COMPOSITE ULTRACENTRIFUGE ROTOR

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor includes a central disc formed of a plurality of laminates each having an array of fibers arrang­ ed at predetermined annular orientations with respect to the axes of the fibers in the next vertically adjacent laminate. A rim having a higher stiffness than that of the disc surrounds the disc so that a radially inwardly compressive stress is im­ posed on the disc by the rim when the rotor is rotated at any speed.

Description: TITLE COMPOSITE ULTR#CENTRIFUGE ROTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to an ultracentrifuge rotor and, in particular, to an ultracentrifuge rotor fabricated of a composite material. Description of the Prior Art In order to increase centrifugal load carrying capability the manufacture of rotating structures has evolved from the use of homogeneous materials such as aluminum and titanium toward the use of composite materials. The use of such composite materials has become especially apparent in the area of flywheel storage structures. Exemplary of rotating energy storage structures using composites are U.S. Patent 4,481,840 (Friedericy et awl., flywheel having elastic spokes carrying an elastic rim), U.S. Patent 4,408,#00 (Kulkarni et al., flywheel body enclosed by a circumferentially wound fiber rim), U.S. Patent 4,370,899 (Swartout, flywheel having glass annulus surrounded by a fiber rim), U.S. Patent 4,266,442 (Zorzi, flywheel with cross-ply composite core and relatively thick rim), and U.S. Patent 4,207,778 (Hatch, reinforced cross-ply composite flywheel). It is believed advantageous to obtain the benefits attendant with the use of composite structures in fabricating ultraspeed centrifuge rotors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ultracentrifuge rotor fabricated of a relatively thick central disc member formed of composite material. fi plurality of sample receiving cavities is arranged in an annular array adjacent to the periphery of the central disc. fi compressive rim formed of a hoop wound, carbon fiber-reinforced, plastic material having a higher stiffness than the central disc surrounds the periphery of the disc. Both the periphery of the disc and the inner diameter of the rim are fabricated with conforming slightly polygonal shapes. The rim and disc are assembled with adhesive bonds located therebetween only in the areas of the sample receiving cavities. When at speed, due to the disparity in stiffnesses, the rim will tend to deflect to generate inwardly directed radial force being applied to the disc in the area of each sample cavity. 4 drive fitting is adhesively bonded in any suitable manner to the underside of the disc whereby the rotor may be disposed in a driven relationship with a source of motive energy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof taker in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of an ultracentrifuge rotor formed in accordance with the present invention with portions of the disc member broken away for clarity to illustrate the orientation of the fibers in each lamina; Figure 2 is a typical side elevational view of the ultracentrifuge rotor shown in Figures 1 and 4; Figure 3 is a highly stylized diagram of the forces acting on the disc member by the band with the rotor of Figure 1 at speed; and Figures 4 and 5 are ¯ views respectively similar to Figures 1 and 3 illustrating an alternate embodiment of a rotor in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Throughout the following detailed description similar reference numerals refer to similar elements in all figures of the drawings. With reference to the figures shown is an ultracentrifuge rotor generally indicated by reference character 10 in accordance with the present invention. The rotor 10 is rotatable at speeds in excess of 20,000 revolutions per minute about a central axis of rotation VCL. The rotor 10 includes a central disc 12 of substantially uniform height. The disc 12 is polygonal and not truly circular in perimetric configuration. An array of sample container receiving cavities 14 is arranged in any predetermined arrangement in the disc 12. Preferably the cauities 14 are arranged in a generally annular array adjacent to the periphery of the disc 12. The cavities 14 lie within a predetermined close dimension 16 to the periphery of the disc 12. The sample receiving cavities 14 are shown in the Figures as arranged with their axes 14R parallel to the central vertical axis VCL of the rotor 10 although the axes 14n may be inclined with respect to the axis UCL and remain within the contemplation of the present invention. In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 3 the cavities 14 are formed in the disc 12 in the vicinity of the points of the polygon that defines the perimeter of the disc. In an alternate embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 the cavities 14 are arranged in the disc 12 substantially midway between the points of the polygon. The disc 12, although shown in Figure 2 as an integrated structure for purposes of illustration, is formed, in fact, as a laminate of a plurality of laminae 18 of unidirectional preimpregnated composite fiber-resin material. The fibers in each lamina 18 are, as seen from the broken portion of Figures 1 and 4, formed with the axes of each of the fibers in a given 28A being angularly offset from the fibers in a vertically adjacent lamina 188. The disc 12 is formed by layering the laminae in a symmetric manner and thereafter curing the same. "Symmetric" is meant to convey the idea that the orientation of the axes of the fibers in the laminae above a central lamina is mirrored in the orientation of the axes of the fibers in the laminae below that central laminae. The hub or disc 12 is surrounded by a filament wound, high strength fiber-reinforced composite rim 20. The rim 20 may in practice be formed from a nested array of a plurality of rings of which two such rings, 20A, 208. are shown. The rings 20A, 208, etc., are interference fit together. The thickness of the rim 20 is exaggerated in the Figures for clarity of illustration. The rim 20 has a conforming polygonal configuration on its inner perimeter. As will be developed, the rim 20, in a manner to be described, assists in generating a radially inwardly directed force which prevents the individual fluid sample containers, such as the containers 22, disposed within the cavities 14 from punching their way through the edge of the disc 12. It should be understood that the rim 14 may also be wound as an integral member or may be provided by any other convenient fabrication method and remain within the contemplation of this invention. A drive fitting 30 (in this case fabricated of titanium) is suitably connected to the underside of the disc 12. The fitting 30 is provided a recess 32 which is adapted to receive a drive spud whereby the rotor may be connected to a source M of motive energy. Although any suitable composite fiber materials may be utilized, it is preferred that the laminae which form the disc use aramid fibers such as that sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company under the trademark "Kevlar." Similarly, fiber reinforcement for the rim may be formed of any composite material although either a carbon-epoxy or aramid-epoxy fiber material is preferred. Both the disc 12 and the rim 14 have a predetermined set of physical properties associated therewith which serves to determine the magnitude to which each of those bodies would deflect radially outwardly due to various applied forces. These properties may be collectively termed the "stiffness" of the disc or rim, as the case may be. Those skilled in the art may readily appreciate the various properties which contribute to the stiffness of the hub and rim, e.g., modulus of elasticity, density, cross section area, and radius, as well as the factors which apply force to these members, e.g., centrifugal force, body load, and preload. The stiffness of the disc 12 and the rim 14 are selected such that any radial growth of the rim should be less than and at most equal to that of the disc. Since the disc 12 has a different stiffness than that of the rim 20 compressive stresses will be generated along the interface bond line between these elements at any rotating speed. This is desirable so that the bond line will not develop catastrophic fractures while in service. The compressive rim-disc stress is increased by providing both the rim 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the disc 12 with their slightly polygonal shapes. The rim 20 and the disc 12 would then be assembled with adhesive bond lines located only in the areas of the sample receiving cavities. The operation of a rotor in accordance with the present invention may be understood from reference to Figures 3 and 5. In Figure 3 the cavities 14 are located at the points of the polygon of the disc. When the rotor is at speed the disc 12 and the rim 20 deflect radially outwardly, as shown by the arrows 12G, 206, respectively. Due to the disparity in stiffnesses the deflection of the disc would, if uninhibited, grow faster than the rim 20. The combination of centrifugal force and the disparate stiffnesses in the disc and rim causes the rim 20 and the disc 12 to deflect into truly circular shape (shown in dashed lines in Figure 3). This results in additional an inward radial force 22 being applied to the disc 12 in the area of each cavity 14. fis a result of the increased inwardly directed compressive force 22 the cavities 14 may be placed closer to the rotor periphery than would normally be the case. Thus for a given sized rotor an increase in relative centrifugal force (RCF) may be expected. Slternatively a given RCF may be achieved with a small diameter rotor. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, wherein the cavities 14 are disposed midway between the points of the polygon when the rotor is at speed, the relatively more massive portions of the disc 12 in the vicinity of the points of the polygonal generate increased growth forces 12G' which are imposed on the rim 20. In response the radially inwardly directed force 22' is generated within the rim 14 substantially midway between the points of the polygon, thus again compressing that portion of the disc 12 in which the cavities are disposed. Those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings of the present invention may effect numerous modifications thereto. These modifications are, however, to be construed as lying within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: WHRT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. n centrifuge rotor comprising: a central disc having a predetermined stiffness associated therewith, the disc having an array of sample receiving cavities therein; and a reinforcing rim disposed circumferentially about the periphery of the disc, the rim also having a predetermined stiffness associated therewith, both the periphery of the disc and the inner diameter of the rim each being polygonal in shape, the rim and the disc being adhesively bonded only adjacent to those regions of the disc wherein the sample receiving cavities are disposed, the disparity in physical properties in the disc and the rim being such that rotation of the rotor generates a radially inwardly directed compressive force imposed by the rim on the disc in the vicinity of the cavities therein. 2. The rotor of Claim 1 wherein the disc comprises a laminated structure comprising a plurality of isotropic fiber laminates with the axes of each fiber in each vertically adjacent laminate being offset by a predetermined angular amount from the axis of each fiber in the next adjacent laminate. 3. The rotor of Claim 2 wherein the sample receiving cavities are disposed in the vicinity of the points of the polygonal disc. 4. The rotor of Claim 1 wherein the sample receiving cavities are disposed in the vicinity of the points of the polygonal disc. 5. The rotor of Claim 2 wherein the sample receiving cavities are disposed between the points of the polygonal disc. 6. The rotor of Claim 1 wherein the sample receiving cavities are disposed between the points of the polygonal disc. 7. The rotor of Claim 2 further comprising a driue fitting attached to the underside of the disc. 8. The rotor of Claim 1 further comprising a drive fitting attached to the underside of the disc. 9. The rotor of Claim 3 further comprising a drive fitting attached to the undersurface of the disc. 10. The rotor of Claim 4 further comprising a drive fitting attached to the undersurface of the disc. 11. The rotor of Claim 5 further comprising a drive fitting attached to the undersurface of the disc. 12. The rotor of Claim 6 further comprising a drive fitting attached to the undersurface of the disc.

Inventors: BRESLICH, FRANCIS NICHOLAS, JR., LAAKSO, JOHN HEIMO
Applicants: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B04B5
IPC codes: B04B7, F16C15, B04B5