Centrifuge and method for sensing imbalances in the centrifuge

US10337943B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Klaus-Guenter Eberle · Tuttlingen, DE
• Christoph Pabst · Melle, DE
• Marcellus GEISELMANN · Tuttlingen, DE
• Sebastian Fahrner · Aach, DE
• Armin Brendle · Aach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 2, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 28, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B04B2013/006
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A centrifuge (10), comprising a rotor (12), a drive shaft (14), on which the rotor (12) is supported, a motor (18), which drives the rotor (12) via the drive shaft (14), a supporting unit (30) having damping elements (36), each of which comprises a spring axis (36a), which supporting unit supports a rotational unit (19), which comprises the motor (18) together with the drive shaft (14) and the rotor (12), a sensor unit (82, 84) for sensing the rotational speed, a distance sensor (80) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), which rotational unit rotates about an axis of rotation (14a), an acceleration sensor (88) for determining imbalances of the rotational unit (19), and a control and evaluation unit (90), which evaluates the data of the sensors (80, 82, 88), wherein the distance sensor (80) senses distance changes in an operative axis (36b). The invention is characterized in that the operative axis (36b) is oriented in relation to the axis of rotation (14a) in such a way that an angle between the operative axis (36b) and the axis of rotation (14a) of less than 90° including 0° results, at least in a projection onto a plane parallel to the operative axis (36b) and t…