The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 1978
Filed:
Apr. 29, 1976
Douglas Howard Durland, Palo Alto, CA (US);
George Norton Hein, Jr, San Carlos, CA (US);
Robert James Ehret, Los Altos, CA (US);
Beckman Instruments, Inc., Fullerton, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for braking the rotation of a centrifuge rotor is disclosed comprising magnet means operable in a first condition wherein substantially no eddy currents are induced in a rotating rotor made of electrically conductive material by the magnetic flux of the magnet means and a second condition wherein eddy currents are induced into the rotating rotor sufficiently to slow the rotor. In one embodiment, magnet means is movable from a first position wherein substantially no eddy currents are induced in an electrically conductive portion of the rotating rotor by the magnetic flux to a second position wherein eddy currents are induced into the rotating rotor in a quantity sufficient to slow the rotor. In an alternate embodiment, the magnet means is an electromagnet connected to an interruptible source of power so that, when power is applied, eddy currents are developed in the rotor sufficient to brake the rotation thereof, and, when power is disconnected, the braking eddy current force is immediately discontinued.