Blade-support system for centrifuge

Abstract

A centrifuge has a generlly stationary and closed housing, a drum rotatable in the housing about a drum axis and having an end wall and an outer drum wall, a blade extending generally axially in the housing generally parallel to the drum wall, and a blade holder having an inner end carrying the blade and an outer end projecting through the housing end wall out of the housing. Seals snugly engaged between the outer end and the housing hermetically seal the housing around the holder and a guide fixed on the end wall supports the outer holder end on the housing for sliding movement of the holder and blade on the housing in an adjustment direction generally radial of the drum axis. An actuator engaged between the housing and the outer holder end displaces the holder and blade in the adjustment direction relative to the housing.