Rotor driving apparatus

• US 20040023778A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Kusumoto, Shoji
• Granted Patent: US 6,953,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 494/10
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 15/02 for cooling, heating, or heat insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0414 comprising test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 9/12 Suspending rotary bowls ; Bearings; Packings for bearings

Abstract

In a centrifugal separator, a temperature sensor is provided in contact with a vibration isolation rubber that elastically supports an induction motor to a motor base. A Peltier element for heating/cooling the vibration isolation rubber is provided in contact with the vibration isolation rubber. The temperature sensor and the Peltier element is connected to a controller. Based on a detected temperature input from the temperature sensor, the controller controls heat generation or cooling effected by the Peltier element, thereby maintaining an optimum temperature of the vibration isolation rubber to maintain its damping characteristics.

Claims

1. A rotor driving apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a rotor rotatably disposed within the casing;

a driving unit supported to the casing for rotationally driving the rotor;

a supporting portion that elastically supports the driving unit to the casing, the supporting portion having a vibration isolation rubber;

a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the supporting portion or an ambient area thereof and outputs temperature data;

a temperature adjusting device that performs one of cooling and heating of the supporting portion; and

a controller that controls a temperature generated by the temperature adjusting device based on the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

2. The rotor driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a Peltier element.

3. The rotor driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a cooling device.

4. The rotor driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising cooling means for cooling the driving unit, and wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a heating device.

5. The rotor driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a thermistor.

6. A rotor driving apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a rotor rotatably disposed within the casing;

a driving unit supported to the casing for rotationally driving the rotor;

a supporting portion that elastically supports the driving unit to the casing, the supporting portion having a vibration isolation rubber;

a thermistor that heats the supporting portion or an ambient area thereof to a predetermined temperature; and

, a constant-voltage circuit for applying a constant voltage to the thermistor.

7. A centrifuge comprising:

a casing;

a rotor rotatably disposed within the casing, test tubes each containing a testing sample therein being held in the rotor for centrifugal separation;

a driving unit supported to the casing for rotationally driving the rotor;

a supporting portion that elastically supports the driving unit to the casing, the supporting portion having a vibration isolation rubber;

a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the supporting portion or an ambient area thereof and outputs temperature data;

a temperature adjusting device that performs one of cooling and heating of the supporting portion; and

a controller that controls a temperature generated by the temperature adjusting device based on the temperature data from the temperature sensor.

8. The centrifuge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a Peltier element.

9. The centrifuge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a cooling device.

10. The centrifuge as claimed in claim 7, further comprising cooling means for cooling the driving unit, and wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a heating device.

11. The centrifuge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature adjusting device comprises a thermistor.

12. A centrifuge comprising:

a casing;

a rotor rotatably disposed within the casing, test tubes each containing a testing sample therein being held in the rotor for centrifugal separation;

a driving unit supported to the casing for rotationally driving the rotor;

a supporting portion that elastically supports the driving unit to the casing, the supporting portion having a vibration isolation rubber;

a thermistor that heats the supporting portion or an ambient area thereof to a predetermined temperature; and

, a constant-voltage circuit for applying a constant voltage to the thermistor.