Centrifuge opening tool

A centrifuge opening tool has a frame that securely holds a centrifuge drum therein. An upright tube is mounted to the frame and a brake band is rotatably secured to the upright tube. When the brake band is tightened, the centrifuge drum is securely held in place. A ring gear is secured to a lock ring. The lock ring is part of the centrifuge drum and is removable to allow access to the interior therein. A drive gear meshes with the ring gear and increases the mechanical advantage allowing a user to apply the force needed to open the lock ring even when it has been extremely compressed. A spanner wrench is placed on a drive shaft that is connected to the drive gear. Engagement pins are used to mechanically couple the gear ring and lock ring together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The development of the centrifuge as a tool to process materials is well known and fundamental to our society and the production of materials necessary for modern life. Centrifuges are used in almost every field of endeavor from isotope separation, human testing, earthquake simulation, biological and food processes, waste treatment, and oil treatment just to name a few.

As the centrifuge spins, tremendous forces are generated which tends to compress and tighten the threads holding the centrifuge access door in place and may make opening extremely difficult. There is a need for a tool that allows opening of a centrifuge with relative ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A centrifuge opening tool has a frame that securely holds a centrifuge drum therein. An upright tube is mounted to the frame and a brake band is rotatably secured to the upright tube. When the brake band is tightened, the centrifuge drum is securely held in place. A ring gear is secured to a lock ring. The lock ring is part of the centrifuge drum and is removable to allow access to the interior therein. A drive gear meshes with the ring gear and increases the mechanical advantage allowing a user to apply the force needed to open the lock ring even when it has been extremely compressed. A spanner wrench is placed on a drive shaft that is connected to the drive gear. Engagement pins are used to mechanically couple the gear ring and lock ring together.

Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 4, a centrifuge opening tool100is shown having a frame105that supports a centrifuge drum165. A brake band125is made of two parts—left and right side—that is hinged using brake band holders130and is mounted on both sides of an upright tube110that is securely attached to frame105and secured to a tube plate160. Frame105has four legs with four feet pads150and cross braces155. Gussets are used to stiffen and strengthen frame105. Brake band125is moved to an open position allowing centrifuge drum to be placed therein. After placing centrifuge drum165on frame105, brake band125is closed and a bolt175is used to compress and tighten brake band125by tightening a brake band compression bracket170. This securely holds centrifuge165and prevents rotation.

Now referring toFIGS. 1 through 6, a ring gear115is placed over a lock ring190. Lock ring190is part of centrifuge165and is used to securely hold a centrifuge cover140in place sealing the contents therein. Lock ring190has four notches205that are used to turn lock ring190. To hold ring gear115securely to lock ring190, a number of engagement bolts180are used by fitting a lock retaining plate195beneath a lip formed on lock ring190and then tightening. Lock retaining plate195is tapped to match the threads on engagement bolts180.

A number of engagement pins185are placed in matched openings in ring gear115which align with lock ring notches205and are used to turn lock ring190when ring gear115is turned. As shown, two notches205are shown with square openings and two with circular openings. Of course other geometries are possible as long as rotation force may be applied by inserting a matching pin therein. A mechanically advantaged drive gear120meshes with ring gear115as allows a user to rotate ring gear115. A drive shaft145is formed on top of drive gear120and allows a user to place a spanner or other tool (not shown) to rotate drive gear120. Additionally, a motorized driver or other mechanical device such as a pneumatic driver could be used to engage drive gear120.

Because of the mechanical advantage afforded by the gear ratio between drive gear120and ring gear115, a much greater force may be applied to lock ring190than would be possible by applying a similar force to lock ring notch205directly.

Four eye bolts135are used to hold, manipulate and position ring gear115. Once lock ring190is unscrewed and free of centrifuge165it may be manipulated using eye bolts135while it remains attached to ring gear115. A four part chain sling is used to manipulate ring gear115and attached lock ring190. Of course other kinds of assists may be used such as overhead crane, block and tackle, hydraulic lift, etc. Once lock ring190is removed, centrifuge cover140is removed allowing access to the interior of centrifuge165. This allows relatively easy access even when lock ring190is extremely compressed when conventional means of opening would be extremely difficult.

Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.