US3746247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultracentrifuge with rotor speed identification
Assignee: Alfa Wassermann Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-23
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1990-12-23
Abstract
Abstract Provisions are made for electronically identifying the maximum allowable speed of an ultracentrifuge rotor for the purpose of supplying the identification information to a rotor overspeed control to prevent spinning a rotor beyond its designed top speed. The top surface of the rotor carries a number of annular bands which may be either black or white. The color of the annular band in each band position is detected by means of an electronic circuit including a light source, a photocell detector, and a transistor switch for each band. Each transistor switch conducts when the annular band from which it receives reflected light is black, but does not conduct when the annular band is white. Each conducting switch puts out a steady voltage signal of different amplitude. The voltage output signals of the transistor switches are added to generate an analog control signal identifying the rotor by the color combination of its annular bands. If there are three annular band positions on the rotor, each being either black or white, there are eight possible values of the analog control signal representing eight different maximum allowable rotor speeds.
Inventors
- 👤 J Camilliere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:54
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04B; B04B9/00; B04B13/00; B04B13/003; B04B5/00; B04B5/04; G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/08; G01P1/10; G01P3/00; G01P3/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
Ultracentrifuge apparatus including: a stationary housing, a replaceable rotor, driving means to spin the rotor, and an overspeed control means for preventing rotor spinning above a preselected angular speed; wherein the improvement is in means for generating information indicative of the maximum allowable spin speed of the rotor and for conveying said information to the overspeed control means, comprising: a. a plurality of annular bands arranged concentrically with the rotor axis of rotation and affixed to the rotor, each band characterized by a reflection index of either a first or a second value, said values being distinct from each other; b. a light source for illuminating each of the annular bands; c. a plurality of photocell detectors, one photocell detector for each of the annular bands; d. means for supporting the light source spaced from the rotor, and for supporting the photocell detectors spaced from the rotor, with each photocell detectors esposed to light reflected primarily by its annular band, the resistance of each photocell detector varying as the function of the amount of light reflected by its band; and e. processing means connected to said photocell Detectors for generating a voltage signal whose amplitude varies as a function of the combinations of photocell detectors exposed to light reflected from annular bands having reflection index of one of said first and second values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
Ultracentrifuge apparatus including: a stationary housing, a replaceable rotor, driving means to spin the rotor, and an overspeed control means for preventing rotor spinning above a preselected angular speed; wherein the improvement is in means for generating information indicative of the maximum allowable spin speed of the rotor and for conveying said information to the overspeed control means, comprising: a. a plurality of annular bands arranged concentrically with the rotor axis of rotation and affixed to the rotor, each band characterized by a reflection index of either a first or a second value, said values being distinct from each other; b. a light source for illuminating each of the annular bands; c. a plurality of photocell detectors, one photocell detector for each of the annular bands; d. means for supporting the light source spaced from the rotor, and for supporting the photocell detectors spaced from the rotor, with each photocell detectors esposed to light reflected primarily by its annular band, the resistance of each photocell detector varying as the function of the amount of light reflected by its band; and e. processing means connected to said photocell Detectors for generating a voltage signal whose amplitude varies as a function of the combinations of photocell detectors exposed to light reflected from annular bands having reflection index of one of said first and second values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein annular bands characterized by a reflection index of the first value are white are and annular bands characterized by a reflection index of the second value are black , with the photocell detectors exposed to light reflected from white bands having lower resistance then that of photocell detectors exposed to light reflected from black bands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the annular bands form a part of the rotor surface and the rotor surface is black, except for white annular bands thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the supporting means comprises a block affixed to the ultracentrifuge housing and having a lower surface facing the annular bands on the rotor and having a plurality of light source bores each enclosing a light spaced inwardly from the lower surface of the block, each light source bore being oriented to direct light to a different annular band, said block also including a plurality of detector bores, each detector enclosing a photocell detector spaced inwardly from the lower surface of the block and being oriented to expose the enclosed detector to light reflected from a different annular band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the rotor has a relatively flat top surface and the annular bands form a part of the rotor top surface, the top rotor surface being black except for white bands, each of the annular bands being either black or white, with black bands being indistinct from the rotor top surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the processing means comrpises a plurality of transistor switches, one transistor switch for each photocell detector, each switch comprising a circuit including a photocell detector and biased to conduct when the photocell detector has resistance defined by illumination by light reflected from a band having rflection index of said first value, and biased not to conduct when the photocell''s resistance is defined by illumination by light reflected from a band having reflection index of said second value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the output of each conducting transistor switch is a steady voltage signal of a different preselected amplitude, and wherein means is provided for adding the voltage signal outputs of conducting transistor switches to generate an overspeed control signal, the amplitude of the common control signal being the sum of the steady voltage outputs signals of the conducting transistor switches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 including a first, a second and a third transistor switch, with the differences between the amplitudes of the first and the second, and between the second and the third transistor switches being the same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |