JPH025879Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator, and more particularly to a container for a centrifuge having turbulence promoting elements on its inner surface.

The storage containers used in centrifuges are commonly referred to as containers or bowls.
The container is supported within the centrifuge casing and is formed from a substantially cylindrical side wall to which a flat floor portion is attached. The container includes a central axial opening disposed through the floor portion. A shaft for receiving a centrifuge rotor projects through the opening in the floor portion of the container. The shaft is driven by any suitable drive energy source.

The rotor is positioned on top of the shaft to rotate within the confines of the container. Rotors of various sizes can be interchangeably mounted on the shaft. Each rotor is designed and shaped to be speed limited by friction with the air. That is, the shape of the rotor itself depends on the surrounding fluid (air) inside the container.
The rotor speed is limited to a predetermined maximum rated speed. In addition, the electronics that control the drive of the rotor are designed to include positive overspeed prevention characteristics.

However, when a particular rotor is interchangeably mounted on a rotor shaft for use inside a given container, the speed of the rotor due to friction with the air inside that particular container is It may not be possible to configure it into a physical shape that is subject to restrictions. Here, if the designed safety features in the motor control electronics are not helpful, overspeeding of the rotor used inside the container can occur.
This has been recognized as a disadvantage in that when the rotor is allowed to rotate at speeds in excess of its predetermined maximum rated speed, there is a greater likelihood of the rotor breaking down.

One solution to the possibility that the interchangeable use of different rotors within the same centrifuge container may result in overspeeding of the rotors is to overdo the safety characteristics of the electronics. In this way, the risk of overspeed rotation of the motor due to insufficient control electronics is minimized. However, preventive measures in the form of excessive electronic equipment are expensive.

Therefore, for any rotor used inside a container, we must create airflow conditions that help its speed to be limited by friction with the air.
It may be advantageous if the device adapted to occur inside the container is provided inside the container itself.

The present invention relates to a container or ball for a centrifugal separator that can replaceably house any one of a predetermined number of rotating elements for rotation inside the container. The container is formed with cylindrical side walls and a flat floor. The side wall has at least one surface acting on its inner surface to disrupt the flow of air around a rotor rotating inside the container so that the rotational speed of the rotor is limited by friction with the air. It is equipped with elements that make individual flows discontinuous, that is, elements that promote turbulence. The flow discontinuing elements are preferably arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other inside the container and are located at a predetermined height along the sidewall thereof, thereby The effect is given to each of the predetermined plurality of rotors that may be used therein such that it is speed limited by friction with the air.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application.

Throughout the following detailed description, like reference numerals refer to like elements in all of the accompanying drawings.

1-3, there is shown a centrifugal separator, generally designated 10, having an outer casing 12. Referring to FIGS. Outer casing 1
2 completely surrounds the container or ball 14. The casing 12 is provided with an inspection opening 16 . Through this opening 16, a rotating element is inserted into the interior of the centrifuge device 10 for the purpose of centrifuging the contents within the rotating element. The inspection opening 16 is shielded by a suitable door 18 when centrifugation is taking place. container 14
is mounted within the casing 12 by any suitable support device, such as that shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, casing 12 has an inwardly projecting shoulder 20 that receives a lip or 22 disposed circumferentially around the top of container 14. In FIG. Of course, any suitable attachment device can be used.

Container 14 typically has a substantially cylindrical sidewall 2 connected to an annular floor or bottom 26.
It is regulated by 4. Actually, the side wall portion 24
and the floor portion 26 are formed integrally with each other by a stamping operation. The floor 26 of the container 14 is regulated by a lip portion 30 bent rearward in the center thereof and oriented in the axial direction.
An opening 28 is arranged. The lip 30 extends upwardly into the space bounded by the container 14. A buffer shield (not shown) is provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion 24, and the centrifugal separator 1
If 0 is a refrigeration centrifuge, it may also include/or an evaporator coil (not shown).

A rotor shaft 32 extends upwardly along the central axis of the container 14 and
projecting into a restricted area or space inside. Shaft 32 is rotor gyro 3
4, supported by suitable bearings. The rotor gyro 34 is supported by a collision member 36 attached to the casing 12. A rubberized boot 38 received by the lip 30 closes off the space between the lip 30 and the rotor gyro 34.

Rotational power is transmitted to the shaft 32 (and rotating elements mounted thereon) which are connected by a pulley and belt 40 to a drive energy source, illustrated as a motor 42 . The direction of rotation of the rotor is indicated by arrow W. The upper end of the shaft 32 is provided with a short shaft portion 44 . The short shaft portion 44 has a
It is adapted to receive a central boss of a rotating element or rotor having a correspondingly configured central axial recess. The rotor is thereby mounted for rotational movement within the container 14 when the rotor is placed on the short shaft and secured.

The practice in the art is to replaceably mount any one of a predetermined number of rotor elements on the short shaft 44 of the shaft 32. For example, a centrifugal separator called the RT-6000 refrigerated tabletop centrifuge, manufactured and sold by DuPont, has either a fixed angle rotor 46F or a swinging bucket centrifuge rotor 4
6S is accepted interchangeably.
Each of these rotors 46F, 46S is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. Each rotor 46F or 46S is designed to have a physical shape such that the speed at which the rotor can rotate is limited by friction with the air. however,
Dimensions such that when a particular rotor is installed inside a given container, the rotor will be subject to a minimum of speed limitations due to air friction inherent in the rotor as a function of the physical shape of the rotor. It is possible that it has become. Therefore, if the electronic control unit associated with the motor becomes ineffective, a particular rotor may be allowed to rotate at a speed greater than the predetermined maximum rated speed.

According to the invention, at least one, preferably one
A pair of turbulence promoting elements 50A and 50B are disposed in generally diametrically opposed positions on the inner surface of the sidewall 24 of the container 14. Any predetermined number of turbulence promoting elements 50 may be used, as long as the turbulence promoting elements 50 are arranged symmetrically around the inside of the container 14. As can be seen from FIG. 3, each of the turbulence promoting elements 50 has a substantially radially internal dimension H, a radially internal dimension R and a circumferential dimension C (FIG. 2). It is a protruding part facing towards the direction. The turbulence promoting element 50 is set at a predetermined operating height 52 above the floor of the container 14 to disrupt the air flow generated inside the container 14 by rotating a rotor that can be replaced and used inside the container 14 . It is located in The operating height 52 at which the turbulence promoting element 50 is located is a function of the physical size of the rotor that may be used within the container 14. The operating height 52 is the turbulence promoting element 5
0 is selected to subject the speed of the rotor used within the container 14 to frictional limitations with the air to perform the airflow disturbance function described herein. Similarly, dimensions H and R of the turbulence promoting element 50
and C are selected to accommodate the physical sizes of the various rotors that can be used interchangeably within the container 14.

Preferably, the turbulence promoting element 50 is stamped out integrally with the container 14. It should, of course, be understood here that the turbulence-enhancing elements may be configured in any suitable configuration, such as being mounted on the side walls and projecting inwardly into the container 14. The turbulence promoting element 50 is
Preferably, the rotor shaft 32 is mounted so that its axis 54 extends parallel to the axis of the rotor shaft 32. That is, the axis 54 of each turbulence promoting element 50 extends in the vertical direction. However, turbulence promoting element 5
It should be understood that the axis 54 of each of the zeros can be tilted with respect to the vertical direction either in the direction of rotation of the rotor or in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the turbulence promoting element 50 can be configured in any desired and convenient shape to perform the frictional velocity limiting function of air friction as described herein.

In operation, any one of the predetermined number of rotors available inside the container
It is inserted into the short shaft and rotated. Some of the rotors may themselves be configured such that their maximum rotational speed is limited by windage due to friction with the air. However, it is possible that some of the rotors that are exchanged inside the container cannot themselves be configured in such a way that they can physically limit their rotational speed. Therefore, if the motor's electronic control unit becomes ineffective, the rotor may be forced to rotate at a speed greater than the predetermined maximum rated speed. However, the turbulence promoting element 5 according to the present invention
0 is placed inside the container 14,
The airflow generated as the rotor rotates inside the container 14 is disturbed, affecting fluid friction and causing a limit to the speed at which the rotor can rotate due to friction with the air.

Those skilled in the art will be able to implement numerous modifications and variations to the present invention using the teachings of the present invention as described above. These changes and modifications should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims of the utility model registration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container for a centrifugal separator having turbulence promoting elements arranged according to the present invention;
The figure is a plan view of the container shown in Figure 1, and the container shown in Figure 3.
The figure is a side view taken along the - line of Figure 2, illustrating a preferred shape of the turbulence promoting element according to the present invention in cross section. 10... Centrifugal separator, 12... Outer casing, 14... Container, 16... Opening, 24...
... Side wall part, 26 ... Floor part, 30 ... Lip, 3
2...shaft, 40...pulley and belt, 4
2...Motor, 44...Short shaft section, 46F, 46S
...Rotor, 50...Turbulence promoting element.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A casing; a container having a side wall and a floor installed inside the casing; and a rotating shaft extending axially upward at the center within the area regulated by the container. A centrifugal separator, wherein the rotating shaft is adapted to exchangeably receive a rotating element thereon, and the containers are disposed on side walls thereof substantially diametrically opposite each other, and a pair of radially extending turbulence promoting elements, each of the turbulence promoting elements having a predetermined height dimension H;
having a radial inner dimension R and a circumferential dimension C, the lower end of each of the turbulence promoting elements is such that a majority of the turbulence promoting element has an inner radial dimension R and a circumferential dimension C; being located at a predetermined operating height above the floor so as to be radially proximate to the rotating element when rotating, and the dimensions H, R and C of the turbulence promoting element Each of the heights is such that each of the turbulence promoting elements disturbs the air flow created inside the container by the rotation of the rotating element, creating a fluid friction effect, thereby increasing the rotational speed of the rotating element. A centrifugal separator characterized in that the dimensions of the centrifugal separator are selected such that the dimensions are limited by friction. 2. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1, wherein each of the turbulence promoting elements has a side wall integrally formed. 3. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis of each of the turbulence promoting elements is substantially a vertical line.