GB2146551A

GB2146551A - Centrifuge windshield lid including a handle

Info

Publication number: GB2146551A
Application number: GB08423444A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Harold Hoare
Original assignee: Fisons Ltd
Current assignee: Fisons Ltd
Priority date: 1983-09-17
Filing date: 1984-09-17
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: GB2146551B; GB8324915D0; GB8423444D0

Abstract

A centrifuge windshield lid includes a handle comprising a handle grip (9) and, extending from the grip (9), an elongate fixing member (10), preferably in the form of a cylinder, provided with a central bore (12) and an external groove (11). The fixing member (10) includes a lower compressible portion capable of being passed through an aperture in the lid. On being passed through the aperture, the compressible portion expands and urges the groove (11) into a gripping engagement with lid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Centrifuge windshield lid including a handle This invention relates to a centrifuge windshield lid including a handle.

In British Patent specification No 1,514,141 there is described inter alia a handle for the lid of a centrifuge wind shield. However, this handle is, in practice, difficult to attach to the lid, the attachment requiring circlips and shim washers, etc.

We have now found an improved handle which can be fixed to the lid without the use of any other separate parts.

According to the invention there is provided a centrifuge windshield lid including a handle, the handle comprising a grip and extending from the grip an elongate fixing member provided with a central bore and an external groove, the fixing member including a lower compressible portion capable of being passed through a aperture in the lid, thereafter to expand and urge the groove into a gripping engagement with the lid.

The lower portion of the fixing member preferably includes at least one slot parallel to the long axis of the fixing member. We particularly prefer the lower portion to include six slots.

The fixing member preferably includes a lower outer edge tapered to facilitate insertion of the fixing member into the aperture.

When the fixing member is provided with slots, we prefer the edges of the slots to be bevelled, to facilitate compression of the lower portion.

The fixing member is preferably cylindrical. The grip is preferably circular in horizontal cross section, and is preferably such that it will not offer any great air resistance on rotation when in position in the lid.

The grip and the fixing member may be formed, e.g. moulded, from separate components, and held together, by e.g. a snap fit interaction. However, we prefer the grip and the fixing member to be integrally moulded. The integral moulding is preferably of a flexible material, e.g. hard nylon or other suitable plastics material.

The central bore of the handle is preferably adapted to accommodate a pin, e.g. a hexagonal centrifuge rotor locking pin, which extends upwardly from the rotor. The bore preferably is such that the handle (and the lid to which it is attached) can slideably engage the pin along the long axis of the pin, but cannot be rotated with respect to the shaft. Preferably the lower inner edge of the fixing member is tapered to facilitate insertion of the locking pin into the central bore. When the pin is inserted into the bore it facilitates the expansion of the compressible portion, and urges the groove into a gripping engagement with the lid.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a partial vertical section through a centrifuge rotor and wind shield showing a handle in place; Figure 2 is the plan view of the handle, viewed from below; and Figure 3 is a vertical section through the handle, along the line I-I in Figure 2.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, a centrifuge windshield which comprises a bowl 1 and a lid 2 encloses a rotor 3 and is mounted on a bearing 4.

The rotor 3, which is of conventional design, has mounted on it by means of trunions 5 a plurality of buckets 6, which are able to swing into a horizontal position when the rotor is rotated.

The rotor 3 is locked to the bearing 4 by hexagonal a rotor locking pin 7 which extends upwardly into a central bore in a handle 8 located in a central aperture in the lid 2.

Turning to Figures 2 and 3, the handle 8 comprises an upper handle grip 9 and extending from the grip 9 an elongate fixing member in the form of a cylinder 10 provided with an external annular groove 11 and a central bore 12 of hexagonal horizontal internal section adapted to receive the pin 7.

The cylinder 10 is further provided with six slots 13, parallel to the long axis of the cylinder 10, which run the length of the bore 12, terminating just below the grip 9. The lower outer edge 14 of the cylinder 10 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the cylinder 10 into the aperture in the lid 2, and the lower inner edge of the cylinder 10 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the locking pin 7 into the central bore 12.

The handle 8 is affixed to the lid 2 simply by pressing the cylinder 10 through a corresponding aperture in the lid 2. The slots 13 allow the cylinder 10 to be compressed, until the groove 11 is forced into a gripping engagement by the expanding movement of the cylinder 10. The expansion of the cylinder 10 is facilitated by the vertical sliding engagement of the locking pin 7 in the bore 12.

1. A centrifuge windshield lid including a handle, the handle comprising a handle grip and extending from the grip an elongate fixing member provided with a central bore and an external groove, the fixing member including a lower compressible portion capable of being passed through an aperture in the lid, thereafter to expand and urge the groove into a gripping engagement with the lid.

2. A lid according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion includes at least one slot parallel to the long axis of the fixing member.

3. A lid according to claim 2, wherein the lower portion includes six slots.

4. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing member includes a lower outer edge tapered to facilitate insertion of the fixing member into the aperture.

5. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing member is cylindrical.

6. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip is circular in horizontal cross section.

7. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip and the fixing member are

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Centrifuge windshield lid including a handle This invention relates to a centrifuge windshield lid including a handle. In British Patent specification No 1,514,141 there is described inter alia a handle for the lid of a centrifuge wind shield. However, this handle is, in practice, difficult to attach to the lid, the attachment requiring circlips and shim washers, etc. We have now found an improved handle which can be fixed to the lid without the use of any other separate parts. According to the invention there is provided a centrifuge windshield lid including a handle, the handle comprising a grip and extending from the grip an elongate fixing member provided with a central bore and an external groove, the fixing member including a lower compressible portion capable of being passed through a aperture in the lid, thereafter to expand and urge the groove into a gripping engagement with the lid. The lower portion of the fixing member preferably includes at least one slot parallel to the long axis of the fixing member. We particularly prefer the lower portion to include six slots. The fixing member preferably includes a lower outer edge tapered to facilitate insertion of the fixing member into the aperture. When the fixing member is provided with slots, we prefer the edges of the slots to be bevelled, to facilitate compression of the lower portion. The fixing member is preferably cylindrical. The grip is preferably circular in horizontal cross section, and is preferably such that it will not offer any great air resistance on rotation when in position in the lid. The grip and the fixing member may be formed, e.g. moulded, from separate components, and held together, by e.g. a snap fit interaction. However, we prefer the grip and the fixing member to be integrally moulded. The integral moulding is preferably of a flexible material, e.g. hard nylon or other suitable plastics material. The central bore of the handle is preferably adapted to accommodate a pin, e.g. a hexagonal centrifuge rotor locking pin, which extends upwardly from the rotor. The bore preferably is such that the handle (and the lid to which it is attached) can slideably engage the pin along the long axis of the pin, but cannot be rotated with respect to the shaft. Preferably the lower inner edge of the fixing member is tapered to facilitate insertion of the locking pin into the central bore. When the pin is inserted into the bore it facilitates the expansion of the compressible portion, and urges the groove into a gripping engagement with the lid. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a partial vertical section through a centrifuge rotor and wind shield showing a handle in place; Figure 2 is the plan view of the handle, viewed from below; and Figure 3 is a vertical section through the handle, along the line I-I in Figure 2. Referring particularly to Figure 1, a centrifuge windshield which comprises a bowl 1 and a lid 2 encloses a rotor 3 and is mounted on a bearing 4. The rotor 3, which is of conventional design, has mounted on it by means of trunions 5 a plurality of buckets 6, which are able to swing into a horizontal position when the rotor is rotated. The rotor 3 is locked to the bearing 4 by hexagonal a rotor locking pin 7 which extends upwardly into a central bore in a handle 8 located in a central aperture in the lid 2. Turning to Figures 2 and 3, the handle 8 comprises an upper handle grip 9 and extending from the grip 9 an elongate fixing member in the form of a cylinder 10 provided with an external annular groove 11 and a central bore 12 of hexagonal horizontal internal section adapted to receive the pin 7. The cylinder 10 is further provided with six slots 13, parallel to the long axis of the cylinder 10, which run the length of the bore 12, terminating just below the grip 9. The lower outer edge 14 of the cylinder 10 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the cylinder 10 into the aperture in the lid 2, and the lower inner edge of the cylinder 10 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the locking pin 7 into the central bore 12. The handle 8 is affixed to the lid 2 simply by pressing the cylinder 10 through a corresponding aperture in the lid 2. The slots 13 allow the cylinder 10 to be compressed, until the groove 11 is forced into a gripping engagement by the expanding movement of the cylinder 10. The expansion of the cylinder 10 is facilitated by the vertical sliding engagement of the locking pin 7 in the bore 12. CLAIMS

3. A lid according to claim 2, wherein the lower portion includes six slots.

7. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip and the fixing member are integrally moulded.

8. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, 6 wherein the central bore is adapted to accept a centrifuge rotor locking pin.

9. A lid according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member includes a lower inner edge tapered to facilitate insertion of the lockin pin into the central bore.

10. A centrifuge windshield lid including a han dle substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.