Speed limiting arrangement for a centrifuge rotor having an axial mounting bolt

Claim 1

In a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, the rotor being of the type having a body portion with a central axial bore that receives a mounting bolt which is engageable into a drive spindle thereby to connect the rotor to a source of motive energy, the mounting bolt having an enlarged clamping knob at the upper end thereof, the improvement comprising: a chamber disposed in the body of the rotor; a pair of spacer segments disposed in the chamber between the clamping knob and the body of the rotor, the segments being responsive to centrifugal force to displace from a first position to a second position, in the first position the segments are located between the knob and the rotor body and cooperate therewith to clamp the rotor with a predetermined clamping force into engagement with the spindle, while in the second position the segments are spaced from their initial positions to diminish the magnitude of the clamping force; and means for securing the segments together in the first position with a predetermined attractive force, the means being responsive to centrifugal force as the rotor is rotated to a predetermined speed to release the segments and to permit them to displace to the second position.