Centrifuge Drive Head Locking Shoes for Tool-Free Rotor Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional centrifuge locking systems require tools or mechanical actuators for coupling and decoupling the rotor to the centrifuge drive, and they struggle to reliably secure the rotor against rotational and axial forces, especially at high speeds.

Innovation Solution

A drive head system with movable locking shoes and a resilient element that exerts a radially outward force on the rotor hub, ensuring secure attachment and self-centering, without the need for tools, by using a drive head with a hub and recesses that pivot with increasing rotational speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional locking systems use tools or mechanical actuators for coupling and decoupling, then reliable locking against rotational and axial forces is achieved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidcoupling and decoupling operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system uses centrifugal force generated during rotor operation to automatically engage the locking shoes with the drive head, eliminating the need for tools or external actuators. The system serves itself by using its own operational energy (rotation) to secure the connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The locking shoes are designed to move dynamically from a retracted position during mounting to an extended locked position during operation. This dynamic movement allows easy initial coupling followed by automatic secure locking as rotational speed increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Force

If centrifugal force is used to increase coupling force with rotational speed, then locking force increases at high speeds, but the system requires tools or additional mechanisms for initial coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling forceVSAvoidcoupling mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the rotor's own rotational energy to generate centrifugal force that automatically extends the locking shoes into the locked position, eliminating the need for separate actuating mechanisms or tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The locking shoes are preliminarily positioned in a retracted state that allows easy manual coupling, then automatically transition to the extended locked position once rotation begins, separating the simple mounting action from the secure locking action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional locking systems are designed for high-speed operation, then rotational stability is improved, but mounting and dismounting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational stabilityVSAvoidmounting and dismounting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system transitions from a static retracted position during mounting to a dynamic extended position during rotation, allowing quick initial coupling followed by automatic secure locking that ensures high-speed stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical actuating mechanisms with a centrifugal force-based automatic locking system, reducing the number of manual steps required for mounting and dismounting while maintaining rotational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides secure attachment and rapid mounting/dismounting of the rotor, preventing axial and rotational movement, while maintaining stability at high speeds, and facilitating tool-less operation.

Implementation Method 1

each locking shoe is configured to exert a radially outwardly directed force on an interior sidewall of the hub of the centrifuge rotor during rotation of the centrifuge rotor by the centrifuge drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

A resilient element is located between each locking shoe and the drive head hub for biasing each locking shoe in the radially inward direction relative to the rotational axis of the centrifuge drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260021494A1Rotational locking system for attaching a rotor

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 FIBERLITE CENTRIFUGE LLC

AI summary

A drive head (20) of a centrifuge drive for detachably connecting a rotor to the centrifuge. The drive head includes a drive head hub (58) including a plurality of recesses (62) formed in an outer sidewall, a locking shoe (66) movably retained within each of the plurality of recesses to define a hinge joint and pivotable about a hinge axis in a radially inward direction and a radially outward direction, and a resilient element for biasing each locking shoe in the radially inward direction. Each locking shoe is configured to exert a radially outwardly directed force (A2) on an interior sidewall of the hub (22) of the centrifuge rotor to prevent axial movement of the centrifuge rotor along the rotational axis of the centrifuge drive and rotational movement of the centrifuge rotor relative to the drive head, with the radially outwardly directed force increasing with a rising rotational speed of the drive head.