Mounting for centrifuge filling device

A mounting arrangement for reducing vibrations of the filling device in a centrifuge comprises a pair of wing members of predetermined configuration adapted to be pivotably connected together on the rotor shield of a centrifuge to define a space therebetween which is adapted to receive a filling device of the centrifuge. The wings each have a plurality of radially inwardly extending resilient bumpers adapted to engage a filling device to resist vibrations therein.

The present invention relates to centrifuge devices, and in particular, to 
a device for reducing vibrations in the filling device of a centrifuge. 
The purification of large quantities of virus antigens can be effected by 
the gradient centrifuging of a specimen in a so-called "zonal rotor." In 
such devices, in order to develop the gradient within the specimen, after 
centrifuging, not to destroy the gradient upon the removal of fractions, 
loading and unloading are effected with the rotor operating at a 
relatively low speed of rotation. For this purpose, it is necessary to use 
a filling device or connection which contains a rotatable seal or bearing 
to form the connection between the filling device and the rotating chamber 
containing the gradient specimen. 
Centrifuging of specimens in such apparatus is normally done at high speeds 
of up to 75,000 rpm. However, for the purpose of filling and emptying the 
rotor, the centrifugal speed is reduced to about 3000 rpm. At this speed, 
the filling device can also be connected and disconnected from the 
centrifuge. 
The typical connection between the filling device and rotating element in 
the centrifuge is formed by a bayonet mount between the filling device and 
a fixed structure in the centrifuge apparatus. The bottom of the filling 
device includes a rotating seal or bearing which contacts and turns with 
the rotating element of the centrifuge while the remainder of the filling 
device remains held in a relatively fixed position. During use of the 
apparatus however with the so-called "Z-60" rotor, of the type available 
from Beckman Instruments, the filling device includes an elongated 
transfer shaft. These shafts produce a greater lever action which results 
in increased vibrations that could damage the rotating seal or bearing, 
and thus produce leaks. 
It is an object of the present invention to resist and reduce vibrations in 
the filling device of a zonal type centrifuge. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for 
the filling device of centrifuges which will reduce vibrations in the 
filling device. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a vibration 
resisting mounting or support device for the filling device of a 
centrifuge. 
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a mounting device is 
provided which includes a pair of generally semi-circular wing members 
having first and second opposite end portions. The wing members form an 
opening which surrounds the filling device in the centrifuge and the first 
end portions are flat and have aligned holes therein so that the wings can 
be pivotally connected on a mounting pin which is part of the structure of 
the centrifuge. The wings each have a plurality of radially inwardly 
extending resilient bumpers which engage the filling device to resist 
vibrations. A resilient ring is releasably and resiliently connected 
between the second end portions of the wings (the ends opposite the pivot 
connection therebetween) to resiliently engage the bumper pads with the 
filling device. These bumper pads resist and/or absorb vibrations in the 
filling device during operation of the centrifuge.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, a 
conventional centrifuge apparatus 10 is illustrated. The apparatus 
includes a housing 12 enclosing a rotor 14 below a stationary rotor shield 
16. The shield 16 closes a rotor chamber 18 within which the rotor 14 
operates from the top. The rotor shield includes a combination handle and 
bayonet latching member 20 mounted thereon in a fixed position for 
securing the filling device to the rotor shield and the rotor. As thus far 
described, the centrifuge 10 is of conventional construction. 
As illustrated in somewhat greater detail in FIG. 2, the upper surface or 
panel 22 of centrifuge 10 includes an access opening 24 therein which 
exposes the combination handle and bayonet latching member 20 to view. 
That latching member is mounted on the generally cylindrical rotor shield 
16 in any convenient manner. 
The shield 16 also has an access opening, 26, formed therein to expose 
rotor 14, and the latter has an opening 28 formed therein through which 
the specimen to be centrifuged is supplied and withdrawn. 
The filling device 30 for the centrifuge 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The 
filling device includes a pair of rigid ring members 32 and 34 which are 
secured together by screws 36 or the like. Ring 34 has female bayonet 
latch recesses or ramps 38 formed therein in a conventional manner. 
Rings 32, 34 provide mounting support in the conventional manner for the 
feed connection 40 and its associated rotatable bearing or seal 42 through 
which the specimen is supplied from the connection 40 to rotor 14. 
In conventional operation, feed device 30 is mounted in the centrifuge by 
engaging the radially opposed tongs 21 of the combination bayonet latch 
and handle 20 in the ramp sections 38 of plate 34. This holds the feed 
device in a relatively fixed position adjacent access opening 26 of rotor 
shield 16. In this position, rotatable seal 42 engages access opening 28 
of rotor 14 to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. In this manner, the 
specimen to be centrifuged can be supplied through feed connectors 40 and 
seal 42 to the rotor. In certain cases, and with certain types of 
centrifuge rotors, a separate transfer shaft 44 is connected to the 
rotatable seal 42 and extends into rotor 14. This transfer shaft is needed 
for placing the filling device on a "Z-60" type rotor which is available 
from Beckman Instruments. 
This transfer shaft significantly prolongs the longitudinal axis of the 
filling device and thus causes a magnification of the vibrations 
transferred from the running rotor into the filling device. Such 
vibrations can result in leakage of the specimen being centrifuged into 
the environment. 
The mounting arrangement of the present invention serves particularly to 
resist such vibrations. This mounting arrangement is illustrated in detail 
in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein it is seen that the mount 60 includes a pair of 
wings or tong arms 62 and 64 that have opposite ends 66 and 68 formed 
therein. The ends 66 of tongs 62, 64 have a flattened configuration so 
that the ends can be placed in super-imposed, overlapping relationship to 
one another. These ends each include an aperture 78, which are aligned 
when the ends are overlapped and which are adapted to receive one of the 
posts 70 formed on rotor shield 16. By this arrangement, tong wings 62, 64 
are pivotally connected to each other through pin 70. 
Each of the wings 62, 64 is generally semi-circular in configuration and 
has two or more resilient bumper members or pistons 72 extending radially 
inwardly therefrom. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the 
bumper elements are formed as posts 72a of the same material as the wings 
62, 64 (e.g. metal or any hard rigid plastic) having end portions 72b 
which are formed of a resilient material such as for example silicone. The 
wings are dimensioned to surround access opening 26 in rotor shield 16 and 
receive therebetween the filling device 30. Of course it is to be 
understood that other equivalent vibrations or shock absorbing devices 
such as damping piston arrangements may be used in lieu of the silicone 
bumpers illustrated. 
The opposite or second end portion 69 of wings 62, 64 have enlarged 
connecting arms 74 formed thereon. The inner surfaces 76 of these 
connecting arms have recesses 78 formed therein which are adapted to 
surround a second post 70' on rotor shield 16 when the wings are pivoted 
towards each other into the position shown in FIG. 6. In addition, arms 74 
include outwardly extending pins 80, which cooperate with a resilient ring 
or band 82, as seen in FIG. 6, to resiliently hold the wings in their 
closed position. In this position the bumper members 72 engage filling 
device 30, as seen in FIG. 6, in a resilient manner, while the mounting 
device itself is fixed to rotor shield 16, due to the engagement of the 
wings with the pins 70, 70'. Yet, the wings can be readily easily 
released, in order to permit rapid removal or replacement of the filling 
device. This mounting arrangement will resiliently resist vibrations of 
the filling device during operation of the rotor. 
Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been 
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, 
and that various modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in 
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.