GB2082715A

GB2082715A - A safety device for a laboratory centrifuge

Info

Publication number: GB2082715A
Application number: GB8125601A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Medizin und Labortechnik Leipzig VEB
Current assignee: Medizin und Labortechnik Leipzig VEB
Priority date: 1980-08-29
Filing date: 1981-08-21
Publication date: 1982-03-10
Also published as: DE3120762C2; DE3120762A1; CS237431B1; CS416981A1; GB2082715B; HU191221B; DD153466A3

Abstract

A safety device for a laboratory centrifuge comprises a support spindle (3a) fixed in location with respect to the surface (6) on which the centrifuge is mounted and rotatably connected to a stationary part (2) of the centrifuge so as to be located towards one side thereof, whereby in the event of the centrifuge drum exploding, the whole of the centrifuge turns about the fixed spindle 3a away from the operative 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A safety device for a laboratory centrifuge The invention relates to a safety device for casings of laboratory centrifuges for safety where vertically arranged centrifuge drums are damaged.

Previously known casings for laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums are placed either on guide rollers or on support spindles which are not frictionally connected to the base on which they are erected.

Each material is pushed to the limit of the load which it can bear when selecting the dimensions of laboratory centrifuge drums, in order to achieve very high gravitational fields as well as a fairly iarge capacity with very low energy consumption.

In selection of these dimensions in allowance for damage to centrifuge drums is built in. In order to eliminate injury to personnel the apparatus is designed so that broken pieces of centrifuge drums cannot penetrate to the outside.

The friction between the bearing surfaces of the support spindles and the base on which the centrifuge is erected is insufficient to prevent the entire laboratory centrifuge from rotating by between 100 and 900. Since one corner of the centrifuge moves towards the operator then the operator is in special danger.

The invention seeks to provide a safety device for casings of laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums for eliminating injury to personnel if the drum is damaged.

The invention seeks to provide a safety device laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums which ensures that the centrifuge is not entirely fixed in location and, in the case of damage to the drum, the location of the centrifuge can be changed in direction leading away from the operator area.

According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for a laboratory centrifuge comprising a support spindle fixed in location with respect to the surface on which the centrifuge is mounted and rotatably connected to a stationary part of the centrifuge, the said support spindle being located towards one side of the centrifuge.

The support spindle is preferably always on the opposite side of the ideal plane to the direction of rotation of the drum.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of an example with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a laboratory centrifuge in front elevation Fig. 2 shows a laboratory centrifuge in plan view.

Support spindles 3; 3a arranged on the base 2 of a centrifuge casing 1 close to the side walls 12; 1 3 are provided for the purpose of levelling and securing the centrifuge. The support spindle 3a is provided with a tip 5 at its end 4, this tip 5 engaging into the base 6 on which the centrifuge is erected when the centrifuge is levelled, whereas the support spindle plates of the remaining support spindles 3 lie fiat on the base 6. The centrifuge casing, divided into two halves by the notional plane 11 which runs from the front plate 8 of the casing through the drum axis 9 to the rear wall 10 of the casing, in a vertical direction is closed laterally by the two side walls 1 2;1 3. The centrifuge is operated from the location 14.

If damage occurs, then the broken pieces of the exploding centrifuge drum 1 5 act via a safety housing 1 6 on the centrifuge casing 1 and the base 2 and rotate the whole of the centrifuge about the support spindle 3a which is rotatable mounted in the base 2. Since the spindle 3a has been pressed into the ground during levelling, the spindle 3a acts as a pivot point. The broken pieces of the clockwise rotating drum 1 5 hitting the safety housing 1 6 push the whole of the centrifuge in a clockwise direction about the support spindle 3a and move the centrifuge away from the location of the operating personnel 14 into the position 1 7.

In the case of leftward drums the support spindle 3a should be arranged on the left hand side of the notional plane 11.

If the drum of the centrifuge is to be driven both rightwardly and leftwardly then a support spindle 3a provided with a tip 5 is to be provided on each side of the notional plane 11 close to the side walls 12;13, only that spindle lying in opposition to the direction of rotation being locked in each case, i.e. used as a rotating shaft 3a.

Of course it is also possible to let a tube 18 or moulded element 1 8 for receiving the support spindle 3a into the ground 6, said tube or moulded element being matched to the front portion of the support spindle 3a.

1. A safety device for laboratory centrifuge comprising support spindle fixed in location with respect to the surface on which the centrifuge is mounted and rotatably connected to a stationary part of the centrifuge, the said support spindle being located towards one side of the centrifuge.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said support spindle is located near the side wall of the casing of the centrifuge laterally of a notional plane running from the centre of the front of the casing, through the axis of the centrifuge drum to the rear wall, the side of the notional plane on which the support spindle is located depending on the duration of rotation of the centrifuge drum.

3. A safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spindle element (3a) formed as a shaft and engaging with its end into the ground (6) on which the centrifuge is erected.

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 2 or 3,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A safety device for a laboratory centrifuge The invention relates to a safety device for casings of laboratory centrifuges for safety where vertically arranged centrifuge drums are damaged. Previously known casings for laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums are placed either on guide rollers or on support spindles which are not frictionally connected to the base on which they are erected. Each material is pushed to the limit of the load which it can bear when selecting the dimensions of laboratory centrifuge drums, in order to achieve very high gravitational fields as well as a fairly iarge capacity with very low energy consumption. In selection of these dimensions in allowance for damage to centrifuge drums is built in. In order to eliminate injury to personnel the apparatus is designed so that broken pieces of centrifuge drums cannot penetrate to the outside. The friction between the bearing surfaces of the support spindles and the base on which the centrifuge is erected is insufficient to prevent the entire laboratory centrifuge from rotating by between 100 and 900. Since one corner of the centrifuge moves towards the operator then the operator is in special danger. The invention seeks to provide a safety device for casings of laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums for eliminating injury to personnel if the drum is damaged. The invention seeks to provide a safety device laboratory centrifuges with vertically arranged centrifuge drums which ensures that the centrifuge is not entirely fixed in location and, in the case of damage to the drum, the location of the centrifuge can be changed in direction leading away from the operator area. According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for a laboratory centrifuge comprising a support spindle fixed in location with respect to the surface on which the centrifuge is mounted and rotatably connected to a stationary part of the centrifuge, the said support spindle being located towards one side of the centrifuge. The support spindle is preferably always on the opposite side of the ideal plane to the direction of rotation of the drum. The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of an example with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a laboratory centrifuge in front elevation Fig. 2 shows a laboratory centrifuge in plan view. Support spindles 3; 3a arranged on the base 2 of a centrifuge casing 1 close to the side walls 12; 1 3 are provided for the purpose of levelling and securing the centrifuge. The support spindle 3a is provided with a tip 5 at its end 4, this tip 5 engaging into the base 6 on which the centrifuge is erected when the centrifuge is levelled, whereas the support spindle plates of the remaining support spindles 3 lie fiat on the base 6. The centrifuge casing, divided into two halves by the notional plane 11 which runs from the front plate 8 of the casing through the drum axis 9 to the rear wall 10 of the casing, in a vertical direction is closed laterally by the two side walls 1 2;1 3. The centrifuge is operated from the location 14. If damage occurs, then the broken pieces of the exploding centrifuge drum 1 5 act via a safety housing 1 6 on the centrifuge casing 1 and the base 2 and rotate the whole of the centrifuge about the support spindle 3a which is rotatable mounted in the base 2. Since the spindle 3a has been pressed into the ground during levelling, the spindle 3a acts as a pivot point. The broken pieces of the clockwise rotating drum 1 5 hitting the safety housing 1 6 push the whole of the centrifuge in a clockwise direction about the support spindle 3a and move the centrifuge away from the location of the operating personnel 14 into the position 1 7. In the case of leftward drums the support spindle 3a should be arranged on the left hand side of the notional plane 11. If the drum of the centrifuge is to be driven both rightwardly and leftwardly then a support spindle 3a provided with a tip 5 is to be provided on each side of the notional plane 11 close to the side walls 12;13, only that spindle lying in opposition to the direction of rotation being locked in each case, i.e. used as a rotating shaft 3a. Of course it is also possible to let a tube 18 or moulded element 1 8 for receiving the support spindle 3a into the ground 6, said tube or moulded element being matched to the front portion of the support spindle 3a. CLAIMS

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the support spindle is arranged on the side of the ideal plane opposite to the direction of rotation of the centrifuge drum.

5. A safety device for a laboratory centrifuge substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.