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:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1994
Friedrich Witthaus, St. Wendel, DE;
Wolfram Weber, Spiesen-Elversberg, DE;
Lothar Leick, Merzig, DE;
Fresenius AG, Bad Homburg V.D.H., DE;
Abstract
A latching apparatus is provided for a bearing assembly in which at least three bearing rollers, each of which is supported in a rotating fashion on a bearing journal, are arranged rotationally symmetrical and lying in one plane and guide and support a bearing race between them. The bearing journals are arranged on a carrier device that is in turn supported in a rotating fashion on a central axle aligned with the axis of rotation of the bearing race, so that the bearing race and the carrier device can rotate at different RPMs. Such a bearing assembly on a rotating carrier is especially well-suited for a centrifuge, in which a separation chamber with a centrally secured line is to be driven in such a way that the tube does not become twisted. The latching apparatus has bearing journals (22) arranged eccentrically on pins (74) rotatably supported in the carrier device (36) and a gear system component (84, 86) that rotates or revolves at the same angular velocity as the carrier device (36) and engages the pins (74) in such a way that when the gear system component is turned, the pins engaged with the gear system component are turned at the same time relative to the carrier device. The gear system component (84) is coupled by means of at least one coupling link (94; 122, 124, 142) with a shaft (40; 140) supported within a housing. Means are provided for imparting to the gear system component (84, 86) a relative movement with respect to the carrier device.