LABORATORY CENTRIFUGE INCLUDING MEANS FOR SECURING THE TRANSLATIONAL LOCKING OF A ROTOR ON A MOTOR SHAFT.

Abstract

The present invention is a means for securing the translational locking of a rotor on a drive shaft of a centrifuge, comprising at least one part having the characteristic of moving simultaneously with the active locking elements and having a window displaying differentiated information depending on the position of said active locking elements: for example, a green surface when these locking elements are in their assigned position as that of effective rotor locking, and a red surface in other operating conditions. The information thus displayed ensures that the operator can confirm the locking of their accessory when it is effective. (See Figure 2 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: LABORATORY CENTRIFUGE INCLUDING MEANS FOR SECURING THE TRANSLATIONAL LOCKING OF A ROTOR ON A DRIVE SHAFT.

[0001] The present invention relates to laboratory centrifuges, for the separation of constituents contained in a liquid by a centrifugation phenomenon.

[0002] Centrifugation makes it possible to separate constituents of very variable size and mass contained in a liquid sample, from molecules to whole cells.

[0003] These centrifugation techniques are conventionally implemented using laboratory centrifuges which comprise a chamber containing two rotating parts, namely: - A drive shaft, combined with drive means for its rotational operation, and - A rotor, intended to be mounted on said drive shaft and intended to receive the containers in which the liquid samples to be centrifuged are brought.

[0004] In a conventional manner, these two rotating parts are provided with additional assembly means for the removable mounting of the rotor on the free end of the drive shaft.

[0005] These assembly means include in particular means for locking in translation the two rotating parts associated with each other.

[0006] In document FR3005273, these translational locking means comprise two male elements carried by the rotor, which are capable of occupying a cooperative position with a female element provided on the drive motor shaft.

[0007] These two male elements are each mounted freely in translation along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, in opposite directions to each other. Dedicated elastic means force said male elements to move closer to each other, as close as possible to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.

[0008] A user-accessible knob allows the two male elements to be separated from each other as needed, in particular to unlock the rotor of the drive motor shaft; the angular orientation of the knob and the linear displacement of the two male locking elements are linked (rotation of the knob modifies the distance between the two male locking elements and the translation of said (male elements modify the angular orientation of the wheel).

[0009] The rotor is mounted on the drive motor shaft by simple fitting, the male elements retracting by being pushed back by the beveled end of the drive motor shaft, before automatically locking into the female element provided on the aforementioned drive motor shaft by means of elastic means which push them to move closer together, as close as possible to the axis of rotation of the drive motor shaft.

[0010] When fitting the rotor onto the drive motor shaft, elastic means placed on said drive motor shaft are compressed to counterbalance the mechanical clearances necessary for the proper functioning of this lock and to eliminate the vibrations of the rotor resulting from these clearances.

[0011] The rotor is removed from the drive motor shaft by rotating the aforementioned knob, which causes the male locking elements to move apart from each other until they come out of the female element in the drive motor shaft and the rotor is axially released.

[0012] The elastic means placed on the motor shaft exerting a vertical force on the rotor, the latter is lifted a few millimeters into a waiting position where it is not locked, that is to say that the male locking elements do not cooperate with the female element arranged on the drive motor shaft, and from where the operator can take it and remove it from the centrifuge.

[0013] However, due to its shape and dimensions, there is no element informing the operator that the rotor equipped with such a lock is actually locked or in a standby position, which can be detrimental to the proper functioning of the centrifuge with the appearance of undesirable phenomena such as vibrations for example.

[0014] In this context, and to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the applicant has developed a simple and intuitive means of information which informs the user of the effective locking status of the rotor on the drive motor shaft, supplementing the lock described in document FR3005273.

[0015] This means of information consists of two parts. - A first part is fixed to the body of the lock described in document FR3005273 (item 18 in that same document) and therefore has no free movement relative to the rotor. A second part is placed above the first, completely covering it without making any contact. It is fixed to the aforementioned knurled knob (item 21 in document FR3005273) used to separate the male locking elements on the rotor in order to unlock it. It does not have free movement relative to this knob but rotates with it.

[0016] Therefore: - The angular orientation of this second part constituting the information means which is the subject of the invention, and the linear displacement of the two male locking elements are linked. - The 2 parts constituting the means of information are capable of moving in rotation relative to each other.

[0017] A window in the second room allows a view of a surface of the first room, this surface being different depending on the angular orientation of the second room. These surfaces, revealed according to the angle of orientation α of the second room, are the surfaces that each carry information for the user.

[0018] According to the invention, in the effective locking position of the rotor, while the male locking elements carried by the rotor cooperate with the female element arranged on the drive motor shaft, the wheel, and therefore the second part constituting the information means, are in an angular orientation al and the window arranged on this second part reveals an information surface si on the first part constituting said information means which can be, for example, green in color and thus inform the operator without any possible ambiguity of the correct locking of the rotor on the drive motor shaft.

[0019] According to the invention, in the rotor's standby position, while the rotor is held slightly above the locking position by means of the elastic means placed on the drive motor shaft, and consequently: - The male locking elements carried by the rotor do not cooperate with the female element fitted in the drive motor shaft; - Said male locking elements are spaced apart and in contact on a part of the motor shaft outside of the female element receiving said male elements in the effective locking position: - The male locking elements have moved the locking wheel and the second piece constituting the information means into an angular position a2 sufficiently different from al so that the window formed on the said second piece reveals an information surface s2 on the first piece constituting the said information means, completely different from si. The surface s2 can, for example, be red and thus unambiguously inform the operator that the rotor is not locked onto the drive motor shaft.

[0020] According to the invention, when the rotor is outside the centrifuge, and the male locking elements are as close as possible to each other by the action of dedicated springs, the wheel and the second part constituting the information means, in an angular position a3, sufficiently different from a2, so that the window The surface arranged on the second part reveals an information surface s3 on the first part, which constitutes the information means, completely different from s2. The surface s3 can, for example, be green and thus unambiguously inform the operator that the locking means is operational. In practice, since a1 and a3 are quite close, the surfaces si and s3 can be considered identical.

[0021] A particular graphic may be applied to the visible surface of the second part for a better understanding of the invention by the operator.

[0022] The invention will be illustrated, without limitation, by the following description of a particular embodiment, in relation to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] Fig. 1 is a general view of a rotor (1) equipped with a lock (2) according to document FR3005273 and a drive motor shaft (3);

[0024] The [Fig.2] is a semi-exploded perspective where a lock (2) according to document FR3005273 and the information means (4), the object of the invention, consisting of a second part (5) in which a window (6) is provided, and a first part (7) on which two distinct information surfaces si (8) and s2 (9) will be alternately visible to the user;

[0025] Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view showing the rotor (1) in the locked position. It shows: - The male locking elements (10) carried by the rotor (1) cooperate with the female element (11) fitted on the drive motor shaft (3); - The elastic means (12) placed on the compressed drive motor shaft to eliminate mechanical play between the rotor (1) and the drive motor shaft (3); - The knob (13) is positioned at an angular orientation a1, allowing the information surface si (8) on the first part (7) of said information means (4) to be seen through the window (6) provided on the second part (5) constituting the information means (4). This surface si (8) could, for example, be green to unambiguously inform the operator of the correct locking of the rotor (1) on the drive motor shaft (3).

[0026] Figure 4 is a cutaway perspective view showing the rotor (1) in the standby position. It shows: - The elastic means (12) placed on the drive motor shaft (3) lifts the rotor (1) above the locking position - The male locking elements (10) carried by the rotor (1) do not cooperate with the female element (11) fitted on the drive motor shaft (3); - The male locking elements (10) carried by the rotor (1), spaced apart (relative to [Fig. 2]), are kept apart because they are in contact with the drive motor shaft (3) outside the female element (11) arranged on the said drive shaft (3); - The wheel (13) positioned at an angular orientation a2 to follow the position of the male locking elements (10), allowing the information surface s2 (9) on the first part (7) of said information means (4) to be seen through the window (6) provided on the second part (5) constituting the information means (4). This surface s2 (9) can, for example, be red to unambiguously inform the operator that the rotor (1) is not locked onto the drive motor shaft (3).

[0027] Thus, the invention relates to: - A means of information characterized by the fact that it includes at least one part whose angular orientation depends on the position of the male locking elements attached to the rotor. - According to one embodiment, this means of information is characterized by the presence of at least two information surfaces distinct from each other to give differentiated information according to the state of the lock.

[0028] The application further relates to a laboratory centrifuge characterized in that it is equipped with at least one accessory held on the drive motor shaft by a lock fitted with an information means according to the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A means of informing the effective locking state of a rotor on a drive motor shaft, the rotor and the drive shaft being provided with complementary assembly means for the removable mounting of the rotor on the free end of the drive motor shaft, these assembly means comprising in particular means for locking in translation of these two rotating parts associated with each other, the rotor carrying a lock, said lock comprising two male elements carried by the rotor capable of occupying a cooperative position with a female element provided on the drive motor shaft, a wheel allowing the two male elements to be separated from each other, in particular to unlock the rotor from the drive motor shaft, the angular orientation of the wheel and the linear displacement of the two male locking elements being linked;the information means being characterized by a first part fixed on the body of the lock and having no free movement relative to the rotor and a second part, placed above the first, covering it completely, fixed on the wheel, having no free movement relative to this wheel but moving in rotation with it.

2. Information means according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part comprises a window capable of alternately revealing one information surface or another depending on the state of the lock.

3. Information means according to claim 2, characterized by the presence on the first piece of at least two information surfaces distinct from each other to give differentiated information according to the state of the lock.

4. A rotor locking means characterized in that it is fitted with an information means according to one of the preceding claims.

5. Laboratory centrifuge rotor characterized in that it is equipped with a lock fitted with an information means according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. Laboratory centrifuge characterized in that it is equipped with at least one accessory held on the drive motor shaft by a lock fitted with an information means according to one of claims 1 to 3.

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