Beckman Instruments, Inc.

David H Strain

John H Sutton, Iii

A rotor adapted for containing a plurality of sample tubes and for retaining the contents of such tubes if any should rupture while in the rotor. The rotor includes an upper shell and a lower shell connected by a central hub interposed therebetween. Provision is made for coupling the hub to a drive shaft. The upper shell has a substantially frustoconical shape and a recessed top surface. The top surface has a form generally corresponding to the interior of an inverted frustum. A plurality of sample tubes are disposed in a circular locus in the top of the rotor. The lower shell of the rotor has a bottom formed with upturned inwardly sloping conical sides. The sides are disposed such that their uppermost portion is proximate the upper shell. In the event that one or more tubes ruptures while in the rotor, the contents will be retained in the lower shell rather than spilling into the rotor chamber.

Shell type centrifuge rotor retaining ruptured tube sample

The present invention is directed to a shell type centrifuge rotor formed as a frustoconical shell having a circular rim adjacent at least one end thereof. The lower end of the shell is open, whereas the upper end has a conical recess and a central opening. The recess has an inverted frustoconical sidewall, with a plurality of apertures equally spaced therein and disposed an equal distance from the central opening. A tube holder is mounted in each of the apertures for receiving a centrifuge test tube. The tube holder has a flange configured so as to fit the surface contour of the conical recess so that the flange fully contacts the wall of the conical recess when the tube holder is mounted in the aperture. A hub is mounted in the central opening of the conical recess and couples the frustoconical shell to the centrifuge drive shaft. Means are secured to the hub for partially enclosing the lower end of the frustoconical shell to reduce the windage of the rotor to a predetermined level.

Shell type centrifuge rotor having controlled windage

A cover having a free-turning knob in its center for use on the rotor of a centrifuge. The knob includes tool means for coupling the knob with a threaded fastener securing the rotor to a drive shaft. Thus, when the cover is positioned on the rotor, the threaded fastener securing the rotor can be tightened or loosened by a turning of the knob. The rotor can thereby be removed and replaced without the use of external tools.

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

David H Strain