozzle including a body portion having inlet and outlet ends, and a locking mechanism formed integral with said body portion for securing said nozzle to a centrifuge rotor wall;
- providing a placement channel within said outlet end of said body portion, said placement channel having an engagement surface facing inwardly toward said inlet end;
- providing a hand tool including a shaft having opposing first and second ends and a nozzle engaging device supported on said first end;
- aligning said nozzle engaging device of said hand tool with an open end of said placement channel of said nozzle;
- sliding said nozzle engaging device into said placement channel;
- applying a torque to said shaft of said hand tool thereby rotating said nozzle engaging device into contact with said placement channel and transmitting said torque to said body portion of said nozzle;
- rotating said nozzle thereby releasing said locking mechanism from said centrifuge rotor wall;
- applying a force to said hand tool substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said nozzle;
- causing said nozzle engaging device to forcibly engage said engagement surface of said placement channel;
- and
- removing said nozzle from said centrifuge rotor wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.