Beckman Instruments, Inc.

Lawrence E Stahl

Herschel E Wright

Lee Gropper

A salt belt for insertion into a centrifugal test rotor is provided which is used to hold and contain a plurality of test components during mechanical testing. The slat belt is a flat polymeric belt which adhesively affixes a plurality of L-shaped slat members to its upper surface. When the belt is laid flat, it accommodates the easy positioning of components into channels. As the belt is curled for insertion into the test rotor, the slats move closer to one another and clasp the components into channels formed by adjacent pairs of radially directed slat arms. Upon completion of the test run, the slat belt is removed from the rotor and unrolled whereby the components are easily removed from the belt.

Slat belt for centrifugal test rotors

In a centrifuge including a centrifuge rotor and a drive shaft for spinning the rotor at selected rotational speeds, a safety device adapted to prevent the rotor from attaining a rotational speed likely to cause the rotor to explode with a force that could not be contained within the centrifuge housing. The device includes a hub member having a central opening adapted to receive the upper end of the drive shaft for supporting the rotor thereon, the hub member being formed with oppositely disposed heavier portions connected by relatively thinner web sections. The web sections are so designed and constructed, relative to the weight of the heavier sections, as to rupture at a predetermined rotational velocity of the rotor thereby causing the hub member to depart from the shaft, leaving no driving capacity or support for the rotor on the shaft, which then causes the rotor to separate from the drive shaft before attaining a hazardous rotational speed.

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San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Lawrence E Stahl