Centrifuge rotor with sample holding means

Abstract

Abstract A centrifuge rotor having a hollow concave bowl with a large axial column extending upwardly above a plane of the rim of the bowl and on which there is axially disposed a flange of smaller diameter than the diameter of the rim of the bowl and spaced upwardly of the plane of said rim, the flange having a plurality of annularly-arranged and spaced, radially-extending, elongated or oval-shaped openings. Spaced above said flange is a second and smaller flange axially carried by said column and also having a plurality of radially-extending, annularly-arranged and spaced, elongated or oval openings aligned with respective oval openings of the larger lower flange. The column is hollow and has a large recess in the lower portion with a reduced diameter recessed part extending upwardly from the upper end of said large recess. At the upper end of the reduced diameter part of the recess a pair of walls extend laterally apart to provide space for reception of a cross pin of an upstanding centrifuge drive shaft, there being a bore extending upwardly from the upper end of the reduced diameter part of the recess and through an upstanding axial stem for stabilizing reception of a part of the drive shaft above the cross pin. The oval openings in the flanges are adapted to operably receive test tubes therein and the webs between every other opening in the smaller, upper flange have a hook with a part embedded in the webs and an arm facing radially outwardly and spaced below the underside of the webs. An elastic band of rubber, or other suitable resilient material, is carried by the hooks, the portions of the band between hooks extending across or crossing or spanning the openings intermediate the ends of said openings and closer to the inner ends of said openings than the outer ends. The band portions are spaced from the inner ends of the openings a distance less than the diameter of test tubes operably disposed in said openings, so that said band parts or portions resiliently and yieldingly urge the test tubes inwardly against the walls defining the inner ends of said openings and hold same in such position when the rotor is not operating, even when the rotor is turned upside down. However, the band permits the test tubes to pivot on the walls defining the inner ends of said openings. The lower part of said tubes are adapted to swing outwardly by centrifugal force when the rotor is rotated, the tubes extending through the openings in the lower flange which are longer than the openings in the upper flange to permit the lower part of such tubes to be thrown outwardly. The lower flange has a depending flange which limits upward movement of the test tubes when the device is operably rotated and the bowl prevents the test tubes from being thrown out of the device. The band portions or parts that cross or span the openings in the upper flange are spaced from the inner end walls of the openings a sufficient distance to permit the test tubes to be easily flipped into the inner portions of the openings of said upper flange but said test tubes are held within said openings, even when the device is inverted.

Inventors

• 👤 J Grubb
• 👤 K Tomei

Bibliographic Details