Sample storage tank

Abstract

The utility model provides a sample storage tank. The sample storage tank comprises a tank body, a cold conduction assembly, a basket frame, a fixing assembly and a driving assembly, the driving assembly comprises a driving device, a transmission connection structure and a transmission shaft, the driving device is fixed to the tank body and connected with the transmission shaft through the transmission connection structure, and the driving device drives the transmission shaft to rotate through the transmission connection structure; the lifting basket frame and the cold conduction assembly are both arranged in the tank body, the cold conduction assembly is arranged on the side face and the bottom face of the lifting basket frame in a surrounding mode and fixedly connected with the lifting basket frame, and the transmission shaft is vertically arranged in the center of the lifting basket frame and fixedly connected with the lifting basket frame; the fixing assembly is connected with the lifting basket frame and the tank body and used for supporting and fixing the lifting basket frame. By arranging the arrangement of the cold conduction assembly and the basket frame, the utilization of the internal space is optimized, the sample storage effect is improved, and meanwhile, the consumption of liquid nitrogen is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of cryogenic biological sample storage, and in particular to a sample storage tank. Background Art

[0002] Cryogenic biological sample banks are important basic equipment in the research work of the medical and biological fields. Through cryopreservation with liquid nitrogen, biological tissues such as blood, stem cells, and immune cells can maintain their activity for a long time. Such equipment usually takes sample tubes as units, stores multiple sample tubes in a rack, and then places multiple racks in a cryogenic storage tank in various arrangements.

[0003] However, there are some technical problems with existing cryogenic storage tanks. First, these storage tanks need to continuously replenish liquid nitrogen refrigerant to maintain the low-temperature survival environment of biological samples, resulting in a very large consumption of liquid nitrogen refrigerant. This not only affects the storage quality of samples but also significantly increases the use cost. Second, during the process of sample access, the movement of the rack is prone to shaking, which may cause problems such as side sliding, increasing the risk of sample damage. In addition, the existing storage tank structures often lack effective cold conduction designs, resulting in uneven temperature distribution and affecting the long-term preservation effect of samples.

[0004] These problems seriously restrict the use efficiency of cryogenic biological sample banks and the sample preservation quality, and a new type of sample storage tank is needed. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a sample storage tank that is convenient for accessing samples.

[0006] The sample storage tank includes: a tank body, a cold conduction component, a basket rack, a fixing component, and a driving component;

[0007] The driving component includes a driving device, a transmission connection structure, and a transmission shaft. The driving device is fixed on the tank body and is connected to the transmission shaft through the transmission connection structure. The driving device drives the transmission shaft to rotate through the transmission connection structure;

[0008] The basket rack and the cold conduction component are both arranged inside the tank body. The cold conduction component surrounds the side and bottom of the basket rack and is fixedly connected to the basket rack. The transmission shaft is vertically arranged at the center of the basket rack and is fixedly connected to the basket rack;

[0009] The fixing component is connected to the basket rack and the tank body and is used to support and fix the basket rack;

[0010] Among them, the fixed component includes a thrust ball bearing, a deep groove ball bearing, and a guide sleeve. The lower end of the transmission shaft is inserted into the guide sleeve and is rotatably connected to the bottom wall of the tank through the guide sleeve. The upper end of the transmission shaft is inserted into the deep groove ball bearing and the thrust ball bearing, and is rotatably connected to the top wall of the tank through the thrust ball bearing and the deep groove ball bearing. The deep groove ball bearing and the guide sleeve cooperate to achieve the vertical guidance of the transmission shaft. The thrust ball bearing is located above the deep groove ball bearing and is used to bear the axial force.

[0011] Further, the transmission connection structure includes a driving wheel, a driven wheel, and a synchronous belt. The driving wheel is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the driving device. The driven wheel is placed on the upper section of the transmission shaft and is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft. The synchronous belt is wound around the driven wheel and the driving wheel.

[0012] Further, the basket rack has a plurality of accommodating spaces, and the plurality of accommodating spaces are annularly arrayed with the center of the tank as the array center.

[0013] Further, the basket rack includes: an upper plate, a bottom plate, and a reinforcing column;

[0014] The upper plate and the bottom plate are arranged oppositely, and the reinforcing column is connected between the upper plate and the bottom plate;

[0015] The transmission shaft of the driving component penetrates through the upper plate and the bottom plate and is fixedly connected to the upper plate and the bottom plate.

[0016] Further, the heat conduction guiding component includes: a middle heat conduction guiding plate and a plurality of bottom heat conduction guiding plates;

[0017] The middle heat conduction guiding plate is a cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both the upper and lower ends. The upper plate and the bottom plate of the basket rack are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the middle heat conduction guiding plate, and the outer edges of the upper plate and the bottom plate are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the middle heat conduction guiding plate;

[0018] A plurality of the bottom heat conduction guiding plates are radially distributed on the outer periphery of the transmission shaft, and one ends of the plurality of bottom heat conduction guiding plates are fixedly connected to the lower end of the middle heat conduction guiding plate.

[0019] Further, the bottom heat conduction guiding plate is vertically arranged, and the upper end surface of the bottom heat conduction guiding plate is a horizontal plane;

[0020] The horizontal plane faces the bottom plate and contacts the lower end surface of the bottom plate. The lower end surface of the bottom heat conduction guiding plate does not contact the bottom of the tank.

[0021] Furthermore, the middle part of the bottom surface of the tank body is recessed downward. The lower end surface of the bottom cold guide plate includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface that are connected to each other. The first inclined surface extends downward along the radiation direction of the bottom cold guide plate, and the second inclined surface extends upward along the radiation direction of the bottom cold guide plate.

[0022] Furthermore, a plurality of through holes are formed in the bottom cold guide plate, and the plurality of through holes are used to reduce the weight and reduce the contact area between the bottom cold guide plate and liquid nitrogen.

[0023] Furthermore, the tank body is of a double-layer structure, including an outer wall and an inner wall, and a vacuum insulation layer is formed between the outer wall and the inner wall;

[0024] A nitrogen injection port is provided on the tank body, and the nitrogen injection port is communicated with the inside of the tank body. The height of the liquid nitrogen inside the tank body is less than or equal to the distance between the bottom surface of the tank body and the top surface of the bottom plate.

[0025] Furthermore, an identifier and positioning columns are also provided on the top surface of the tank body. The identifier is used to identify the tank body, and the positioning columns are fixed on the tank body and are symmetrically arranged at equal intervals along the central axis, and are used to realize the alignment and fixation of the sample access operation mechanism and the sample storage tank.

[0026] Furthermore, the identifier includes a main identifier and a secondary identifier. The main identifier is used to identify the tank body, and the secondary identifier is used to identify the tank body, the pipetting position or the basket.

[0027] Furthermore, a positioning sensor is also provided on the top of the tank body, and the positioning sensor is used to sense the position of the basket.

[0028] Furthermore, the fixing assembly further includes: a fixing sleeve, a bearing inner spacer and a bearing outer spacer;

[0029] A limiting structure is provided at the top end of the transmission shaft, and the fixing sleeve is installed on the limiting structure. The fixing sleeve is used to fix the thrust ball bearing;

[0030] The bearing inner spacer is placed between the transmission shaft and the deep groove ball bearing, and the bearing outer spacer is placed between the top wall of the tank body and the deep groove ball bearing.

[0031] Furthermore, the fixing assembly further includes: an isolation sleeve and a heat insulation pad;

[0032] The isolation sleeve is placed between the fixing sleeve and the driven wheel, and the heat insulation pad is placed below the deep groove ball bearing and between the top surface of the tank body and the transmission shaft.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the utility model at least includes the following beneficial effects: By arranging the layout of the heat conduction component and the basket rack, the utilization of the internal space is optimized, and the sample storage effect is improved. The design of the driving component enables the basket rack to rotate, facilitating the operator to access and operate the sample tubes at different positions. The fixing component ensures the stability and safety of the basket rack during rotation, improving the convenience of operation. Through the driving device and the transmission connection structure, the sample storage tank realizes automatic sample access and storage, improving the efficiency of sample access and storage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present utility model. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the provided drawings without creative efforts.

[0035] Figure 1 It is a sectional view of the A-A plane of the sample storage tank in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the tube picking position inside the sample storage tank in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 3 It is a top view of the top of the sample storage tank in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0038] Figure 4 It is a specific schematic diagram of the fixing component in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0039] Figure 5 It is a specific schematic diagram of the basket rack in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0040] Figure 6 It is a general schematic diagram of the sample storage tank in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0041] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the sample storage tank in an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0042] Wherein, 1 - positioning column, 2 - heat preservation cover, 3 - positioning sensor, 4 - basket rack, 5 - basket, 6 - tube picking position, 7 - identifier, 8 - rotating motor, 9 - driving wheel, 10 - synchronous belt, 11 - driven wheel, 12 - transmission shaft, 13 - isolation sleeve, 14 - fixing sleeve, 15 - thrust ball bearing, 16 - deep groove ball bearing, 17 - inner bearing spacer, 18 - outer bearing spacer, 19 - heat insulation pad, 20 - guide sleeve, 21 - middle heat conduction plate, 22 - strengthening column, 23 - upper plate, 24 - bottom plate, 25 - bottom heat conduction plate, 26 - tank body. Detailed implementation mode

[0043] The following will describe a sample storage tank of the present utility model in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams, in which the preferred embodiments of the present utility model are shown. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can modify the present utility model described herein while still achieving the advantageous effects of the present utility model. Therefore, the following description should be understood as being widely known to those skilled in the art and not as a limitation to the present utility model.

[0044] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0045] The present utility model will be described more specifically by way of example in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings. According to the following description, the advantages and features of the present utility model will be clearer. It should be noted that the drawings are all in a very simplified form and use non-precise scales, and are only used to conveniently and clearly assist in explaining the purpose of the embodiments of the present utility model.

[0046] This embodiment provides a sample storage tank. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , including: a tank body 26, a cold conduction component, a basket rack 4, a fixing component and a driving component.

[0047] The driving component includes a driving device, a transmission connection structure and a transmission shaft 12. The driving device is fixed on the tank body 26 and is connected to the transmission shaft 12 through the transmission connection structure. The driving device drives the transmission shaft 12 to rotate through the transmission connection structure.

[0048] Both the basket rack 4 and the cold conduction component are arranged inside the tank body 26. The cold conduction component surrounds the side and bottom of the basket rack 4 and is fixedly connected to the basket rack 4. The transmission shaft 12 is vertically arranged at the center of the basket rack 4 and is fixedly connected to the basket rack 4.

[0049] The fixing component is connected to the basket rack 4 and the tank body 26 and is used to support and fix the basket rack 4.

[0050] Among them, the fixed component includes a thrust ball bearing 15, a deep groove ball bearing 16 and a guide sleeve 20. The lower end of the transmission shaft 12 is inserted into the guide sleeve 20 and is rotationally connected to the bottom wall of the tank body 26 through the guide sleeve 20. The upper end of the transmission shaft 12 is inserted into the deep groove ball bearing 16 and the thrust ball bearing 15, and is rotationally connected to the top wall of the tank body 26 through the thrust ball bearing 15 and the deep groove ball bearing 16. The deep groove ball bearing 16 and the guide sleeve 20 cooperate to achieve the vertical guidance of the transmission shaft 12. The thrust ball bearing 15 is located above the deep groove ball bearing 16 and is used to bear the axial force.

[0051] Specifically, the tank body 26 is the main part of the sample storage tank, usually cylindrical or other suitable shapes, used to accommodate internal components and provide a closed environment to protect the sample. As Figure 1 shown, a heat preservation cover 2 is also provided on the top surface of the tank body to prevent cold air from flowing out.

[0052] The driving component includes a driving device, a transmission connection structure and a transmission shaft 12. The driving component is fixed on the tank body 26 to provide driving force. In a possible embodiment of the present utility model, the driving device can be an electric motor or other types of driving mechanisms. Preferably, the driving device is a rotary motor 8.

[0053] The transmission connection structure connects the driving device and the transmission shaft 12, and is used to transmit the power of the driving device to the transmission shaft 12 to make it rotate. Inside the tank body 26, a basket rack 4 and a cold conduction component are provided. The cold conduction component surrounds the side and bottom surfaces of the basket rack 4 to ensure that the samples in the basket rack 4 can be evenly cooled, maintaining the stability and activity of the samples. The transmission shaft 12 is not only located at the center of the basket rack 4, but also fixedly connected to the basket rack 4, so that the transmission shaft 12 can effectively drive the basket rack during operation, and at the same time ensure the stability of the basket rack 4 inside the tank body 26. In this embodiment, the basket rack 4 is designed to be rotatable to facilitate access to or operation of sample tubes at different positions.

[0054] The fixed component is connected to the basket rack 4 and the tank body 26, and is used to support and fix the basket rack 4 to ensure its stability and safety during rotation.

[0055] Please refer to Figure 4, in a possible embodiment of the present utility model, the lower end of the transmission shaft 12 is connected to the bottom surface of the tank body 26 through a guide sleeve 20, and the upper end is connected to the top wall of the tank body 26 through a thrust ball bearing 15 and a deep groove ball bearing 16. This design ensures that the transmission shaft 12 can rotate stably inside the tank body 26 while restricting its axial and radial movements. The combined use of the thrust ball bearing 15 and the deep groove ball bearing 16 enables the transmission shaft 12 to withstand various loads from the basket frame 4, including radial loads and axial loads, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the entire system. The guide sleeve 20 not only supports the transmission shaft 12 but also ensures the centering of the transmission shaft 12 during rotation, reducing friction and wear and extending the service life of the bearing.

[0056] Further, please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the transmission connection structure includes a driving wheel 9, a driven wheel 11 and a synchronous belt 10. The driving wheel 9 is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the driving device. The driven wheel 11 is placed on the upper section of the transmission shaft 12 and is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft 12. The synchronous belt 10 is wound around the driven wheel 11 and the driving wheel 9.

[0057] Specifically, the transmission shaft 12 is located at the center of the basket frame 4 and is vertically arranged. The transmission shaft 12 is fixedly connected to the basket frame 4, that is, the transmission shaft 12 and the basket frame 4 can rotate together. The transmission connection structure includes a driving wheel 9, a driven wheel 11 and a synchronous belt 10. The driving wheel 9 is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the driving device, which means that the rotation of the driving device can be directly transmitted to the driving wheel 9. The driven wheel 11 is placed on the upper section of the transmission shaft 12 and is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft 12. In this way, the rotation of the driven wheel 11 will directly drive the transmission shaft 12 and the basket frame 4 to rotate. The synchronous belt 10 is wound around the driving wheel 9 and the driven wheel 11. The function of the synchronous belt 10 is to transmit the power of the driving wheel 9 to the driven wheel 11, thereby driving the basket frame 4 to rotate.

[0058] When the driving device is started, its output shaft begins to rotate and drives the coaxially fixed driving wheel 9 to rotate. Since the synchronous belt 10 is wound around the driving wheel 9 and the driven wheel 11, the rotation of the driving wheel 9 is transmitted to the driven wheel 11 through the synchronous belt 10. Since the driven wheel 11 is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft 12, the transmission shaft 12 also rotates accordingly. The basket frame 4 rotates driven by the transmission shaft 12, causing a specific basket 5 to move to the position below the heat preservation cover 2. After the sample access operation mechanism opens the heat preservation cover 2, it can perform the operation of picking up the sample tube.

[0059] Further, please refer to Figure 5 , the basket frame 4 has a plurality of accommodation spaces, and the plurality of accommodation spaces are annularly arrayed with the center of the tank body 26 as the array center.

[0060] Further, the basket rack 4 includes: an upper plate 23, a bottom plate 24, and a reinforcing column 22.

[0061] The upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 are disposed opposite to each other, and the reinforcing column 22 is connected between the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24.

[0062] The transmission shaft 12 of the drive assembly penetrates through the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 and is fixedly connected to the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24.

[0063] Specifically, the multiple accommodating spaces on the basket rack 4 are used for placing the baskets 5. The accommodating spaces are distributed in a circular array with the center of the tank body 26 as the array center. This means that the multiple baskets 5 are arranged around the central axis of the tank body, forming an annular storage structure. The design of the basket rack 4 allows the baskets 5 to be placed in a circular array, so that more sample tubes can be accommodated in a limited space, and it is convenient to access each sample tube by rotating the basket rack 4.

[0064] The basket rack 4 includes an upper plate 23, a bottom plate 24, and a reinforcing column 22. The upper plate 23 is the upper structure of the basket rack 4, and the bottom plate 24 is disposed opposite to the upper plate 23, constituting the lower structure of the basket rack 4. Multiple mutually matching slots are provided on the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24, and the upper and lower slots cooperate with each other to form an accommodating space. The reinforcing column 22 is connected between the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24, playing a role in strengthening the structural strength of the basket rack 4. The number and distribution of the reinforcing columns 22 may vary according to the size and design requirements of the basket rack 4. The arrangement of the reinforcing columns 22 also helps to balance the basket rack 4 during rotation, preventing vibration or inclination caused by uneven weight distribution.

[0065] In a possible embodiment of the present utility model, the transmission shaft 12 of the drive assembly passes through the upper plate 23 of the tank body 26, extends to the bottom plate 24, and is fixedly connected to the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24, so that when the transmission shaft 12 rotates, the entire basket rack 4 can be driven to rotate. This fixed connection may be achieved by bolts, welding, or other mechanical fixing methods, ensuring that the transmission shaft 12 is stable inside the tank body 26 and will not move or rotate due to external forces.

[0066] Further, the heat conduction guiding assembly includes: a middle heat conduction guiding plate 21 and multiple bottom heat conduction guiding plates 25.

[0067] The middle heat conduction guiding plate 21 is a hollow cylindrical structure with openings at both the upper and lower ends. The upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 of the basket rack 4 are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the middle heat conduction guiding plate 21, and the outer edges of the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the middle heat conduction guiding plate 21.

[0068] A plurality of the bottom cold guide plates 25 are radially distributed around the outer circumference of the transmission shaft 12, and one end of each of the plurality of bottom cold guide plates 25 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the middle cold guide plate 21.

[0069] Specifically, please refer to Figure 4 , the cold guide assembly is arranged inside the tank body 26 and is fixedly connected to the basket rack 4. It is used to provide cooling to keep the samples in the sample tubes at the required low temperature state during storage. The middle cold guide plate 21 is a cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both the upper and lower ends. The upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 of the basket rack 4 are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the middle cold guide plate 21. Please refer to Figure 4 , the middle cold guide plate 21 surrounds the side surface of the basket rack 4. The outer edges of the upper plate 23 and the bottom plate 24 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the middle cold guide plate 21, which helps to evenly transfer the cooling effect to the basket rack 4 and the sample tubes thereon.

[0070] A plurality of bottom cold guide plates 25 are provided and are radially distributed around the outer circumference of the transmission shaft 12. One end of each bottom cold guide plate 25 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the middle cold guide plate 21, so that the bottom cold guide plate 25 can effectively transfer the cooling effect from the middle cold guide plate 21 to the bottom of the tank body 26.

[0071] The design of the cold guide assembly allows a cooling medium (such as coolant or cold air) to circulate around the basket rack 4, thus keeping the samples in the sample tubes at a low temperature state. The cylindrical structure of the middle cold guide plate 21 ensures that the cooling effect can evenly surround the basket rack 4, avoiding the influence on the sample tubes due to local temperature differences. The uniform distribution of the bottom cold guide plates 25 helps to evenly distribute the cooling effect throughout the bottom of the tank body, further ensuring the stability of the sample storage environment. Since the basket rack 4 is fixedly connected to the cold guide assembly, when the basket rack 4 rotates, the cold guide assembly will also move accordingly, ensuring that the sample tubes on the basket rack 4 are always in a stable low-temperature environment.

[0072] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 7 , the bottom cold guide plate 25 is vertically arranged, and the upper end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 is a horizontal plane.

[0073] The horizontal plane faces the bottom plate 24 and contacts the lower end surface of the bottom plate 24, and the lower end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 does not contact the bottom of the tank body 26.

[0074] Specifically, the bottom cold guide plate 25 is vertically arranged and perpendicular to the bottom of the tank body 26. The vertically arranged bottom cold guide plate 25 helps to form a uniform cooling air flow or cooling medium flow inside the tank body 26, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. The upper end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 is a horizontal plane, and this horizontal plane faces the bottom plate 24 of the basket frame 4, and the horizontal plane (i.e., the upper end surface) contacts the lower end surface of the bottom plate 24 of the basket frame 4. The contact between the upper end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 and the bottom plate 24 ensures that the basket frame 4 and the sample tubes thereon can directly obtain cooling from the bottom cold guide plate 25.

[0075] In a possible embodiment of the present utility model, the lower end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 does not contact the bottom of the tank body 26. This indicates that the bottom cold guide plate 25 is suspended, and they only contact the bottom plate 24 of the basket frame 4 through the upper end surface and are vertically suspended inside the tank body 26. Since the lower end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 does not contact the bottom of the tank body 26, this provides space for the flow of the cooling medium, allowing the cooling medium (such as coolant or cold air) to circulate below the bottom cold guide plate 25, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.

[0076] Further, please refer to Figure 4 , the middle part of the bottom surface of the tank body 26 is recessed downward, and the lower end surface of the bottom cold guide plate 25 includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connected to each other. The first inclined surface extends downward along the radial direction of the bottom cold guide plate 25, and the second inclined surface extends upward along the radial direction of the bottom cold guide plate 25.

[0077] Specifically, the design of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface helps to guide the flow of the cooling medium (such as coolant or cold air) at the bottom of the tank body 26, thereby cooling the tank body 26 and the basket frame 4 and the sample tubes inside it more effectively. The first inclined surface inclines downward along the radial direction of the bottom cold guide plate 25, which helps to guide the cooling medium to the recessed area at the bottom of the tank body 26, while the second inclined surface inclines upward along the radial direction of the bottom cold guide plate 25, which helps the cooling medium to circulate in the recessed area and prevents the cooling medium from accumulating at the bottom of the tank body 26. At the same time, it also helps to form a uniform cooling flow field at the bottom of the tank body 26, reduce local overheating, and ensure the stability and uniformity of the sample storage environment. The recessed bottom surface design increases the structural complexity of the tank body 26, but improves its functionality and cooling efficiency.

[0078] Further, please refer to Figure 7 , a plurality of through holes (not labeled in the figure) are provided on the bottom cold guide plate 25, and the plurality of through holes are used to reduce the weight and reduce the contact area between the bottom cold guide plate 25 and liquid nitrogen.

[0079] The provision of through holes can reduce the total weight of the cold conduction component and the basket holder 4, thereby reducing the load on the motor and lowering power consumption. At the same time, the presence of the through holes reduces the direct contact area between the bottom cold conduction plate 25 and liquid nitrogen, preventing the bottom cold conduction plate 25 from being supercooled due to direct large-area contact with liquid nitrogen, which may affect the mechanical properties of the cold conduction plate or cause unnecessary stress. Moreover, the reduction in the contact area can reduce the evaporation rate of liquid nitrogen, thereby reducing the consumption of liquid nitrogen.

[0080] Furthermore, the tank body 26 is of a double-layer structure, including an outer wall and an inner wall, and a vacuum insulation layer is formed between the outer wall and the inner wall.

[0081] A nitrogen injection port is provided on the tank body 26, and the nitrogen injection port is communicated with the interior of the tank body 26. The height of the liquid nitrogen inside the tank body 26 is less than or equal to the distance between the bottom surface of the tank body 26 and the top surface of the bottom plate 24.

[0082] In a possible embodiment of the present utility model, the tank body 26 is composed of an outer wall and an inner wall, forming a double-layer structure. The space between the outer wall and the inner wall is evacuated to form a vacuum insulation layer. This design greatly improves the heat insulation performance of the tank body 26, reduces the influence of the external environment on the internal temperature, and thus maintains the stability of the sample storage environment inside the tank.

[0083] The main function of the nitrogen injection port is to inject liquid nitrogen into the interior of the tank body 26 to maintain the low-temperature environment inside the tank. When the liquid nitrogen is injected to the bottom surface of the tank body 26, its liquid level height will not exceed the top surface of the bottom plate 24. The purpose is to ensure that the liquid nitrogen does not directly contact the basket holder 4 and the sample tubes thereon, while effectively utilizing the evaporation cooling effect of the liquid nitrogen to maintain the low-temperature environment inside the tank. Controlling the height of the liquid nitrogen can prevent the liquid nitrogen from directly contacting the sample tubes, avoiding the possible risk of frostbite, and ensuring that the operation of the sample tubes is not interfered by the liquid nitrogen.

[0084] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 . An identifier 7 and positioning posts 1 are further provided on the upper surface of the tank body 26. The identifier 7 is used to identify the tank body 26, and the positioning posts 1 are fixed on the tank body 26 and are symmetrically arranged at equal intervals along the central axis, for aligning and fixing the sample access operation mechanism with the sample storage tank.

[0085] In addition, the positioning posts 1 can also provide fixed reference points for the basket holder 4, helping the basket holder 4 to maintain accurate positioning during rotation. The equal-spacing symmetrical arrangement ensures the balance and stability of the basket holder 4 during rotation.

[0086] Further, the identifier 7 includes a main identifier and a secondary identifier. The main identifier is used to identify the tank body 26, and the secondary identifier is used to identify the tank body, the tube picking position 6 or the basket 5. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the tube picking position 6 is located below the heat preservation cover 2 and is used to place two plate racks. Multiple sample tubes can be placed on each plate rack, and the sample access operation mechanism performs tube picking operations on the sample tubes at this position.

[0087] Specifically, the identifier 7 is set on the upper surface of the tank body 26, which can help the operator quickly and accurately identify the sample type, position or other relevant information stored in the tank body 26. The main identifier can be used to identify the tank body 26 itself, and its information includes the model number, serial number, manufacturing date, usage instructions, safety warnings and other information of the tank body. The main identifier helps to distinguish between multiple tank bodies, facilitating management and maintenance. The secondary identifier can be used to identify the tank body 26, the tube picking position 6 or the basket rack 5, and its information can include the number, position, capacity, sample type and other information of the tube picking position 6, which helps the operator quickly find a specific tube picking position 6 or basket rack 5. Especially in a large storage system, it can significantly improve the efficiency of sample access.

[0088] The identifier 7 can be a label, barcode, QR code, RFID tag or any other suitable identification method, which can be easily integrated with the automated sample management system. In this embodiment, the identifier 7 is preferably a QR code.

[0089] Further, please refer to Figure 1 , a positioning sensor 3 is further provided at the top of the tank body 26, and the positioning sensor 3 is used to sense the position of the basket 5.

[0090] In this embodiment, the positioning sensor 3 can be a photoelectric sensor, Hall effect sensor, magnetic sensor or any other suitable sensor technology. The function of the positioning sensor 3 is to detect the specific position of the basket 5 (or the basket rack 4) during rotation, so as to ensure that the sample tubes can be accurately positioned and accessed.

[0091] Further, please continue to refer to Figure 4 , the fixing assembly further includes: a fixing sleeve 14, a bearing inner spacer 17 and a bearing outer spacer 18.

[0092] A limiting structure is provided at the top end of the transmission shaft 12, and the fixing sleeve 14 is installed on the limiting structure, and the fixing sleeve 14 is used to fix the thrust ball bearing 15.

[0093] The bearing inner spacer 17 is placed between the transmission shaft 12 and the deep groove ball bearing 16, and the bearing outer spacer 18 is placed between the top wall of the tank body 26 and the deep groove ball bearing 16.

[0094] Specifically, the limiting structure at the top of the transmission shaft 12 is used to ensure the correct installation and positioning of the fixing sleeve 14, the thrust ball bearing 15, and the deep groove ball bearing 16. By fixing the thrust ball bearing 15, the fixing sleeve 14 helps maintain the axial stability of the transmission shaft 12, which is crucial for preventing bearing damage and ensuring smooth rotation. The inner bearing spacer 17 and the outer bearing spacer 18 work together to ensure that the bearings are in the correct positions on the transmission shaft 12 and at the top of the tank body 26, and also help to disperse and bear the load from the basket rack 4.

[0095] Furthermore, the fixing assembly further includes: an isolation sleeve 13 and a heat insulation pad 19.

[0096] The isolation sleeve 13 is disposed between the fixing sleeve 14 and the driven wheel 11, and the heat insulation pad 19 is disposed below the deep groove ball bearing 16 and between the top surface of the tank body 26 and the transmission shaft 12.

[0097] In a possible embodiment of the present utility model, by providing a layer of isolation sleeve 13 between the fixing sleeve 14 and the driven wheel 11, it helps to reduce the maintenance requirements of the bearings, keep the transmission system clean and efficient, and at the same time reduce the heat conduction of the rotating part of the transmission shaft 12, so that it is in direct contact with the air. Placing the heat insulation pad 19 between the top of the tank body 26 and the transmission shaft 12 helps to maintain the thermal stability of the transmission system and prevent dimensional changes or performance degradation caused by temperature changes.

[0098] In summary, in a sample storage tank provided by the present utility model, the design of the heat conduction component (including the middle heat conduction plate and the bottom heat conduction plate) provides effective cooling performance, enabling the sample tubes to always be in a low-temperature state during storage, and is suitable for sample storage that requires a long-term stable low-temperature environment. The positioning sensor ensures the precise positioning of the basket rack during rotation, and the design of the positioning column facilitates the accurate docking of the sample storage tank with the automated system (i.e., the sample access operation mechanism). The transmission connection structure composed of the transmission shaft, the driving wheel, the driven wheel, and the synchronous belt, as well as the fixing components such as the thrust ball bearing and the deep groove ball bearing, jointly provide a stable and reliable transmission system to ensure smooth rotation of the basket rack. The design of the identifiers (including the main identifier and the secondary identifier) makes the management of sample information more efficient. Precise positioning can be achieved by using the identifiers for two-dimensional code scanning positioning twice, reducing operation errors.

[0099] The above uses specific examples to elaborate on the present utility model, which is only used to help understand the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. For those skilled in the technical field to which the present utility model belongs, based on the idea of the present utility model, several simple deductions, deformations, or replacements can also be made.

Claims

1. A sample storage tank, characterized in that, Comprising: A tank body, a cold conduction component, a basket rack, a fixing component and a driving component; The driving component includes a driving device, a transmission connection structure and a transmission shaft. The driving device is fixed on the tank body and is connected to the transmission shaft through the transmission connection structure. The driving device drives the transmission shaft to rotate through the transmission connection structure; Both the basket rack and the cold conduction component are arranged inside the tank body. The cold conduction component surrounds the side and bottom surfaces of the basket rack and is fixedly connected to the basket rack. The transmission shaft is vertically arranged at the center of the basket rack and is fixedly connected to the basket rack; The fixing component is connected to the basket rack and the tank body for supporting and fixing the basket rack; Wherein, the fixing component includes a thrust ball bearing, a deep groove ball bearing and a guide sleeve. The lower end of the transmission shaft is inserted into the guide sleeve and is rotationally connected to the bottom wall of the tank body through the guide sleeve. The upper end of the transmission shaft is inserted into the deep groove ball bearing and the thrust ball bearing and is rotationally connected to the top wall of the tank body through the thrust ball bearing and the deep groove ball bearing. The deep groove ball bearing and the guide sleeve cooperate to realize the vertical guiding of the transmission shaft. The thrust ball bearing is located above the deep groove ball bearing and is used to bear the axial force.

2. The sample storage tank according to claim 1, wherein, The transmission connection structure includes a driving wheel, a driven wheel and a synchronous belt. The driving wheel is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the driving device. The driven wheel is placed on the upper section of the transmission shaft and is coaxially fixed to the transmission shaft. The synchronous belt is wound around the driven wheel and the driving wheel.

3. The sample storage tank according to claim 1, wherein, The basket rack has a plurality of accommodating spaces, and the plurality of accommodating spaces are distributed in a circular array with the center of the tank body as the array center.

4. The sample storage tank according to claim 3, wherein, The basket rack includes: an upper plate, a bottom plate and a reinforcing column; The upper plate and the bottom plate are arranged opposite to each other, and the reinforcing column is connected between the upper plate and the bottom plate; The transmission shaft of the driving component penetrates through the upper plate and the bottom plate and is fixedly connected to the upper plate and the bottom plate.

5. The sample storage tank according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cold conduction component includes: a middle cold conduction plate and a plurality of bottom cold conduction plates; The middle cold conduction plate is a cylindrical structure with a hollow interior and openings at both the upper and lower ends. The upper plate and the bottom plate of the basket rack are respectively located at the upper and lower ends of the middle cold conduction plate, and the outer edges of the upper plate and the bottom plate are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the middle cold conduction plate; A plurality of the bottom cold conduction plates are radially distributed on the outer periphery of the transmission shaft, and one end of each of the plurality of bottom cold conduction plates is fixedly connected to the lower end of the middle cold conduction plate.

6. The sample storage tank according to claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom cold conduction plate is vertically arranged, and the upper end surface of the bottom cold conduction plate is a horizontal plane; The horizontal plane faces the bottom plate and is in contact with the lower end surface of the bottom plate. The lower end surface of the bottom cold conduction plate is not in contact with the bottom of the tank body.

7. The sample storage tank according to claim 6, characterized in that, The middle part of the bottom surface of the tank body is recessed downward. The lower end surface of the bottom cold conduction plate includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface that are connected to each other. The first inclined surface extends downward along the radial direction of the bottom cold conduction plate, and the second inclined surface extends upward along the radial direction of the bottom cold conduction plate.

8. The sample storage tank according to claim 5, wherein A plurality of through holes are formed in the bottom cold guide plate, and the plurality of through holes are used to reduce the weight and the contact area between the bottom cold guide plate and liquid nitrogen.

9. The sample storage tank according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tank body is of a double-layer structure, including an outer wall and an inner wall, and a vacuum insulation layer is formed between the outer wall and the inner wall; A nitrogen injection port is provided on the tank body, the nitrogen injection port is communicated with the inside of the tank body, and the height of liquid nitrogen inside the tank body is less than or equal to the distance between the bottom surface of the tank body and the top surface of the bottom plate.

10. The sample storage tank according to claim 9, characterized in that, An identifier and positioning columns are further provided on the top surface of the tank body. The identifier is used to identify the tank body, and the positioning columns are fixed on the tank body and symmetrically arranged at equal intervals along the central axis for aligning and fixing the sample access operation mechanism with the sample storage tank.

11. The sample storage tank according to claim 10, characterized in that, The identifier includes a main identifier and a secondary identifier. The main identifier is used to identify the tank body, and the secondary identifier is used to identify the tank body, the pipette position or the basket.

12. The sample storage tank according to claim 10, characterized in that, A positioning sensor is further provided on the top of the tank body, and the positioning sensor is used to sense the position of the basket.

13. The sample storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing assembly further includes: a fixing sleeve, a bearing inner spacer and a bearing outer spacer; A limiting structure is provided at the top end of the transmission shaft, and the fixing sleeve is installed on the limiting structure, and the fixing sleeve is used to fix the thrust ball bearing; The bearing inner spacer is placed between the transmission shaft and the deep groove ball bearing, and the bearing outer spacer is placed between the top wall of the tank body and the deep groove ball bearing.

14. The sample storage tank according to claim 13, characterized in that, The fixing assembly further includes: a spacer sleeve and a heat insulation pad; The spacer sleeve is placed between the fixing sleeve and the driven wheel, and the heat insulation pad is placed below the deep groove ball bearing and between the top surface of the tank body and the transmission shaft.

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