Method and apparatus for overspeed protection for high speed centrifuges
US4827197A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1987 |
| Grant date | May 2, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S388/933
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus and method of protecting a centrifuge from rotor overspeed and resultant mishap by computation of the rotor moment of inertia is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a centrifuge is driven by a rotor mounted on a shaft which shaft is in turn driven by a constant current motor. A tachometer for detecting angular velocity of the drive shaft is used. A desired and ultimate centrifuge operating speed is selected by the operator. The times at which the rotor passes through discrete speeds are recorded and from the time difference the moment of inertia is computed. The moment of inertia can thereafter be utilized to discretely identify or "finger print" rotors to disqualify certain rotors from use in particular centrifuge protocols and establish gross limits of centrifuge operating speed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.