Spring biased drive socket insert for centrifuge rotors

Abstract

A composite rotor body has a drive hole insert attached. The drive hole insert seats along a conical surface. A disk spring bears against a washer, which in turn bears against the top surface of the composite material rotor body. The preloaded disk spring compresses the conic surface of the rotor body against the mating surface of the drive hole insert. The preload within the disk spring is activate by torquing centering nut until the disk spring is essentially flat. The centering nut captures and centers both the disk spring and washer within a counterbored recess on its bottom face. The contact surface is treated with a form of dry lubricant or release agent, typically particulate Teflon, such that axial translation is facilitated. The disk spring is sized such that the drive hole insert translates axially without rotation along the surface and, effectively, maintains constant in-plane orientation with respect to the rotor body. This occurs as the diameter of the through-the-thickness hole in the rotor body expands and contracts due to operational loads.