centrifuge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a centrifuge, comprising: a drive shaft portion (14) rotatable about a rotation axis (24); an adapter (12) connected to the drive shaft portion (14) or constituting a part of the drive shaft portion (14); a rotor (10) journaled in the adapter (12) and removable in an axial direction in an ejection direction; a quick release fastener (22) acting between the rotor (10) and the adapter (12), the quick release fastener (22) fixing the rotor (10) to the adapter (12) in the ejection direction and removable as required; an abutment (40a) connected to the adapter (12); a lock bearing (44) connected to the rotor (10); and at least one locking member (32) which is part of the quick release fastener (22) and which, when actuated, fixes the rotor (10) relative to the adapter (12) thereby locking the rotor (10) relative to the drive shaft portion (14). and a locking member (32) that fixes the rotor (10) relative to the adapter (12) and acts between a lock bearing (44) of the rotor (10) and an abutment (40a) of the drive shaft portion (14), the quick release fastener (22) comprising an operating member (26) that is operatively coupled to the operating member (26) such that the operating member (26) is mounted for linear movement relative to, and in particular for movement parallel to, the axis of rotation (24) of the drive shaft portion (14) between an unlocked position and a locked position, movement of the operating member (26) causes the locking member (32) to move linearly relative to the adapter (12), the locking member (32) being movable between the locked and unlocked positions at a first angle (α) relative to the axis of rotation (24), and the lock bearing (44) is oriented at a second angle (β) relative to the axis of rotation (24), the second angle (β) being different from the first angle (α). The present invention is characterized in that both angles (α, β) are angles measured clockwise from the operating member (26) side with the rotation shaft (24) as a reference, and are in the range of 0° to 90°.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a centrifuge in the field described in the preamble of claim 1.

Background Art

[0002] There is already known a centrifuge having a removable rotor, and provided with a device for axially locking the rotor to a drive shaft portion or to a drive shaft portion of an adapter attached to the drive shaft portion so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other, and which does not require high-cost attachment or special tools for such locking.

[0003] A centrifuge is described in German Patent Application Publication No. 102018114289. The centrifuge comprises a drive shaft rotatable around a rotating axis, to which an adapter is connected so as not to rotate relative to the drive shaft. The adapter can be detached from the drive shaft as needed. Alternatively, the adapter can be part of the drive shaft. The adapter is provided with a rotor that is removable in the axial direction, and the rotor is connected to the adapter via a quick-release fastener that operates between the rotor and the adapter and can be operated with one hand. For example, to load a sample onto the rotor outside the centrifuge, or to insert another rotor for another sample container into the centrifuge, the rotor can be fixed to the adapter in the removal direction via the quick-release fastener, and thus to the drive shaft, and can be detached as needed. The adapter is provided with an abutment, and the rotor is provided with a locking bearing. Furthermore, at least one locking member is provided as part of the quick-release fastener, which, when activated, fixes the rotor relative to the adapter and, consequently, relative to the drive shaft, acting between the rotor's locking bearing and the drive shaft's abutment. The quick-release fastener also includes an operating member, which allows the locking member to be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position and vice versa. The locking member is operationally coupled to the operating member such that the operating member is mounted to be linearly movable relative to the rotation axis of the drive shaft between the unlocked and locked positions, particularly parallel to the rotation axis. As the operating member moves, the locking member moves linearly relative to the adapter between the unlocked and locked positions. To prevent rotor jamming over extended periods and to allow for smooth rotor replacement, extremely high manufacturing precision is required to realize this configuration. This high manufacturing precision ensures a secure, play-free lock.

[0004] German Patent Application Publication No. 102014008219 also describes a centrifuge, in which a locking member rotates from an unlocked position to a locked position around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the drive shaft. The drawback of this centrifuge lies in the rotation of the locking member. If the system has tolerances, and especially if there are height tolerances in the axial direction, the locking member cannot contact the lock bearing over a surface, but only at a point. This results in localized stress on the material. Furthermore, the above structure also has the problem of high load being placed on the locking member during rotation. Since the locking member is positioned horizontally and is movable on the horizontal plane, centrifugal force is applied to the locking member with almost no obstruction. Often, the locking member bites into the rotor, making it impossible to remove the quick-release fastener, and thus impossible to remove the locking member. This makes it difficult to easily remove the rotor from the adapter or drive shaft.

[0005] German Patent Application Publication No. 102014002126 describes a centrifuge as described in the preamble. This centrifuge includes a quick-release fastener for a rotor with a bearing shaft, and a locking member is mounted axially slidably on this bearing shaft. A spring presses the locking member into the release position and the locked position. Here, the orientation of the locking surface of the locking bearing is horizontal, and the angle between the locking surface and the rotation shaft is 90°. The angle of the bearing shaft on which the locking member moves is 95° to 120°, preferably 100° to 110°, and particularly 100° to 107°. The locking member is formed such that the downward-facing front portion of the locking member, which corresponds to the locking surface of the rotor, moves horizontally when unlocked and locked. A drawback of this configuration is that the force generated during centrifugal separation can cause the locking member to jam. If jamming occurs, the quick-release fastener becomes blocked and inoperable. Furthermore, the surfaces of the locking member, bearing shaft, and locking surface must be precisely machined. The shape of the locking component is extremely complex, making tolerance compensation impossible. Furthermore, if not finished precisely, the rotor and adapter may be mounted with play. [Overview of the project]

[0006] The problem underlying the present invention is to improve the centrifugal separator in the field described in the preamble of claim 1 in order to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks, enable a locking mechanism that eliminates play between the rotor and the adapter using a locking member, and reliably compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

[0007] With respect to the centrifugal separator, the above-mentioned problems are solved by the configuration described in the feature portion of claim 1 in combination with the configuration described in the preamble of claim 1.

[0008] The fundamental understanding of this invention is that by positioning the locking member at a first angle with respect to the rotation axis of the drive shaft and forming the rotor's lock bearing at a second angle with respect to the rotation axis, tolerances resulting from the manufacturing of the rotor, adapter, and drive shaft can be compensated for, and a play-free lock of the rotor relative to the adapter and drive shaft can be achieved. As a result, the locking member contacts the lock bearing, for example, more or less in the radial direction.

[0009] As a result, in this invention, the locking member is able to move linearly between the locked position and the unlocked position at a first angle with respect to the rotation axis. The orientation of the lock bearing is at a second angle different from the first angle with respect to the rotation axis. Here, the first and second angles are, in particular, 0° to 90° when measured clockwise from the operating member side with respect to the rotation axis of the drive shaft. By making these two angles different as described above, the locking member is prevented from biting in, and furthermore, it is ensured that the quick-release fastener can be easily removed from the locked position to the unlocked position. This makes it easy to satisfy the prerequisite for compensating for manufacturing tolerances of the drive shaft, adapter and rotor, in particular in the direction of the rotation axis. For example, since the locking member engages with the lock bearing to a greater or lesser extent depending on the manufacturing tolerance, it is possible to achieve a play-free lock despite the existence of manufacturing tolerances.

[0010] Preferably, the first angle is in the range of 20° to 75°, and the second angle is in the range of 10° to 70°. The first angle adjusts the force applied to the locking member, in particular, during the operation, i.e., rotation, of the centrifuge, with a larger angle resulting in a greater centrifugal force on the locking member. The second angle adjusts the removal position of the locking member to compensate for tolerances.

[0011] The first angle is greater than the second angle. The smaller the second angle, the smaller the difference in the position of the locking member compared to the non-tolerance configuration when it is in the locked position, for a given tolerance. The larger the second angle, the larger the difference in the position of the locking member compared to the non-tolerance configuration when it is in the locked position, for a given tolerance.

[0012] Preferably, the lock bearing forms a surface that extends to the adapter when in the locked position, and the surface of the lock bearing has a height offset relative to the lock member protruding from the adapter when in the locked position, so that the lock member contacts the lock bearing at a radial distance from the adapter when in the locked position.

[0013] Here, the height offset is greater than the maximum possible manufacturing tolerance of the contact surfaces of the adapter and rotor in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. This configuration prevents the locking member from being unable to fully enter the locking bearing when the rotor is locked with the adapter under certain tolerance conditions, or in the worst case, from being blocked and unable to enter the locking bearing at all.

[0014] In particular, the operating member is formed as a cylindrical pin. The operating member has a receiving portion at its lower end for receiving one or more locking members. This configuration allows the movement of the operating member to be easily transmitted to the locking member.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the operating member has one or more U-shaped notches on its side relative to the locking member, and the notches allow the operating member to move relative to each locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

[0016] The U-shaped notch can be formed in the laterally extending portion as an oblique hole extending at a first angle with respect to the axis of rotation.

[0017] By providing a pressing plate on the drive shaft side of the operating member, a first contact surface for contacting each locking member on one side of the pressing plate, and a second contact surface for contacting a spring on the other side of the pressing plate, the possibility of force transmission from the spring to the operating member and locking member is increased. When the locking member moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, it slides along the first contact surface, thereby compensating for its relative position with respect to the operating member.

[0018] In this case, the orientation of the first contact surface of the pressing plate for contacting each locking member can be set to an angle perpendicular to the first angle.

[0019] Depending on the configuration of the locking member, the locking member can contact the locking bearing in a point-like manner, particularly at two points, linearly, or planarly.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the adapter has a guide surface for guiding a locking member, and this guide surface is inclined at a first angle. This guide surface allows the locking member to move in and out of the adapter in a straight line, that is, the locking member can move between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0021] In this case, the abutment can be made part of the adapter, and in particular, the orientation of the abutment can be set to a first angle. In particular, the guide surface and the abutment can be made identical.

[0022] To improve operability and, in particular, to prevent the rotor from unintentionally detaching from the adapter, and consequently from unintentionally detaching from the drive shaft, the operating member and / or locking member are spring-biased in the direction of the locked position.

[0023] By providing multiple locking members, the prevention of unintended unlocking can be improved. Furthermore, the force generated during operation can be distributed among these multiple locking members, reducing failures caused by wear or damage to the locking members. Advantageously, there are at least two, preferably three, locking members. In this case, each locking member has the same configuration as the others, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0024] To prevent imbalance caused by the quick-release fasteners, multiple locking members are arranged at equal intervals from one another.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking member is formed as an elongated pin, and in particular, the basic shape of the pin is substantially cylindrical overall. This configuration ensures that the locking member can be manufactured simply, at low cost, and with high reliability by turning, while achieving high dimensional accuracy within small tolerances. Furthermore, this also allows for the simple and low-cost fabrication of corresponding surfaces of the adapter and rotor.

[0026] To prevent the locking member from rotating incorrectly when moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when moving from the unlocked position to the locked position, the locking member has a notch that works in conjunction with the adapter's projection to prevent rotation.

[0027] In one embodiment, a slope is provided at the front end of the locking member, which contacts the locking bearing when in the locked position. With this configuration, there are two mounting points for each locking member, which reduces the force applied to the mounting points on the locking member by half. This further reduces the risk of jamming, and the position of the locking member can also be adjusted via the slope for specific manufacturing tolerances.

[0028] In another embodiment, when in the locked position, a chamfered portion is provided at the front end of the locking member so as to extend parallel to the locking bearing together with the rotor attached to the adapter. The locking member can be configured as a simple turned part. Linear contact is achieved. Also, with the above configuration, the risk of biting can be easily reduced.

[0029] Preferably, the slope is formed to be the same as the conical surface of the locking bearing. Thereby, in the case of various height tolerances, the locking member can contact the locking bearing in a planar manner, thereby further reducing the risk of biting. Such a conical surface of the locking bearing can be manufactured simply, at low cost and with high reliability by turning, and high dimensional accuracy can be achieved within a slight tolerance.

[0030] Preferably, the locking member is supported by the adapter such that the longitudinal axis of the locking member intersects the rotation axis.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, three locking members are provided, whereby the forces generated during operation are well dispersed and the adapter and the rotor are surely connected.

[0032] With the above configuration of the present invention, the locking member is guided within the adapter. Since the adjustment of the guidance of the locking member is made within a slight tolerance, biting is easily avoided.

[0033] If the following description is read in conjunction with the embodiment examples shown in the drawings, other advantages, configurations and uses of the present invention will become clear.

[0034] In the following description, claims and drawings, the terms described in the description of the reference numerals below and the corresponding reference numerals are used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] [Figure 1]A perspective view of an adapter and rotor attached to the drive shaft of a centrifuge equipped with a drive motor according to one embodiment of the present invention, but the safety container (Sicherheitskessel), housing and other functional components of the experimental centrifuge are not shown. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view showing a partial cross-section of the rotor, with the locking member in the unlocked position. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a side view showing a partial cross-section of the rotor, with the locking member in the locked position. [Figure 4] This is a magnified detail view of area A enclosed by a circle in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the rotor after it has been removed from the centrifuge. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rotor. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the operating component. [Figure 8a] This is a view of the operating mechanism from below. [Figure 8b] This is a side view of the operating component. [Figure 9] This is a side cross-sectional view of the operating member. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the adapter. [Figure 11] This is a side view of the adapter. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-section of the adapter. [Figure 13] This is a top view of the adapter. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of the locking mechanism. [Figure 15] This is a first side view of the locking member. [Figure 16] This is a second side view of the locking member, rotated 90° from the state shown in Figure 15. [Figure 17] This is a view of the locking mechanism from below. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view of another embodiment of the locking member. [Figure 19] Figure 18 is a side view of the locking member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Figures 1-17 show an experimental centrifuge of the first embodiment from several different observation angles. The centrifuge includes a rotor 10, which is supported on a drive shaft 14 via an adapter 12. A drive motor 18 drives the rotor 10 via the drive shaft 14 and the adapter 12.

[0037] The adapter 12 is connected to the drive shaft 14 in a way that prevents relative rotation, and is fixed to the drive shaft 14 in the axial direction.

[0038] The rotor 10 is a conventional rotor 10, and is provided with a sample container receiving section 20 that is slanted to accommodate a sample container (not shown).

[0039] The rotor 10 is connected to the adapter 12 via a quick-release fastener 22. The quick-release fastener 22 fixes the rotor 10 to the adapter 12 so that it cannot rotate relative to the adapter in both the axial direction and around the rotation axis 24 of the drive shaft portion 14.

[0040] The quick-release fastener 22 eliminates the need for tools to remove the rotor 10 from the adapter 12, and for tools to insert the rotor 10 into the centrifuge, i.e., to insert it into the adapter 12 attached to the drive shaft 14.

[0041] The quick-release fastener 22 includes an operating member 26 that protrudes upward from the adapter 12 and rotor 10, and this operating member 26 is a push button 26a. To achieve this, the adapter 12 is provided with a hole 28 that is concentric with the rotation axis 24 of the drive shaft portion 14, and a contact ring 30 is placed in this hole 28 at the upper end of the adapter. This contact ring 30 restricts the upward movement of the operating member 26 in the axial direction. See Figures 2-4.

[0042] The upper portion 26b of the operating member 26 is formed in a pin-like cylindrical shape. A widened cylindrical lower portion 26c is connected to this portion, and this lower portion 26c has a concentric hole 26d that opens downwards. See Figures 7-9. Three U-shaped notches 34 are provided on the side of the lower portion 26c, and three locking members 32 are provided corresponding to these notches 34. The laterally extending portion 34a of the U-shaped notches 34 is formed as an oblique hole. Here, the angle of the oblique hole corresponds to the first angle α. The lower portion of the U-shaped notches 34 is provided with one projection 34b on each side. The projections 34b on both sides engage with the notches 32b of the locking member 32 from their respective sides. See Figures 14 and 15. Here, the notch 32b of the locking member 32 is formed so that the locking member 32 and the operating member 26 can move relative to each other, and so that the notch 32b functions as a guide for that relative movement.

[0043] A pressing plate 36 abuts against the lower part of the operating member 26, and the pressing plate 36 has a conical surface 36a on the side of the hole 26d that abuts against the locking member 32 and its lower portion. The conical surface 36a, that is, the cone formed thereby, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the locking member 32, and consequently extends perpendicular to the first angle α. The locking member 32 moves along the conical surface when moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when moving in the opposite direction. On the opposite side of the locking member 32, a spring 38 abuts against a second contact surface on the pressing plate 36 that is opposite to the first contact surface, and this spring 38 is supported by a stepped portion 28a in the hole 28 of the adapter 12, and biases the operating member 26 and the locking member 32 upward in the direction of the locked position.

[0044] The adapter 12 is formed in the form of a turned part, i.e., it is rotationally symmetrical. The adapter 12 is provided with three oblique holes 40, which are formed in the adapter 12 at a first angle α and are equally spaced from each other. Each hole 40 guides one cylindrical locking member 32, and the locking member 32 is formed to fit the hole 40 so that it can move linearly between an unlocked position (see Figure 2) and a locked position (see Figure 3) along the longitudinal axis 42 of the hole 40, with the orientation of the longitudinal axis 42 of the hole 40 being the first angle α. In order to do this, the inner surface of the hole 40 of the adapter 12 serves as a guide surface. At the same time, this guide surface also serves as an abutment 40a for the locking member 32 in the locked position.

[0045] The lower outer portion of the adapter 12 is provided with a conical section that serves as a base 12a for the rotor 10. This base 12a fixes the rotor 10 in place so that it does not move downward in the axial direction.

[0046] Referring to Figures 14-17, the locking member 32 is formed as a cylindrical pin. A conical portion 32a is provided at the lower end of the locking member. On both sides of the conical portion 32a of the locking member 32, notches 32b are formed to form flat rectangles, and these two rectangles form two parallel guide surfaces 32c.

[0047] The upper portion of the locking member 32 is rounded and has a cone-shaped upper clamping surface 32d on a surface rotated 90° from the guide surface 32c, and this clamping surface 32d contacts the corresponding surface of the locking bearing 44 of the rotor 10. The other portion of the upper part of the locking member 32 is rounded. The basic shape of the locking member is cylindrical and rotationally symmetrical.

[0048] Other alternative embodiments of the locking member 32 are shown in Figures 18 and 19. In these figures, a rotationally symmetrical notch 32e, formed concentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the locking member, is formed adjacent to the conical portion 32b, and is formed, for example, by turning. In this embodiment, the height of the notch 32e is the same as the height of the notch 32b.

[0049] In particular, as shown in Figure 2, the lock bearing 44 extends at a second angle β. The first angle α is greater than the second angle β. Furthermore, referring to Figure 4, the surface 44a of the lock bearing 44 extends below the hole 40 of the adapter 12. Referring to Figure 4, a height offset H is created, which compensates for the manufacturing tolerance (height tolerance) of the drive shaft 14 along the axis of rotation 24. This is mainly caused by two conical portions 52, 54: a first conical portion 52 between the rotor 10 and the adapter 12, and a second conical portion 54 between the adapter 12 and the rotor 10. The lock bearing 44 is a conical surface 44a oriented at the second angle β. Here, the height offset H is always greater than the maximum possible manufacturing tolerance of the contact surfaces of the drive shaft 14, the adapter 12, and the rotor 10 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. Due to the height offset H described above, when in the locked position, the locking member 32 contacts the locking bearing 44 at a position radially separated from the adapter 12.

[0050] For example, the first angle α, which is the orientation angle of the abutment 40a of the guide surface and hole 40, and the second angle β, which is the orientation angle of the lock bearing 44, are both angles measured clockwise from above the rotation axis 24 to the abutment 40a and to the lock bearing 44. Here, the first angle α is greater than the second angle β, and the first angle α is between 0° and 90°, in particular 30°, and the second angle β is similarly between 0° and 90°, in particular 20°.

[0051] The locking members 32 are arranged at equal intervals from each other. In this respect, the holes 40 are also arranged at equal intervals from each other, as are the U-shaped notches 34. Each locking member 32 is provided corresponding to one U-shaped notch 34 and one hole 40 formed in the adapter 12. In this case, both lateral projections 34b of one U-shaped notch 34 fit into the notch 32b of the locking member 32.

[0052] The notch 32c works in cooperation with the two lateral projections 34b within the U-shaped notch 34 to form a mechanism to prevent accidental rotation of the locking member 32. As a result, the locking member 32 does not rotate when moving linearly from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0053] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the rotor has a rotor hole 46 arranged concentrically with respect to the rotation axis 24, and this rotor hole 46 has a conical portion 48 at its free end. The conical portion 48 is the rotor-side opposing bearing to the base portion 12a of the adapter 12. The rotor hole 46 opens downward so that the rotor 10 can be attached to the adapter 12 and the adapter 12 can be engaged with the rotor 10. A through hole 50 is provided at the top concentrically with respect to the rotation axis 24, and when the rotor 10 is attached, the push button 26a of the operating member 26 protrudes from this through hole 50. In other respects, the rotor 10 is provided with a sample container receiving portion 20 for holding a sample container (not shown), as in conventional designs.

[0054] Preferably, a set of multiple different rotors 10, each capable of holding sample containers of different shapes, is provided. However, the portion of the rotor bore 46 where the through hole 50 and the lock bearing 44 are provided always has the same configuration.

[0055] Here, when attempting to remove the rotor 10 from the centrifuge, that is, when attempting to lift the rotor 10 from the adapter 12 and drive shaft 14 in the removal direction, i.e., upward, the push button 26a of the operating member 26 is pressed downward from the locked position (see Figures 3 and 4) toward the unlocked position (see Figure 2). As a result, the operating member 26 and the pressing plate 36 move linearly downward against the force of the spring 38, and the locking members 32 also move linearly downward. Each locking member 32 moves linearly diagonally downward at a first angle α until it is fully seated inside the adapter 12 and the upper part of the locking member is inside the hole 40. As a result, the locking members 32 no longer block the rotor 10 from being pulled upward from the adapter 12. As the locking member 32 moves, the contact point of the locking member 32 on the conical surface 36a of the pressing plate 36 moves linearly in one direction or the other, depending on whether the locking member 32 is moving out of or into the adapter 12.

[0056] For example, after replacing the rotor 10, the central rotor hole 46 formed in the rotor 10 to match the adapter 12 is fitted into the adapter 12 until the conical portion 48 of the rotor 10 rests on the base portion 12a of the adapter 12. At that time, the locking member 32 is pressed downward into the adapter 12 by the conical portion 48 until the conical portion 48 of the rotor 10 rests on the base portion 12a, and is held in this position by the rotor hole 46. As a result, the locking bearing 44 is positioned slightly below the hole 40 of the adapter 12, and the force of the spring 38 allows the locking member 32 to move linearly into the locking bearing 44 without obstruction until the clamping surface 32d of the locking member 32 rests on the locking bearing 44. In this way, the rotor 10 is securely connected to the adapter 12 again, and through this, securely connected to the drive shaft portion 14. If manufacturing tolerances occur, the locking bearing 44 may be higher or lower. This increases or decreases the degree to which the locking member 32 penetrates the locking bearing 44. In any case, the locking bearing 44, the locking member 32, and the abutment 40a are frictionally coupled without any play within the hole 40 of the adapter 12. This ensures that the rotor 10 is securely attached to the adapter 12, and consequently, securely attached to the drive shaft 14.

[0057] In this way, the rotor 10 can be easily compensated for manufacturing tolerances without being locked with play. Due to the angled position described above, the effect of the centrifugal force generated during rotation on the locking member 32 is limited to only a portion, thereby preventing jamming caused by high centrifugal force. As described above, tolerances can be easily compensated by the present invention, making it possible to manufacture each component more easily. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 10 rotors 12 adapters 12a Base of adapter 12 for rotor 10 14 Drive shaft section 18 Drive motor 20 Sample container receiving section 22 Quick-release fastening section 24 Rotation shaft of the drive shaft 26 Operating Member 26a Push button of operating member 26 26b Upper part of operating member 26 26c Lower part of operating member 26 26d A hole in the operating member 26 that is open downwards 28 holes in adapter 12 28a Step portion inside hole 28 of adapter 12 30 Contact Rings 32 Locking member 32a Conical portion at the lower end of the locking member 32 32b Notch adjacent to the conical portion 32a of the locking member 32 32c Guide surface of locking member 32 32d Clamping surface of locking member 32 (first embodiment) 32e Notch of locking member 32 (second embodiment) 34 U-shaped notch 34a Laterally extending portion of the U-shaped notch 34 34b Lateral projection within the U-shaped notch 34 36 Pressure Plate 36a Conical surface of the pressing plate 36 38 Spring acting on operating member 26 40 holes 40a Abutment 42 Longitudinal shaft of 40 holes 44. Lock bearing of rotor 10 44a Surface of lock bearing 44 46 Rotor concentric holes 48 Conical portion at the lower free end of rotor 10 50 Through hole of rotor 10 for operating member 26 52 First conical part of rotor 10 / adapter 12 54 Second conical part of adapter 12 / drive shaft section 14 α First angle β Second angle H Height Offset

Claims

1. A drive shaft portion (14) that can rotate around a rotation axis (24), An adapter (12) connected to the drive shaft portion (14) or constituting a part of the drive shaft portion (14), A rotor (10) is supported by the adapter (12) and can be removed in the axial direction, A quick-release fastener (22) that operates between the rotor (10) and the adapter (12), the quick-release fastener (22) that fixes the rotor (10) to the adapter (12) in the removal direction and is removable as needed, The abutment (40a) connected to the adapter (12), A lock bearing (44) connected to the rotor (10), At least one locking member (32) which is part of the quick-release fastener (22), which, when the locking member (32) is operated, fixes the rotor (10) relative to the adapter (12), thereby fixing the rotor (10) relative to the drive shaft portion (14), and the locking member (32) operates between the lock bearing (44) of the rotor (10) and the abutment (40a) of the drive shaft portion (14), A centrifuge equipped with, The aforementioned quick-release fastener (22) is equipped with an operating member (26), The locking member (32) is operationally coupled to the operating member (26) such that the operating member (26) is mounted to be linearly movable with respect to the rotation axis (24) of the drive shaft (14) between the unlocked position and the locked position, and in particular to be movable parallel to the rotation axis (24). When the operating member (26) moves, the locking member (32) moves linearly relative to the adapter (12). The locking member (32) is movable between the locked position and the unlocked position at a first angle (α) with respect to the rotation axis (24), and the orientation of the locking bearing (44) is at a second angle (β) with respect to the rotation axis (24), wherein the second angle (β) is different from the first angle (α). The angles (α, β) are between 0° and 90° when measured clockwise from the operating member (26) side with respect to the rotation axis (24). A centrifugal separator characterized by the following features.

2. The first angle (α) is in the range of 20° to 75°, and the second angle (β) is in the range of 10° to 70°. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

3. The first angle (α) is greater than the second angle (β). A centrifugal separator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The lock bearing (44) forms a surface (44a) that extends to the adapter (12) when in the locked position. The surface (44a) of the lock bearing (44) has a height offset (H) relative to the lock member (32) protruding from the adapter (12) when in the locked position, so that the lock member (32) contacts the lock bearing (44) at a radial distance from the adapter (12). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

5. The height offset (H) is greater than the maximum possible manufacturing tolerance of the contact surfaces of the adapter (12) and the rotor (10) in a direction parallel to the rotation axis (24). The centrifugal separator according to claim 4.

6. The operating member (26) is a cylindrical pin and has a receiving portion at its lower part for receiving one or more of the locking members (32). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

7. The operating member (26) has one or more U-shaped notches (34) on its side relative to the locking member (32), The notch (34) allows the operating member (26) to move relative to each of the locking members (32) between the locked position and the unlocked position. The centrifugal separator according to claim 6.

8. The U-shaped notch (34) is formed in the laterally extending portion (34a) as an oblique hole extending at the first angle (α) with respect to the rotation axis (24). The centrifugal separator according to claim 7.

9. A pressing plate (36) is provided on the drive shaft portion (14) side of the operating member (26), One surface of the pressing plate (36) is provided with a first contact surface (36a) for contacting each of the locking members (32), and the other surface of the pressing plate (36) is provided with a second contact surface for contacting the spring (38). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

10. The orientation of the first contact surface (36a) of the pressing plate (36) for contacting each of the locking members (32) is perpendicular to the first angle (α). The centrifugal separator according to claim 9.

11. The adapter (12) has a guide surface for guiding the locking member (32), The guide surface is inclined in particular at the first angle (α), The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

12. The abutment (40a) is part of the adapter (12), and the orientation of the abutment (40a) is, in particular, the first angle (α). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

13. The operating member (26) and / or the locking member (32) are spring-biased in the direction of the locked position. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

14. The locking members (32) are provided in multiple quantities, at least two, preferably three, and each locking member (32) has the same configuration as the other locking members (32). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

15. Each of the locking members (32) is arranged at equal intervals from one another. The centrifugal separator according to claim 14.

16. The locking member (32) is formed as an elongated pin overall. In particular, the basic shape of the aforementioned pin is cylindrical. The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

17. The locking member (32) has notches (32b, 32e) that cooperate with the projection (34b) of the adapter (12) to prevent rotation as it moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. The centrifugal separator according to claim 16.

18. A slope (32d) is provided at the front end of the locking member (32) relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking member (32). When in the locked position, the slope (32d) contacts the lock bearing (44). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

19. The locking member (32) is supported by the adapter such that its longitudinal axis intersects with the rotation axis (24). The centrifugal separator according to claim 1.

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