Centrifuge rotor

Claim 2

A molded centrifuge rotor comprising a generally circular generally horizontally extending central hub portion adapted to be connected to a centrifuge and an annular tube-holding portion extending outwardly from the hub portion, the tube-holding portion being provided with a plurality of recesses extending outwardly from the hub portion, each recess adapted to receive an elongated tube and being defined by a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall extending between the side walls and being spaced from the hub portion, and a top wall spaced upwardly from the bottom wall to permit a tube to be inserted between the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall extending between the side walls in vertical alignment with the spacing between the bottom wall and the hub portion, no portion of the top wall being in vertical alignment with any portion of the bottom wall whereby a tube may be secured against transverse movement within each recess and the rotor may be formed in one operation by molding.

Claim 3

The rotor of claim 1 in which the hub portion is generally planar and has top and bottom surfaces and the tube-holding portion is generally frusto-conical, the recesses extending radially outwardly and downwardly from the hub portion at circumferentially spaced locations along the periphery of the hub portion.

Claim 4

The rotor of claim 2 in which the bottom wall of each recess has an inner end spaced from the hub portion and an outer end, the rotor including a second top wall for each recess spaced upwardly from the bottom wall to permit a tube to be inserted between the second top wall and the bottom wall, each second top wall extending between the side walls of the associated recess outwardly of the outer end of the associated bottom wall so that no portion of the second top wall is vertically aligned with any portion of the bottom wall.

Claim 5

The rotor of claim 3 in which the end wall for each recess is provided by a continuous generally cylindrical outer wall.

Claim 6

The rotor of claim 1 including an end wall for each recess engageable with the outer end of a tube received by the recess for preventing outward movement of the tube.

Claim 7

The rotor of claim 5 in which the end wall for each recess is spaced from the bottom wall for the recess, the rotor including a second top wall for each recess spaced upwardly from the bottom wall to permit a tube to be inserted between the second top wall and the bottom wall, each second top wall extending between the side walls of the associated recess in vertical alignment with the spacing between the bottom wall and the end wall of the associated recess, no portions of the second top wall and the bottom wall for each recess being in vertical alignment.

Claim 8

The rotor of claim 1 including connecting portions extending between the side walls of each adjacent pair of recesses.

Claim 9

The rotor of claim 7 in which the top wall for each recess is provided by a continuous circularly extending wall joined to the side walls of each recess and too said connecting portions.

Claim 10

The rotor of claim 1 in which every part which is spaced vertically above another part is not aligned vertically with the other part.

Claim 11

A molded centrifuge rotor comprising a generally circular generally horizontally extending central hub portion adapted to be connected to a centrifuge and having upper and lower surfaces and a generally annular tube-holding portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the hub portion, the tube-holding portion having a generally frusto-conical wall provided with a plurality of openings, each opening in the frusto-conical wall extending in a vertical plane passing through the center of the hub portion, a generally U-shaped tube-supporting wall extending downwardly from the frusto-conical wall at each opening therein and having an inner end spaced From the hub portion and an outer end, a pair of spaced-apart cross members extending across each opening in the frusto-conical wall, one of the cross members of each pair being positioned vertically above the space between the inner end of the associated tube-supporting wall and the hub portion and the other cross member of each pair being positioned outwardly of the outer end of the associated tube-supporting wall, no portion of said one cross member being in vertical alignment with any portion of either the associated tube-supporting wall or the hub portion and no portion of said other cross member being in vertical alignment with any portion of the associated tube-supporting wall whereby an elongated cylindrical tube may be secured against transverse movement in each opening in the frusto-conical wall and the rotor may be formed in one operation by molding.

Claim 12

A molded centrifuge rotor comprising a generally circular generally horizontally extending central hub portion adapted to be connected to a centrifuge and having upper and lower surfaces and a generally annular tube-holding portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the hub portion, the tube-holding portion having a generally frusto-conical wall provided with a plurality of openings, each opening in the frusto-conical wall extending in a vertical plane passing through the center of the hub portion, a generally U-shaped tube-supporting wall extending downwardly from the frusto-conical wall at each opening therein and having an inner end spaced From the hub portion and an outer end, a pair of spaced-apart cross members extending across each opening in the frusto-conical wall, one of the cross members of each pair being positioned vertically above the space between the inner end of the associated tube-supporting wall and the hub portion and the other cross member of each pair being positioned outwardly of the outer end of the associated tube-supporting wall, no portion of said one cross member being in vertical alignment with any portion of either the associated tube-supporting wall or the hub portion and no portion of said other cross member being in vertical alignment with any portion of the associated tube-supporting wall whereby an elongated cylindrical tube may be secured against transverse movement in each opening in the frusto-conical wall and the rotor may be formed in one operation by molding.

Claim 13

The rotor of claim 10 in which each of the cross members has an arcuate lower surface for mating with the other surface of a cylindrical tube.

Claim 14

The rotor of claim 10 including a generally circularly extending outer wall spaced outwardly of said other cross members and secured to the frusto-conical wall for preventing outward movement of the tubes beyond the outer wall as the rotor is rotated.

Claim 15

The rotor of claim 10 in which said one cross member of each pair is provided by a continuous generally cylindrical wall extending upwardly from the frusto-conical wall above the inner ends of the tubes received by the openings.

Claim 16

The rotor of claim 10 in which said one cross members are provided by a first continuous circularly extending rib projecting upwardly from the frusto-conical wall and said other cross members are provided by a second continuous circularly extending rib projecting upwardly from the frusto-conical wall.

Claim 17

The rotor of claim 10 in which every part which is spaced vertically above another part is not aligned vertically with the other part.

Claim 18

A molded centrifuge rotor comprising a generally circular central hub portion adapted to be connected to a centrifuge and an annular tube-holding portion extending outwardly from the hub portion, the tube-holding portion being provided with a plurality of recesses extending outwardly from the hub portion, each recess adapted to receive an elongated tube and being defined by a pair of opposed side retaining means on the tube-holding portion for restraining sideways movement of the tube, bottom retaining means on the tube-holding portion having an inner end spaced from the hub portion for restraining downward movement of the tube, and top retaining means on the tube-holding portion positioned inwardly of the inner end of the bottom retaining means and outwardly of the hub portion for restraining upward movement of the tube, no portion of the top retaining means being in vertical alignment with any portion of either the associated bottom retaining means or the hub portion whereby a tube may be secured against transverse movement within each recess and the rotor may be formed in one operation by molding.

Claim 19

A molded centrifuge rotor comprising a generally circular central hub portion adapted to be connected to a centrifuge and an annular tube-holding portion extending outwardly from the hub portion, the tube-holding portion being provided with a plurality of recesses extending outwardly from the hub portion, each recess adapted to receive an elongated tube and being defined by a pair of opposed side retaining means on the tube-holding portion for restraining sideways movement of the tube, bottom retaining means on the tube-holding portion having an inner end spaced from the hub portion for restraining downward movement of the tube, and top retaining means on the tube-holding portion positioned inwardly of the inner end of the bottom retaining means and outwardly of the hub portion for restraining upward movement of the tube, no portion of the top retaining means being in vertical alignment with any portion of either the associated bottom retaining means or the hub portion whereby a tube may be secured against transverse movement within each recess and the rotor may be formed in one operation by molding.

Claim 20

The rotor of claim 16 in which every part which is spaced vertically above another part is not aligned vertically with the other part.