CENTRIFUGE ROTOR AND CENTRIFUGE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a centrifuge, which is, for example, a laboratory centrifuge such as those offered by the applicant (see www.sigma-zentrifugen.de / de / produkte / zentrifugen; date of access: July 12, 2022). This or other centrifuges can be used in biotechnology, life sciences, medicine, the pharmaceutical sector, hospitals, blood banks, the petroleum industry, chemistry, for the analysis of water or environmental media, food technology, and / or nanotechnology, to name just a few non-limiting examples.

[0002] The invention further relates to a centrifuge rotor used in such a centrifuge. To achieve the centrifugation effect, the centrifuge rotor is rotated about a rotor axis, wherein this rotor axis can be oriented horizontally, vertically, or at any desired inclination. The centrifuge rotor can have two centrifuge rotor parts that can be mounted on one another and, when mounted, delimit an interior space. The centrifuge rotor parts can be, for example, a base part and a cover part, or two centrifuge rotor halves of the same or different design. The medium to be centrifuged can then be arranged directly in the interior space, for example in a single centrifugation chamber or in one of several centrifugation chambers, or can be arranged in a container in the interior space or in the at least one centrifugation chamber. By means of the centrifuge, the centrifuge rotor is rotated, for example, at speeds of at least 2.000 rpm, at least 4,000 rpm, at least 7,000 rpm, at least 10,000 rpm, at least 12,000 rpm or even at least 15,000 rpm to achieve the centrifugation effect.

[0003] It is possible for the centrifuge rotor to be filled with the centrifuging medium when the centrifuge rotor is at a standstill and the two centrifuge rotor parts are disassembled from one another. The invention can also be used for a centrifuge rotor of a flow-through centrifuge. In such flow-through centrifuges, a medium can be fed at least temporarily into a centrifugation chamber and / or a medium can be removed from the centrifugation chamber while the centrifugation chamber is rotating. The medium to be centrifuged can be, for example, a rinsing liquid, a washing or buffer solution, a modified medium extracted from the centrifuged medium and / or a sediment in the centrifugation chamber. In such a flow-through centrifuge, the medium can be, for example,It could be a blood centrifuge, where the medium to be centrifuged is blood and the extracted modified medium or sediment is blood cells or particles, or it could be a flow-through centrifuge, which is used to extract cells, microcarriers, or other particles contained in the medium. A flow-through centrifuge can be used for the production of biopharmaceutical products in biopharmaceutical companies or in bioprocessing applications. The flow-through centrifuge can be used, for example, to extract and / or purify cells or microcarriers, whereby the cells obtained in this way can also be used in cell therapy. Another application for a flow-through centrifuge is, for example, the production of vaccines.

[0004] It is also possible that the medium to be centrifuged is not a pure liquid, but rather a solution or suspension of particles such as cells, cell debris or parts, etc.

[0005] DE 16 48 969 A1 discloses a centrifugal separator in which a drive train has a drive train body. The drive train body forms an upwardly open receiving space for a rotor in which blood to be centrifuged is arranged. Once the rotor is arranged in the receiving space, the receiving space can be closed with a drive train cover. The rotor, secured in the receiving space of the drive train in this way, has a tube that is closed at the bottom and is connected in the upper end region to a hub of a receiving vessel via a conical connection. The receiving vessel forms an annular chamber surrounding the upper end region of the tube. During centrifugation, a heavier phase of the blood is deposited radially outward in the tube, whereby a lighter phase of the blood is displaced upwards, exits the upper end region of the tube and, as a result of the centrifugation, reaches the annular chamber.Once the blood phases have been separated as a result of centrifugation, the heavier phase can be removed from the tube, while the lighter phase can be poured out of the annular chamber of the receiving vessel through an upper opening in the receiving vessel. To assemble the drive train, the drive train cover has three locking levers that are pivoted on screws away from the axis of rotation and are connected to each other via springs in such a way that they are biased radially inward by the springs. As a result of centrifugation, the locking levers are biased radially outward against the force of the springs and pivoted, whereby the outer end regions of the locking levers can be locked in a groove in the drive train body, so that the drive train cover is fixed to the drive train body during centrifugation.

[0006] EP 0 605 148 A2 discloses a drive train with a chuck, via which the drive train can be mounted with a trough body that is open at the top and forms a chamber. Here, the trough body is inserted into a chuck trough. The trough body can be secured to the chuck trough by means of an elastic O-ring pressed from above onto a circumferential collar of the trough body. The O-ring can be pressed against the circumferential collar of the trough body by screws screwed to a circumferential collar of the chuck trough. Alternatively, the trough body can be secured to the chuck trough by locking levers held on the chuck trough, which, when the chuck trough is rotated, are pivoted as a result of the centrifugal forces acting on the locking levers and are pressed from above against the circumferential collar of the trough body, whereby the trough body is fixed to the chuck trough during centrifugation.

[0007] US 330,780 A discloses a circular rotor. The circular rotor has three circular-ring-segment-shaped receiving bodies separated from each other by wedges. The receiving bodies have radial blind-hole-shaped and radially outwardly closed receptacles in which sample containers containing milk or cream can be arranged. The circular rotor formed by the wedges and the receiving bodies can then be inserted into a cylindrical receptacle of a drive train body. When the drive train body is rotated, the centrifugal force acting on the wedges and the receiving bodies causes the radial distance of the wedges and receiving bodies from the rotational axis to increase, pressing them against the cylindrical receptacle of the drive train body and securing the rotor to the drive train body during centrifugation.

[0008] DE 853 729 C discloses a centrifuge in which a lid has a central through-bore. A shaft extends through the central through-bore concentrically to a rotor axis, said shaft having a circumferential groove spaced from the top of the lid. A lid closure has an upper part and a lower part in which locking elements are slidably guided transversely to the rotor axis. The locking elements have an elongated hole, the boundary of which forms a locking edge in one end region. The two locking elements are arranged one above the other such that the elongated holes form a continuous recess through which the shaft extends.The centers of gravity of the locking elements are arranged eccentrically on opposite sides of the rotor axis so that when the locking elements rotate around the rotor axis, they are subjected to radial outward pressure such that the locking edges of the locking elements on opposite sides engage in opposite directions with the groove in the shaft, thus achieving a locked position of the lid closure. Springs act between the two locking elements, which urge the locking elements into the unlocked position. The centrifugal forces acting overcome the force exerted by these springs to bring about the locked position. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is based on the object of proposing a centrifuge rotor and a centrifuge with such a centrifuge rotor, which is improved with regard to ensuring the reliable connection of the centrifuge rotor parts and / or simplifying the assembly and / or disassembly of the centrifuge rotor parts and / or ensuring operational safety. SOLUTION

[0010] The object of the invention is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent patent claims. Further preferred embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent patent claims. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention relates to a centrifuge rotor, such as can be used in the various types and designs of centrifuges mentioned above. The centrifuge rotor can be connected to a rotor shaft of the centrifuge via a shaft-hub connection known per se.

[0012] The centrifuge rotor has two centrifuge rotor parts, which can be a base part and a lid part or two centrifuge rotor halves, to name just a few non-limiting examples. The two centrifuge rotor parts can be mounted on one another. In the assembled state, the two centrifuge rotor parts together define an interior space, which preferably occurs with the interior space being completely closed and / or sealed. The interior space can be a continuous interior space. The interior space is preferably divided into different sub-spaces, which can be centrifugation chambers. The at least one product to be centrifuged can be arranged in the interior space, in particular in the centrifugation chambers. This can occur directly in the centrifugation chamber or by arranging a container, bag, etc. in the centrifugation chamber.

[0013] Conventional centrifuge rotor parts are connected to one another using screw connections. This ensures a reliable connection, but requires careful operation of the screw connections, can be time-consuming, and can make the reliability of the connection dependent on the screw torque applied to the screw connection. If the screw connection relies on the screw connection creating a frictional or clamping force between the centrifuge rotor parts, an insufficient tightening torque of the screw connection may initially give the impression that the centrifuge rotor parts are sufficiently firmly connected. If the centrifuge rotor then rotates around its axis, any force caused by centrifugal force increases quadratically with the speed of the centrifuge rotor.If a centrifugal force acting on the centrifuge rotor parts, which increases with the acceleration of the centrifuge rotor, exceeds the clamping or friction force caused by the screw connection, an undesirable change in the relative position of the centrifuge rotor parts occurs suddenly and unexpectedly.

[0014] According to the invention, it is proposed that the centrifuge rotor parts be connected to one another via a locking device. This locking device can be used exclusively or in addition to another connecting device for connecting the two centrifuge rotor parts. The locking device is actuated by centrifuge force resulting from the rotation of the centrifuge rotor. This has the advantage (for an example that does not limit the invention) that the user only has to bring the two centrifuge rotor parts into the predetermined relative position (in particular, so that they rest against one another) without the user even having to actuate a connecting device. If the centrifuge rotor is then set in rotation, the locking device is automatically actuated by the centrifuge rotor rotor rotation, thus ensuring a reliable connection between the centrifuge rotor parts.This ensures a reliable connection between the two centrifuge rotor parts, regardless of the operator's care, as the operator does not have to worry about forgetting to actuate a connecting device; instead, an automatic connection is created by actuating the locking device using centrifugal force. It is also possible within the scope of the invention for the locking device to be biased toward a locking position by means of centrifuge force. This variant of the invention includes embodiments in which the locking device is actuated manually; however, during operation of the centrifuge rotor, the centrifugal force then biases the locking device toward the locking position, reliably ensuring that the locking position is not inadvertently exited during operation of the centrifuge rotor.One aspect of the invention provides that the centrifugal force acting to actuate the locking device and / or to maintain the locking position increases quadratically with an increase in the speed of the centrifuge rotor. The damage that an improper connection between the two centrifuge rotor parts can cause may increase with an increase in the speed of the centrifuge rotor. The inventive design can ensure that the securing effect of the connection between the two centrifuge rotor parts automatically increases with an increase in the speed of the centrifuge rotor, so that the securing effect is increased in proportion to the potential increased damage.

[0015] According to the invention, the locking device has a first locking element. The locking element has a locking projection or a locking recess. Furthermore, a second locking element is present. The second locking element has a locking recess if the first locking element has a locking projection. In contrast, the second locking element has a locking projection if the first locking element has a locking recess. One of the two locking elements is movable from an unlocking position into a locking position due to centrifugal force and / or is urged into the locking position due to centrifugal force. In the locking position of the locking device, the first locking element and the second locking element ensure a positive fit. This positive fit prevents disassembly of the centrifuge rotor parts.To ensure positive locking, the two locking elements form contact surfaces that abut one another and prevent disassembly. The contact surfaces of the locking elements preferably block any relative movement of the two centrifuge rotor parts away from one another in the direction of the rotor axis. For example, it is possible for the contact surface of at least one locking element to be arranged in a transverse plane to the rotor axis or to be oriented at an angle of inclination relative to the transverse plane to the rotor axis. In the locking position of the locking element, a frictional force can also act between the contact surfaces, whereby it is also possible that the frictional force (depending on any angle of inclination) leads to a certain degree of self-locking. It is also possible for an inclined contact surface to provide an insertion aid for bringing about the positive locking and locking.

[0016] According to the invention, a locking element is designed as a radially displaceably guided locking slide. In the locking position, the locking slide interacts in a form-fitting manner with the other locking element, the locking extension, and a locking projection or locking recess thereof. Any guide devices can be used to guide the locking slide radially. For example, the locking slide can be guided via a slotted guide, a linear guide, or the like. It is also possible for the locking slide to be guided in the radial direction by only one component, whereby the guidance can also take place along a straight or curved degree of freedom.

[0017] The locking carriage has an elongated hole whose longitudinal axis is oriented in the radial direction. The radially inner end region of the elongated hole can be open-edged or closed-edged. The locking extension or pin of the other locking element then extends through the elongated hole. The elongated hole has two different sections, namely a locking section and an unlocking section. The width of the elongated hole is greater in the unlocking section than in the locking section. In the unlocking section, the locking carriage can interact with the locking extension or pin to produce the locking effect. In the unlocking section, however, no locking effect is produced due to the oversize of the elongated hole compared to the locking extension or pin, thus allowing the two centrifuge rotor parts to be disassembled from one another.

[0018] It is possible for the two centrifuge rotor parts to be connected to one another via only one locking device. According to a further proposal of the invention, several locking devices are provided to connect the centrifuge rotor parts to one another. The locking devices can be distributed in the circumferential direction around a rotor axis of the centrifuge rotor and arranged at a distance from the rotor axis. For example, the locking devices can be spaced from the rotor axis at a distance of at least half the outer radius of the centrifuge rotor. If the locking devices are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction while maintaining the same distance from the rotor axis, any imbalance caused by the locking devices can at least be reduced.In this case, the locking devices are preferably also arranged at a distance from the rotor shaft driving the centrifuge rotor and also radially spaced from the hub of the shaft-hub connection formed by the centrifuge rotor, here a centrifuge rotor part, via which the centrifuge rotor is connected to the rotor shaft.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, the two locking elements can be arranged, for example, in the assembled state on the mutually facing sides or in the region of the mutually facing end faces or in an outer shell region of the centrifuge rotor parts. According to one proposal of the invention, the first locking element is a locking extension, which is then assigned to a first centrifuge rotor part. The second centrifuge rotor part then has a recess. In the assembled state of the centrifuge rotor parts, the first locking element extends through the recess.In this case, the first centrifuge rotor part is arranged on one side of the second centrifuge rotor part, and the locking extension extends through the recess of the second centrifuge rotor part to the opposite side, where the locking extension then forms a positive connection with the locking element of the second centrifuge rotor part. This results in the second centrifuge rotor part being caught between a contact surface of the two locking elements and the first centrifuge rotor part in the assembled state, thus creating a particularly reliable connection between the two centrifuge rotor parts.

[0020] One of the locking elements can be designed as a locking extension or pin, in which case the locking extension or pin forms the locking projection or the locking recess.

[0021] To name just a few examples which do not limit the invention, the locking projection can be designed as a nose or a step which widens the cross-section, while the locking recess can be designed, for example, as a recess in the cross-section, as a slot or circumferential locking groove of the locking extension or pin, or as a step which reduces the cross-section.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking carriage is designed as an L-shaped sliding piece. One leg of the L can serve to ensure the guidance of the locking carriage relative to the associated centrifuge rotor part. Alternatively or additionally, this leg can form the elongated hole through which the locking extension or pin extends. The other leg of the L can, for example, contribute to the mass for generating the centrifugal force by means of which the locking device is actuated or the locking position is maintained. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for this other leg of the L to serve as a manual actuating element, by means of which the operator can actuate the locking carriage to manually change its position.To name just one option which does not limit the invention, the first-mentioned leg of the L can be received in a similar way to a dovetail guide in a corresponding receiving groove of the associated centrifuge rotor part in order to form a dovetail guide for ensuring the radial degree of freedom of displacement.

[0023] According to a further proposal of the invention, in the locking position of the locking device, the locking elements abut one another via contact surfaces. At least one contact surface, preferably both contact surfaces, can then be inclined relative to a transverse plane to the rotor axis, whereby the centrifugal force acting on the locking element is then converted by the at least one contact surface into a contact force with which the centrifuge rotor parts are pressed against one another.

[0024] The invention proposes a design of the centrifuge rotor in which the locking element, namely the locking carriage, has a manual actuating member by means of which the locking element can be manually moved from the locking position to the unlocking position and / or from the unlocking position to the locking position. Thus, after the centrifuge rotor parts have been assembled together, the locking device can be transferred into the locking position via the manual actuating member, which is then maintained by centrifugal force during centrifuge operation. After the centrifuge rotor parts have been assembled together, the locking device can be transferred into the locking position via the manual actuating member, and / or after the centrifuge operation has ended, the operator can manually transfer the locking device from the locking position to the unlocking position via the manual actuating member, which then also enables the two centrifuge rotor parts to be disassembled from one another.

[0025] A further feature of the invention provides a safety device. The safety device can secure a locking element in the unlocked and / or locked position. The safety device can be designed, for example, as a holding device, a latching device, or a locking device. The following are non-limiting examples of the use and advantages of the safety device: For the assembly of the centrifuge rotor parts to one another, it is advantageous or necessary that the locking device is in the unlocking position during the assembly process, since otherwise, under certain circumstances, the assembly of the centrifuge rotor parts may be blocked by the locking elements. The locking elements can thus be held in the unlocking position during assembly by means of the securing device. This is particularly important if, during assembly of the centrifuge rotor parts, the rotational axis of the centrifuge rotor parts is inclined relative to the vertical, which can lead to a locking element assuming its locking position due to gravity. Such an undesired movement of at least one locking element into the locking position can be prevented by a securing device.Even if the centrifuge rotor parts have already been assembled to one another and the at least one locking device is in the locking position, the at least one securing device can be used to prevent one of the locking elements from moving undesirably into the unlocking position, for example as a result of vibrations, the closing of a lid of the centrifuge, an impact on the centrifuge or the centrifuge rotor, or during an unsteady start-up of the centrifuge.

[0026] If the safety device secures an unlocked position of a locking element, it may be desirable for the safety device to be automatically released upon commencement of operation of the centrifuge by a centrifugal force acting on the locking element or the safety device. If the safety device is designed, for example, as a type of locking connection, the centrifugal force becomes greater than the locking force of the locking connection for a predetermined speed threshold, thereby releasing the locking connection and allowing the locking element to move automatically from the unlocked position to the locked position due to the centrifugal force.

[0027] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the securing device is designed as a magnetic securing device. For example, a centrifuge rotor part can carry a permanent magnet that interacts with a counter-magnet of a locking slide mounted on the centrifuge rotor part in such a way that the unlocked position of the locking slide is maintained via the magnetic force. If the centrifugal force acting on the locking slide becomes so great that it can overcome the magnetic force, the securing device is automatically released, allowing the locking slide to move from the unlocked position to the locked position due to the centrifugal force.

[0028] According to a further proposal of the invention, the locking element, which is moved by centrifugal force, can be used multifunctionally by being incorporated into a sensor. This sensor can then serve, for example, to detect the position of the locking element, so that a control unit of the centrifuge can be supplied with the information as to whether the locking element is in the locking position or the unlocking position. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible for the sensor formed with the locking element to evaluate the rotational movement of the centrifuge rotor with which the locking element rotates. In this case, several or all components of the sensor can also be integrated into the locking device.To give just one example, a sensor element can be arranged on the first locking element and a sensor element can be arranged on the second locking element, with the sensor then detecting the relative position of the two sensor elements. In this case, the measurement signal from the sensor can be transmitted to a control unit of the centrifuge via a cable or wirelessly (possibly after processing and / or evaluation by a control unit that is also integrated into the locking device). For another example, the locking element moved by centrifugal force and a sensor element formed thereby or held thereon can interact with another sensor element that is arranged, for example, in the region of the wall of the centrifuge bowl or at another location on the centrifuge. It is then possible, for example, to:that at the time at which the sensor element of the locking element passes the sensor element of the wall of the bowl or centrifuge, a conclusion is drawn from the distance between the sensor elements as to whether the locking element is in the unlocking position or the locking position. On the other hand, at the time at which the sensor element of the locking element passes the sensor element of the wall of the bowl or centrifuge, a counting pulse can be triggered, on the basis of which conclusions can be drawn about the speed of the centrifuge rotor. It is also possible for the peripheral speed to be determined directly via the interaction of the two sensor elements. Without restricting the invention to this exemplary embodiment, it is possible, for example, for a laser to be integrated into the wall of the bowl or the centrifuge.When the locking element with the associated sensor element, which in this case can be designed as a reflective surface of the locking element, passes the laser, the laser beam is reflected by the reflective surface and the reflected beam reaches a receiver that is also integrated into the wall of the vessel and can also be combined with the laser to form a sensor unit. Based on the reflected and received laser beam, the position of the locking element can then be determined from the distance between the sensor elements, which can then be used to detect whether the locking element is in the unlocking or locking position. Alternatively or cumulatively, it is possible to determine the peripheral speed or rotational speed of the locking element, and thus of the centrifuge rotor, based on the reflected and received laser beam by means of a triggered pulse or otherwise.

[0029] A further solution to the problem underlying the invention is a centrifuge (in particular a laboratory centrifuge or flow-through centrifuge) comprising a centrifuge rotor designed as described above. The centrifuge rotor can be connected to a rotor shaft of the centrifuge via a shaft-hub connection known per se, whereby the securing of the two centrifuge rotor parts is ensured separately and radially spaced from the shaft-hub connection by means of the centrifugally actuated or centrifugally actuated locking device.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the centrifuge has a control unit equipped with control logic. The control logic detects any imbalance in the centrifuge rotor. For this purpose, the centrifuge can, for example, have a force or acceleration sensor that detects the imbalance of the centrifuge rotor, with the control logic evaluating the force or acceleration sensor signal. It is also possible for an imbalance to be detected based on the drive signal and the required electrical load of an electric motor used to drive the centrifuge rotor. Based on the detected imbalance, an evaluation can then be performed to determine whether the locking device is properly locked.For example, if multiple locking devices are installed on the centrifuge rotor and one locking device is in the unlocked position while the other locking devices are properly locked, the locking device in the unlocked position will result in an imbalance. If such an imbalance is detected, the drive movement of the centrifuge rotor may be aborted, an error may be entered in a documentation database, and / or a display on the centrifuge may indicate to the user that the locking device is / was not properly closed.Since both the difference between the radial position of the locking element in the locking position and the unlocking position as well as the mass of the locking element are known, the imbalance that will result if one of the locking elements is not in the locking position is known a priori. This allows a quantitative evaluation of the determined imbalance to be carried out in terms of how many locking elements are not in the locked position. It is also possible that, based on a quantification of the imbalance, the control logic can make a distinction as to whether the cause of the imbalance is the incorrect operating position of at least one locking device or, for example, the cause of the imbalance is improper filling of the centrifuge rotor with the medium to be centrifuged or improper arrangement of the containers containing this medium in the centrifuge rotor.

[0031] Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the patent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0032] The advantages of features and combinations of several features mentioned in the description are merely exemplary and can be effective alternatively or cumulatively, without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention.

[0033] With regard to the disclosure content – not the scope of protection – of the original application documents and the patent, the following applies: Further features can be found in the drawings – in particular the illustrated geometries and the relative dimensions of several components to one another, as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or features of different patent claims is also possible, deviating from the chosen references of the patent claims, and is hereby encouraged. This also applies to features that are illustrated in separate drawings or mentioned in their description. These features can also be combined with features of different patent claims.Likewise, features listed in the patent claims may be omitted for further embodiments of the invention, but this does not apply to the independent patent claims of the granted patent.

[0034] The number of features mentioned in the claims and the description is to be understood as meaning that exactly this number or a greater number than the stated number is present, without the need for the explicit use of the adverb "at least." Thus, for example, if reference is made to one element, this is to be understood as meaning that exactly one element, two elements, or more elements are present. The features mentioned in the claims may be supplemented by further features or may be the only features present in the subject matter of the respective claim.

[0035] The reference signs contained in the patent claims do not represent a limitation of the scope of the subject-matter protected by the patent claims. They serve solely to make the patent claims easier to understand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0036] In the following, the invention is further explained and described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. 1 shows a spatial representation of a centrifuge rotor part of a centrifuge rotor, viewed diagonally from above. Fig. 2 shows in a spatial view obliquely from above a centrifuge rotor with two centrifuge rotor parts mounted together with locking devices, which are in the unlocking position in the left half of the figure and in the locking position in the right half of the figure. Fig. 3 shows a section along the rotor axis through the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 2with a cutting guide in a cutting plane spanned by the rotor axis and coaxial linear guide directions of diametrically opposed locking devices. Fig. 4 shows the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 2 and 3 in a top view. Fig. 5 shows a locking element of a locking device of the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 2 to 4 in a spatial view. Fig. 6 shows in a spatial view obliquely from above a further embodiment of a centrifuge rotor with centrifuge rotor parts mounted on one another, wherein in the left half of the figure the locking devices are in the unlocking position and in the right half of the figure the locking devices are in the locking position. Fig. 7 shows the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 6in a section with a cutting guide in a cutting plane spanned by the rotor axis and coaxial linear guide directions of diametrically opposed locking devices. Fig. 8 shows the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 6 and 7 in a top view. Fig. 9 shows a locking element of a locking device of the centrifuge rotor according to Fig. 6 to 8 in a spatial view. FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the description and the patent claims, some components or features thereof that correspond or are similar in terms of design and / or function are identified with the same reference symbols, whereby these can then be identified with the additional letters a, b, .... In this case, reference can be made to these components or features with or without the additional letters, which then refers to one, several, or all of the components or features. If corresponding components or features are present multiple times in a figure, they can also be identified with reference symbols and lines in only one place.

[0038] Fig. 1shows a centrifuge rotor part 1, which can be a base part. The centrifuge rotor part 1 has a housing 2 which is open at the top and which defines an interior space 3 which is initially open at the top. In the interior space 3, in the open state according to Fig. 1 a medium to be centrifuged can be arranged, in particular in at least one container, which in turn can also be arranged in a cage or receiving body together with other containers.

[0039] The centrifuge rotor part 1 has a hub 4, by means of which the centrifuge rotor 1 can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotor shaft of a centrifuge (not shown here). Any shaft-hub connection can be used, including a shaft-hub connection actuated or secured by centrifugal force, as described, for example, in document EP 3 012 027 B1.

[0040] The centrifuge rotor part 1 has a rotor axis 5. If the centrifuge rotor part 1 is connected to a rotor shaft of a centrifuge via the hub 4, the centrifuge rotor part 1 can be rotated about the rotor axis 5 by driving the rotor shaft to achieve the desired centrifugation effect.

[0041] The centrifuge rotor part 1 has locking elements 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d (here four) evenly distributed over the circumference. The locking elements 6 are designed as locking extensions 7, here in the form of locking bolts 8. In the free end region, the locking elements 6 have a locking recess 9, which, when the locking elements 6 are designed as locking bolts 8, is designed as a circumferential locking groove 10, the outer boundary of which forms the locking recess 9. The locking elements 6, here the locking bolts 8, extend parallel to the rotor axis 5 and extend in this direction from the centrifuge rotor part 1 (in Fig. 1 upwards). In Fig. 1 the locking recess 9 and the locking groove 10 are only marked for the locking element 6a, whereby the same also applies to the locking elements 6b, 6c, 6d.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows a centrifuge rotor 11 in which the centrifuge rotor part 1 is assembled with a centrifuge rotor part 12, here a cover part, by placing the centrifuge rotor part 12 from above onto the centrifuge rotor part 1, wherein the placement or assembly for joining takes place in the direction of the rotor axis 5. In the assembled state of the centrifuge rotor parts 1, 12, the interior 3 is closed.

[0043] On the centrifuge rotor part 12, four locking elements 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d are evenly distributed around the circumference and arranged at the same distances from the rotor axis 5. The positions of the locking elements 13 correspond to the positions of the locking elements 6, so that they can interact with each other.

[0044] The locking elements 13 are designed as locking carriages 14, in particular in the form of an L-shaped sliding piece 15. The locking carriage 14 is connected via a sliding guide 16 rigidly connected to the centrifuge rotor part 12 or formed therefrom to form a linear guide 17. The linear guide 17 ensures that the locking element 13 has only one degree of freedom (preferably limited in both directions) radially to the rotor axis 5. In the present case, the sliding piece 15 and the sliding guide 16 form a linear guide 17 in the manner of a dovetail guide 18.

[0045] The sliding piece 15 is L-shaped with legs 19, 20 of the L oriented approximately at right angles to one another. The cross-section of leg 20 is positively received transversely to the linear degree of freedom and guided in a correspondingly shaped guide recess of the sliding guide 16. The leg 19 extends parallel to the rotor axis 5. The operator can manually act on the locking element 13 via the leg 19 and move it along the linear guide 17. The linear degree of freedom of the linear guide 17 is oriented radially to the rotor axis 5. The leg 19 forms a manual actuating element 22, via which the operator can change the operating position of the locking element 13.

[0046] The leg 20 has a slot 21. For the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 5The elongated hole 21 of the locking elements 13 has two sections, namely a locking section 23 and an unlocking section 24. In the unlocking section 24, the elongated hole 21 has a partially circular cross-section. The diameter of the partially circular cross-section is slightly larger than the diameter of the locking extension 7, so that an end region or head 27 of the locking extension 7 can pass through the unlocking section 24. In the region of the locking section 23, the width of the elongated hole 21 is reduced compared to the width in the unlocking section 24 or the diameter in the unlocking section 24.

[0047] As particularly in Fig. 3As can be seen, the locking extension 7 has a locking projection 25. For the design of the locking extension 7 as a locking bolt 8, the locking projection 25 is formed by the outer boundary of the circumferential locking groove 10. In this case, the diameter of the unlocking section 24 can be slightly larger than a head 27 of the locking bolt 8 above the locking groove 10, while the width of the elongated hole 21 in the locking section 23 is smaller than the width of the head 27, but slightly larger than the width of the bottom of the circumferential locking groove 10.

[0048] In Fig. 3It can further be seen that the locking bolt 8 is designed as a stepped bolt with a threaded portion 28 at its end, in the region of which the locking bolt 8 is screwed to the centrifuge rotor part 1, in particular the housing 2 or an insert body 29. Away from the threaded portion 28, the locking bolt 8 is preferably cylindrical (except for the locking groove 10) and is received and / or guided in a corresponding receiving or guide bore in the centrifuge rotor part 1 or insert body 29. The locking bolt 8 protrudes upwards from the centrifuge rotor part 1 with its upper end region, in particular the locking groove 10 and the head 27.

[0049] If the centrifuge rotor part 12 is brought closer to the centrifuge rotor part 1 for assembly in a mounting direction corresponding to the rotor axis 5, the upper end regions, in particular the head 27 and the locking groove 10, pass through a recess 30 of the centrifuge rotor part 12, so that in the Fig. 3In the sketched assembly position, the locking groove 10 protrudes at least partially and the head 27 protrudes completely outward from the centrifuge rotor part 12. With this assembly, the head 27 can also pass through the unlocking section 24 of the locking element 13. If the locking element 13 is moved radially outward, the locking element 13 is displaced along the linear guide 17, whereby the locking bolt 8 with the locking groove 10 reaches the area of the locking section 23 of the locking element 13. The end of the radial movement of the locking element 13 is determined by the fact that the locking bolt 8, with the base of the locking groove 10, comes to rest against the radially inner boundary of the elongated hole 21.In the locking position of the locking element 13 thus achieved, the exit of the locking bolt 8 from the locking element 13 in a disassembly direction is blocked by the head 27 in the locking section 23 abutting from above against the lateral boundaries of the elongated hole 21. This results in the centrifuge rotor part 12 being trapped, on the one hand, between the upper side of the centrifuge rotor part 1 and, on the other hand, by the locking projection 25 provided by the locking groove 10 or the head 27. The assembled position of the two centrifuge rotor parts 1, 12 can thus be secured in this way. The locking elements 6, 13 form a locking device 31.

[0050] In the locking device 31, the locking elements 6, 13 engage one another with contact surfaces 32, 33 to ensure the locking effect. The contact surface 32 of the locking element 6 is provided by the underside of the head 27 or the upper lateral boundary of the locking groove 10, which forms the locking recess 9. In contrast, the contact surface 33 of the locking element 13 is provided by the lateral edge region of the slide 15, which delimits the locking section 23 of the elongated hole 21 and forms the locking projection 25.

[0051] In the Fig. 2 , 3 and 4The locking elements 13c, 13d are shown in the unlocking position in the left half-space, while they are shown in the locking position in the right half-space. When the centrifuge rotor 11 is at a standstill, the operator can, in principle, bring about a desired operating position of the locking elements 13 via the manual actuation element 22. During operation of the centrifuge rotor 11, the locking elements 13 are automatically actuated by centrifugal force, moved into the locking position, and held there.

[0052] In the Fig. 2 to 5An optional special feature is shown: Here, the locking devices 31 each have securing devices 34. In the illustrated embodiment, each securing device 34 has two permanent magnets 35, 36. One permanent magnet 35 is integrated into the locking element 13, here the leg 20 of the sliding piece 15, while the other permanent magnet 36 is integrated into the centrifuge rotor part 12 or the sliding guide 16. In the position to be secured by means of the securing device 34, the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets 35, 36 is directly closed, so that the opposite poles of the permanent magnets 35, 36 are arranged directly adjacent or in alignment. The magnetic force between the permanent magnets 35, 36 thus maintains the secured position of the securing device 34.If the secured position is the unlocking position, the commencement of operation of the centrifuge with the rotation of the centrifuge rotor 11 results in the centrifugal force acting on the locking elements 13 becoming increasingly greater until it is sufficient to overcome the securing force between the permanent magnets 35, 36, thereby leaving the secured position of the securing device 34. It is understood that, in contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the locking position can also be secured alternatively or cumulatively, for example by another permanent magnet arranged at a corresponding location in the area of the centrifuge rotor part 12. It is also possible for a magnetic securing device 34 to be used instead of a magnetic securing device 34, but rather any other designed locking device or a frictional locking device 34.

[0053] For the Fig. 6 to 9The embodiment shown applies until further notice to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 5 The above applies accordingly. However, the locking element 13 is designed differently here (see in particular Fig. 9). In this case, the elongated hole 21 is not closed on the radially inner side, but open (although this is not necessarily the case with an otherwise corresponding design). Here, the contact surfaces 33 provided by the locking projection 25 of the locking element 13, with which the locking element 13 enters into a locking operative connection with the locking recess 9 of the locking element 6, are inclined at an angle of inclination 26 relative to the transverse plane to the rotor axis 5 such that the contact surface 33 rises in the direction of the rotor axis 5. If, for this exemplary embodiment, the locking element is moved radially outward manually or as a result of centrifugal force, the contact surface 33 slides along the contact surface 32 provided by the locking recess 9 of the locking element 6, namely the lateral boundary of the locking groove 10 or the underside of the head 27.With increasing sliding movement, the locking element 13 is increasingly clamped to the locking element 6 in the area of the contact surface 33, which has the result that the centrifuge rotor parts 1, 12 are increasingly pressed against one another and the locking effect and the securing of the mounted position of the centrifuge rotor parts 1, 12 is strengthened. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0054] 1 Centrifuge rotor part 2 Housing 3 Interior 4 Hub 5 Rotor axis 6 Locking element 7 Locking extension 8 Locking bolt 9 Locking recess 10 Locking groove 11 Centrifuge rotor 12 Centrifuge rotor part 13 Locking element 14 Locking carriage 15 Slide piece 16 Slide guide 17 Linear guide 18 Dovetail guide 19 Leg 20 Leg 21 Slot 22 Manual actuator 23 Locking section 24 Unlocking section 25 Locking projection 26 Inclination angle 27 Head 28 Threaded section 29 Insert body 30 Recess 31 Locking device 32 Contact surface 33 Contact surface 34 Securing device 35 Permanent magnet 36Permanent magnet

Claims

1. Centrifuge rotor (11) comprising a) two centrifuge rotor parts (1, 12) which can be assembled to each other and in the assembled state define an inner chamber (3) in which a product which is to be centrifuged can be arranged, b) the centrifuge rotor parts (1, 12) being connected or connectable to each other by a locking device (31) which is actuated by a centrifugal force due to the rotation of the centrifuge rotor (11) and / or is biased by a centrifugal force towards a locked position, c) a first locking element (6) comprising a locking protrusion or a locking recess (9), d) a second locking element (13) da) comprising a locking recess if the first locking element comprises a locking protrusion and db) comprising a locking protrusion (25) if the first locking element (6) comprises a locking recess (9), e) one locking element (13) being movable by the centrifugal force from an unlocked position into a locked position and / or being biased by the centrifugal force towards a locked position and f) the first locking element (6) and the second locking element (13) providing a positive locking in the locked position of the locking device (31) which blocks a disassembly of the centrifuge rotor parts (1, 12), g) one locking element (13) being a locking carriage which is guided for being moved radially and h) the locking carriage (14) comprising an elongated hole (21) through which the locking protrusion (7) or pin extends, characterised in that i) the elongated hole (21) comprises a locking portion (23) and an unlocking portion (24) and the width of the elongated hole (21) is larger in the unlocking portion (24) than in the locking portion (23).

2. Centrifuge rotor (11) of claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of locking devices (31) is distributed in circumferential direction around a rotor axis (5) of the centrifuge rotor (11) and arranged with a distance from the rotor axis (5).

3. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a) the first locking element (6) is a locking protrusion (7) and associated to a first centrifuge rotor part (1), b) the second centrifuge rotor part (12) comprises a recess (30), c) in the assembled state of the centrifuge rotor parts (1, 12) the first locking element (6) extends through the recess (30) and d) in the assembled state the second centrifuge rotor part (12) is caught or trapped between a contact surface (32) of the two locking elements (6, 13) and the first centrifuge rotor part (1).

4. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a locking element (6) is embodied as a locking protrusion (7) or pin which forms the locking protrusion or locking recess (9).

5. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking carriage (14) comprises an L-shaped sliding piece (15).

6. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the locked position of the locking device (31) the locking elements (6, 13) contact each other via contact surfaces (32, 33) wherein at least one contact surface (32, 33) is inclined relative to a plane oriented transverse to the rotor axis (5) to an extent such that a centrifugal force biasing the locking element (13) is transformed by the at least one contact surface (32, 33) into a contact force which presses the centrifuge rotor parts (1, 12) against each other.

7. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking element (13) comprises a manual actuation means (22) by means of which it is possible to manually move the locking element (13) from the locked position into the unlocked position and / or from the unlocked position into the locked position.

8. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a securing device (34) is provided by which it is possible to secure the locking device (31) in the unlocked position and / or locked position.

9. Centrifuge rotor (11) of claim 8, characterised in that the securing device (34) can be released by a centrifugal force biasing the locking device (31), the locking element (13) or the securing device (34A).

10. Centrifuge rotor (11) of claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the securing device (34) is embodied as a magnetic securing device.

11. Centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking element (13) being biased or actuated by the centrifugal force is a component of a sensor, wherein the sensor preferably a) senses if the locking element is in the locked position or in the unlocked position and / or b) senses the movement of the locking element due to the rotation of the same together with the centrifuge rotor.

12. Centrifuge, in particular laboratory centrifuge or continuous flow centrifuge, comprising a centrifuge rotor (11) of one of the preceding claims.

13. Centrifuge of claim 12, characterised in that the centrifuge comprises a control unit with control logic by which an imbalance of the centrifuge rotor is determined and by which on the basis of the sensed imbalance an analysis is performed if the locking device has been locked according to the specifications.