Rotor for a laboratory device and laboratory device having a rotor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotor (1) for laboratory equipment (100), particularly for a centrifuge, wherein the rotor (1) comprises a rotor body (2) having a receiving volume (3) and a cover (4) by means of which the receiving volume (3) in the rotor body (2) can be closed. The rotor (1) is characterized by a locking mechanism (5) having at least one locking element (6) movable from an open position to a locked position and a receiving portion (7) corresponding to the at least one locking element (6), wherein the at least one locking element (6) engages in the receiving portion in the locked position to lock the cover (4) to the rotor body (2), wherein the at least one locking element (6) is movable between its unlocked position and its locked position by means of a preferably rotatable operating element (8) arranged at the cover (4).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to rotors for laboratory equipment, particularly for centrifuges, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor body having a containment volume and a cover, the cover being used to seal the containment volume within the rotor body, preferably by means of an aerosol seal. Furthermore, this invention also relates to laboratory equipment having such a rotor, particularly centrifuges.

[0002] The rotors of the above type are known in different practical implementations.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a rotor and a laboratory apparatus having such a rotor, wherein the rotor can lock its cover to the rotor base as conveniently and securely as possible.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the features of the independent claim relating to the rotor are proposed. Therefore, to achieve this objective, a rotor of the type described above is specifically proposed, having a locking mechanism having a locking element movable from an open position to a locked position and a receiving portion corresponding to the at least one locking element. In the locked position, the at least one locking element can engage with the receiving portion to lock the cover to the rotor base. The locking element can move between its open position and its locked position by means of a preferably rotatable operating element (arranged at the cover).

[0005] Thanks to the locking mechanism, the rotor according to the invention can be sealed particularly quickly (e.g., by a quarter turn of its operating element), conveniently, safely, and preferably also in an aerosol-sealed manner. It is particularly advantageous if the operating element is rotatable. For example, the operating element can be a knob. Because the operating element is arranged at the cover of the rotor, the locking mechanism can be operated simply and reliably even when the rotor is positioned in its place of use within the working space of laboratory equipment (especially a centrifuge), and specifically connected there to the rotor drive of the laboratory equipment.

[0006] The volume contained in the rotor matrix can be sealed by an aerosol seal through the cover.

[0007] The operating element can have an ergonomic shape and / or can be designed and / or used as a handle. An ergonomic shape of the operating element is helpful when the enclosed rotor needs to be removed from the centrifuge after the centrifugation process is complete. In particular, the enclosed rotor can be held at the operating element and moved, for example, to a fume hood so that it can be opened in the fume hood under conditions safe for the user. This is especially important if the rotor contains hazardous substances.

[0008] In one embodiment of the rotor, a locking element is arranged or formed at the cover, and a receiving portion for the locking element is arranged or formed at the rotor base. In another embodiment of the rotor, the locking element and the corresponding receiving portion are arranged in opposite directions.

[0009] The receiving portion of the locking mechanism can be a receiving groove. The receiving groove is preferably designed to be annular. In this way, at least one locking element can engage with the receiving portion from different relative positions, particularly from different angular positions relative to the receiving portion, in order to activate the lock. This simplifies the operation of the rotor when its cover is locked.

[0010] The rotor base may have a retaining journal at which a receiving portion of the locking mechanism is formed. In this context, it is particularly advantageous that the receiving portion is designed as an annular receiving groove and surrounds the longitudinal central axis of the retaining journal at the rotor base in a closed annular manner.

[0011] The journal can be arranged or formed within the rotor base, more specifically within the receiving volume of the rotor base. In one embodiment of the rotor, at least one locking element has a chamfer on its side facing the receiving portion. The chamfer serves as an introduction aid and facilitates the easy introduction of the locking element into its locked position within the receiving portion. Furthermore, the chamfer converts the movement of the locking element toward its locked position into axial movement of the cover in the direction of the receiving volume. Thus, when locked, the cover can reach a defined closed position at the rotor base, which can be said to be pulled into its closed position.

[0012] In particular, when the seal is formed or arranged between the cover and the rotor base, the establishment of the lock and the resulting axial movement of the cover toward the receiving volume enable the cover to achieve a correct and sealed seating at the rotor base.

[0013] The receiving portion may have an inlet ramp for at least one locking element. The inlet ramp may also facilitate the introduction of at least one locking element into its locked position. The inlet ramp may also be used to axially introduce the cover into its closed position by moving at least one locking element into the receiving portion.

[0014] Specifically, when a seal (e.g., an O-ring) is arranged between the cover and the rotor base, this allows the cover to be reliably and sealingly introduced into its closed position at the rotor base. Furthermore, the aforementioned chamfer and guide bevel also prevent axial clearance between the cover and the rotor base.

[0015] The operating element of the locking mechanism can pivot or rotate about a rotation axis to operate the locking mechanism, which preferably coincides with the rotation axis of the rotor. The operating element can be designed as a knob.

[0016] The aforementioned retaining journal may have a longitudinal central axis that coincides with the rotation axis of the rotor. The retaining journal is disposed inside the rotor base, and a receiving portion for the locking element may be formed at the retaining journal.

[0017] The journal can have an inlet ramp at its free end. This inlet ramp can be used to bring a cover, on which a portion of a locking mechanism is arranged, into its closed position at the rotor base, and to center the cover in that position.

[0018] The locking mechanism may include a support plate, at which at least one locking element is pivotally supported via a point of rotation. The at least one locking element is movable laterally or radially relative to the rotor's axis of rotation, particularly pivoting, between its locked and unlocked positions. Preferably, the pivot axis of the locking element is oriented parallel to the rotor's axis of rotation.

[0019] In one embodiment of the rotor, the locking mechanism may have an operating disc connected to the operating element. By means of the operating disc, the movement, particularly rotational movement, of the operating element can be transmitted to at least one locking element. The connection between the operating element and the operating disc may preferably be rotationally resistant. Therefore, the rotational movement of the operating element can be converted into the rotational movement of the operating disc. Thus, the operating disc may be part of a transmission chain by which the movement of the operating element can be converted into the movement of at least one locking element.

[0020] The operating panel and the carrier panel can be stacked one on top of the other. The operating panel and the carrier panel can share a common central axis. This facilitates a compact design of the locking mechanism. This common central axis can coincide with the rotor's axis of rotation.

[0021] At least one locking element may have an operating pin. The operating pin may be guided in a guide groove of the aforementioned carrier plate, and its free end may be positioned in a control groove of the operating plate. The guide groove and the control groove may preferably be oriented at an angle to each other. This facilitates the targeted conversion of the rotational movement of the operating element at the cover into the movement of the locking element between a locked position and an unlocked position. Depending on the rotation direction of the operating element, at least one locking element may move to its locked position or its unlocked position.

[0022] Here, the control slide and the guide slide enable the forced guidance of at least one locking element, so that the locking element can move from its unlocked position to its locked position by means of an operating element, and can also move from the locked position back to its unlocked position.

[0023] As described above, at least one seal (e.g., an O-ring) may be formed or arranged between the rotor base and the cover. At least one seal (e.g., an O-ring) may be formed between the cover and the retaining journal.

[0024] The corresponding seals can be abutted against a sealing surface that is oriented at an angle relative to the rotor's axis of rotation and / or away from the accommodating volume in the rotor body. This angled arrangement of the sealing surfaces makes it easier to separate the sealing mating parts from each other. This facilitates the simple removal of the cover from its closed position in the rotor body. Lubrication of the corresponding seals, which would normally be necessary to facilitate separation of the sealing mating parts, is thus eliminated.

[0025] Here, the corresponding sealing surface can be oriented such that its orientation relative to the direction in which the cover is removed from the substrate facilitates the lifting of the cover. Here, the corresponding sealing surface can be positioned away from the internal accommodating volume of the rotor substrate.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the rotor, at least one locking element may be made of a high-strength, low-friction plastic. PEEK plastic is particularly suitable for this purpose. Equally suitable materials (from which at least one locking element may be made) are, for example, glass fiber reinforced and / or carbon fiber reinforced PEEK plastic or highly filled polyamide or magnesium.

[0027] Using plastic to provide the locking element may be advantageous because plastics, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics, have particularly good sliding properties. This simplifies the movement of at least one locking element into its locked position and back to its unlocked position. Therefore, it prevents the locking element from getting stuck or jammed in its locked position within the receiving part.

[0028] Furthermore, using locking elements made of plastic provides protection for surfaces that may come into contact with them. The advantage of PEEK plastic is that it does not creep under pressure and load, so there is no need to worry about the locking element deforming under load, or only a very small degree of deformation. This contributes to the dimensional stability of at least one locking element when using the locking mechanism.

[0029] The locking mechanism may include a spring washer. The spring washer may preferably be disposed below the operating element and / or formed as a wave spring washer. The use of a wave spring washer simplifies compliance with dimensional tolerances and can also avoid or at least reduce axial clearance between the components of the locking mechanism.

[0030] The locking mechanism may also include at least one locking element (e.g., a spring pin) and a corresponding mating locking element (e.g., a locking recess). The at least one locking element and the at least one mating locking element may be arranged such that they engage with each other when the locking mechanism is locked. This enables tactile and / or auditory feedback on the locking position of the locking mechanism, particularly at least one of its locking elements.

[0031] At least one locking element and at least one mating locking element may also be arranged such that when the locking mechanism is unlocked, i.e., when at least one locking element of the locking mechanism is in its unlocked position, a corresponding tactile and / or auditory feedback is generated. Preferably, at least one locking element and the corresponding mating locking element are respectively assigned to the locking position and the unlocked position of the locking mechanism.

[0032] The locking mechanism may include a cavity (Topf) in which the various functional elements of the locking mechanism are arranged, particularly at least one locking element and / or a support plate and / or an operating plate and / or at least one locking element and / or at least one engaging locking element. The cavity is preferably connected to a cover, particularly to the bottom surface of the cover. The cavity may have a central opening. When the cover is in its closed position at the rotor base, the rotor's axis of rotation can extend through the central opening. The support plate and operating plate may also have such central openings. When the cover is in the closed position, the aforementioned retaining journal with a receiving portion can engage into the central opening of the cavity and / or the central opening of the support plate and / or the operating plate. Here, at least one receiving portion, particularly an annular receiving groove, reaches a relative position at the retaining journal relative to at least one locking element in the cavity of the locking mechanism, a relative position that allows the locking element to be introduced into its locked position within the receiving portion and establish a lock.

[0033] To achieve this objective, laboratory equipment, particularly centrifuges, has also been proposed, having a rotor according to any one of the claims relating to the rotor.

[0034] The invention is described in more detail below based on embodiments, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Further embodiments are obtained by combining features of one or more claims with each other and / or by combining one or more features of the embodiments. In the drawings: Figure 1 An exploded view of the rotor according to the invention is shown to illustrate its structure and its various components. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A perspective view of the rotor with its cover in the closed position, wherein the rotor's locking mechanism is engaged, which can be identified based on two corresponding locking marks on the operating element and the top surface of the cover. Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The rotor shown has its cover open. Figure 4 It shows Figures 1-3 The cross-sectional view of the rotor shown. Figure 5 It shows Figures 1 to 4The diagram shows a top view of the locking mechanism of the rotor, with the locking element in the locked position, and... Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 The locking mechanism shown has the locking element in the open position.

[0035] All the accompanying drawings show at least a portion of the rotor for laboratory equipment 100 (i.e., for a centrifuge), generally indicated by 1. Laboratory equipment 100 in... Figure 4 It is shown only in a highly illustrative manner.

[0036] The rotor 1 includes a rotor base 2 having a containment volume 3 into which a container containing contents to be centrifuged can be introduced. The rotor 1 also has a cover 4, which can be used to seal the containment volume 3 in the rotor base 2 by means of an aerosol seal.

[0037] The rotor 1 includes a locking mechanism 5 having at least one locking element 6 movable from an open position to a locked position and a receiving portion 7 corresponding to the at least one locking element 6.

[0038] Specifically, the locking mechanism 5 of the rotor 1 shown in the figure has two locking elements 6, which can move from different directions to their respective locking positions and enter into the corresponding receiving part 7.

[0039] The locking element 6 is introduced into the corresponding receiving part 7 so as to lock the cover part 4 in its closed position to the rotor base 2 of the rotor 1, thereby reliably sealing the receiving volume 3 in the rotor base 2 even when the rotor 1 rotates at a high speed.

[0040] The locking element 6 can move between its respective unlocked position and its respective locked position by means of a rotatable operating element 8, which is arranged on the top surface of the cover 4. The operating element 8 has an ergonomic shape and is also designed to function as a handle. Therefore, the operating element 8 has a dual function: it can operate the locking mechanism 5 by a quarter turn, and it can also facilitate the easy operation of the rotor 1 and the removal of the rotor 1 from the centrifuge.

[0041] Figure 5 The two locking elements 6 are shown in their locked positions. Figure 6 The two locking elements 6 are shown in their respective unlocked positions.

[0042] The locking element 6 is arranged at the cover portion 4, while the receiving portion 7 is arranged or formed at the rotor base 2. Specifically, the locking element 6 is arranged at the bottom surface of the cover portion 4, located in the recess 26 of the locking mechanism 5.

[0043] According to the attached drawings, the receiving part 7 is an annular receiving groove, and two locking elements 6 can move into the receiving part to lock the cover 4 at the rotor base 2.

[0044] A receiving portion 7 in the form of an annular receiving groove is formed at the retaining journal 9. The retaining journal 9 is arranged inside the rotor base 2, that is, inside the receiving volume 3 of the rotor base 2. Figure 4 It is clearly shown that the journal 9 has a longitudinal central axis that coincides with the rotation axis 26 of the rotor 1.

[0045] Both locking elements 6 have chamfers 10 on their sides facing the receiving portion 7. The receiving portion 7 itself may have guide ramps 11 for the locking elements 6.

[0046] For operation, the operating element 8 can pivot or rotate about a rotation axis that coincides with the rotation axis 25 of the rotor 1. The retaining journal 9 with the receiving portion 7 has a longitudinal central axis that coincides with the rotation axis 25 of the rotor 1.

[0047] The retaining journal 9 is provided with an inlet progressive section 12 at its free end. The inlet progressive section 12 facilitates the introduction of the retaining journal 9 into its... Figure 4 The journal is positioned such that it is at least partially inserted into the recess 26 of the locking mechanism 5.

[0048] Figure 1 The exploded view of rotor 1 clearly shows that the locking mechanism 5 includes a support plate 13. Two locking elements 6 are pivotally supported on the support plate 13 at rotation points 19, respectively, so that the locking elements 6 can move between their unlocked and locked positions. Specifically, the locking elements 6 can move transversely to the rotation axis 25 of rotor 1 between the locked and unlocked positions, particularly by pivoting. Here, the pivot axis of the respective locking element 6 is oriented parallel to the rotation axis 25 of rotor 1.

[0049] The locking mechanism 5 also has an operation panel 14. The operation panel 14 is connected to the operating element 8 in an anti-rotational manner. Therefore, the rotational motion of the operating element 8 can be transmitted to the operation panel 14 and converted into the motion of the locking element 6 by means of the support plate 13.

[0050] Each locking element 6 has an operating pin 15, which is guided in a guide groove 16 of the carrier plate 13, and its free end is positioned in a control groove 17 of the operating plate 14. Here, the control groove 17 and the guide groove 16 are oriented at an angle to each other. The mutual orientation of the guide groove 16 and the control groove 17 results in a self-locking mechanism that prevents accidental and self-opening of the lock during rotor operation, even at high speeds.

[0051] The carrier plate 13 has a guide groove 16 for each operating element 6, thus having two guide grooves 16. Therefore, the operating plate 14 has two control grooves 17. By means of the guide grooves 16 and the control grooves 17, the rotational motion of the operating element 8 can be converted into the pivoting motion of the locking element 6, which is oriented transversely to the rotation axis 25 of the rotor 1. Through this pivoting motion, the locking element 6 moves from its corresponding unlocked position to its corresponding locked position, and vice versa.

[0052] An O-ring type seal 18 is arranged between the rotor base 2 and the cover 4. Figure 4 It is particularly clear in the sectional view. The O-ring seal 18 is also formed or arranged between the cover 4 (i.e., the cavity 26 of the locking mechanism 5) and the retaining journal 9.

[0053] Figure 4 As clearly shown, the seals 18 are respectively abutted against the inclined sealing surfaces 20. In order to accommodate the seals 18, the cover portion 4 has a circumferential annular groove 27 in which the seals 18 are arranged.

[0054] In addition, the locking mechanism 5, specifically the cavity 26 of the aforementioned locking mechanism 5, has an annular groove 27, and another sealing member 18 is arranged in the annular groove.

[0055] The aforementioned recessed cavity 26 accommodates the various functional elements of the locking mechanism 5, namely, in particular the locking element 6, the support plate 13 and the operation plate 14 and the elements arranged thereon.

[0056] The locking element 6 is made of a high-strength, low-friction plastic, such as PEEK plastic. The locking element 6 may also be made of, for example, glass fiber reinforced or carbon fiber reinforced PEEK plastic, highly filled polyamide, or magnesium.

[0057] Below the operating element 8, the locking mechanism 5 includes a spring washer 21, which is designed as a wave spring washer and is used to minimize axial tolerance.

[0058] The locking mechanism 5 also includes two spring-pin locking elements 22, which are elastically supported at the carrier plate 13.

[0059] The locking element 22 interacts with a corresponding locking element 23 in the form of a locking recess, which is formed in the bottom of the cavity 26 and allows tactile and / or auditory feedback on the locked state of the locking mechanism 5.

[0060] The recess 26 is connected to the cover 4 (i.e., the bottom surface of the cover 4). The recess 26 has a central opening 28. The carrier plate 13 and the operating plate 14 also have such a central opening 28. When the cover 4 is in the closed position, the retaining journal 9 engages in the central opening 28, such that the receiving portion 7 at the retaining journal 9 and the locking element 6 enter a relative position that allows locking to be established.

[0061] Rotor 1 can be used in laboratory equipment marked as 100, such as centrifuges.

[0062] Reference tag list 1. Rotor 2 Rotor base 3. Capacity 4 cover 5. Locking mechanism 6 Locking elements 7. Reception area 8 Operating elements 9. Keep the journal 10 Chamfer 11 Importing the inclined plane The progressive introduction at point 12.9 13. Support plate 14 Control Panel 15 Operating pins Guide groove in 16 13 Control chute in 17 14 18. Seals 19 Rotation Point 20 Sealing surface 21 Spring Washer 22. Locking element, spring pin 23. Matching locking element, locking recess 24 Locked Mark 25 1 axis of rotation 26 Cavity Parts 27 Annular groove The central openings of 28, 26, 13, and 14 100 Laboratory equipment.

Claims

1. A rotor (1) for laboratory equipment (100), particularly for a centrifuge, wherein, The rotor (1) includes a rotor base (2) having a accommodating volume (3) and a cover (4), through which the accommodating volume (3) in the rotor base (2) can be closed. Its features are, A locking mechanism (5) having at least one locking element (6) movable from an open position to a locked position and a receiving portion (7) corresponding to the at least one locking element (6), the at least one locking element (6) engaging in the receiving portion (7) in the locked position to lock the cover (4) to the rotor base (2), wherein the at least one locking element (6) is movable between the unlocked position and the locked position of the at least one locking element by means of a preferably rotatable operating element (8) arranged on the cover (4).

2. The rotor (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The accommodating volume (3) in the rotor base (2) can be sealed by the cover (4) in an aerosol-sealed manner, and / or the operating element (8) has an ergonomic shape and / or is designed as a handle.

3. The rotor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The locking element (6) is arranged or formed at the cover (4), and the receiving part (7) is arranged or formed at the rotor base (2), and vice versa.

4. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The receiving portion (7) is preferably an annular receiving groove, and / or wherein the rotor base (2) has a retaining journal (9), the receiving portion (7) is formed at the retaining journal, particularly wherein the retaining journal (9) is arranged inside the rotor base (2), especially inside the receiving volume (3).

5. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one locking element (6) has a chamfer (10) on its side facing the receiving portion (7), and / or the receiving portion (7) has an inlet ramp (11) for the at least one locking element (6).

6. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The operating element (8) is pivotable about a rotation axis for operation, the rotation axis preferably coinciding with the rotation axis (25) of the rotor (1), and / or wherein the retaining journal (9) having the receiving portion (7) has a longitudinal central axis coinciding with the rotation axis (25) of the rotor (1).

7. The rotor (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein, The retaining journal (9) has an inlet progressive portion (12) at its free end.

8. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The locking mechanism (5) includes a support plate (13), at least one locking element (6) is pivotally supported on the support plate via a rotation point (19), and / or wherein the at least one locking element (6) is capable of radial and / or lateral movement relative to the rotation axis (25) of the rotor (1) between the locked position and the unlocked position of the at least one locking element, particularly pivoting, wherein the pivot axis of the locking element (6) is oriented parallel to the rotation axis (25) of the rotor (1).

9. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The locking mechanism (5) has an operating disk (14) connected to the operating element (8), through which the movement, particularly rotational movement, of the operating element (8) can be transmitted to the at least one locking element (6).

10. The rotor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The at least one locking element (6) has an operating pin (15) which is guided in a guide groove (16) of the carrier plate (13) and the free end of the operating pin is positioned in a control groove (17) of the operating plate (14), wherein the control groove (17) and the guide groove (16) are oriented at an inclination to each other.

11. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one seal (18), in particular an O-ring, is formed or arranged between the rotor base (2) and the cover (4), and / or wherein at least one seal (18), in particular an O-ring, is formed or arranged between the cover (4), in particular the locking mechanism (5), and the retaining journal (9).

12. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The seal (18) rests against the sealing surface (20), which is inclined relative to the rotation axis (25) of the rotor (1) and / or away from the accommodating volume (3).

13. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one locking element (6) is made of high-strength, low-friction plastic, particularly PEEK plastic, or glass fiber reinforced or carbon fiber reinforced PEEK plastic, or highly filled polyamide, or magnesium.

14. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The locking mechanism (5), particularly below the operating element (8), includes a spring washer (21), especially a wave spring washer.

15. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The locking mechanism (5) has at least one locking element (22), in particular at least one spring pin, and a corresponding engaging locking element (23).

16. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The locking mechanism (5) includes a recessed cavity (26) in which various functional elements of the locking mechanism (5) are arranged, particularly the at least one locking element (6) and / or the carrier plate (13) and / or the operating plate (14) and / or the at least one locking element (22) and / or the at least one cooperating locking element (23).

17. The rotor (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The recessed part (26) is connected to the cover (4), and in particular to the bottom surface of the cover (4).

18. The rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The carrier plate (13) and / or the operating plate (14) and / or the recess (26) have a central opening (28), and the retaining journal (9) engages in the central opening (28) when the cover (4) is in the closed position.

19. A laboratory apparatus (100), particularly a centrifuge, having a rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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