SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGE TUBING

• US 20180299030A1
• Filed: 05/05/2016
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Hospital Products IP Ltd. (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: VANDLIK, Mark, WALL, Shaun, GABELBERGER, Sepp, RABENO, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 2005/0492 with fluid conveying umbilicus between stationary and rotary centrifuge parts
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 5/0442 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/18 by magnets, i.e. magnetic attraction to hold parts together
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/50 Positive connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2316/10 in medical appliances, e.g. in diagnosis, dentistry, instruments, prostheses, medical imaging appliances
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/067 Fixing them in a housing with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1075 with two members, the two members being joined with a hinge on one side and fastened together on the other side
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/12 comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/16 with special provision allowing movement of the pipe F16L3/01 takes precedence; supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00

Abstract

The current disclosure presents embodiments directed to, among others, a support and/or clamp (60) for receiving a cylindrical element (e.g., a bearing (90)), which can include a base (62), a pair of opposed receiving members (64) projecting from the base (62) and spaced apart from one other to establish a receiving area (66) configured with a size and shape to removably receive at least one of a circular, cylindrical and spherical object therein, and at least one of a detent (24) and magnet (40) arranged within at least a portion of the receiving area (66), the detent (24) and/or magnet (40) configured to at least one of temporarily retain the object within the receiving area (66) and establish a sound associated with the receiving of the object.

Claims

1. A support and/or clamp for receiving a cylindrical element comprising:

a base;

a pair of opposed receiving members projecting from the base and spaced apart from one another to establish a receiving area configured with a size and shape to receive at least one of a circular, cylindrical and spherical object therein;

at least one of a detent and magnet arranged within at least a portion of the receiving area, the detent and/or magnet configured to at least one of retain the object within the receiving area and establish a sound associated with the receiving of the object;

at least one of a chamfer and ramp provided on at least one of the base, and one and/or another of the receiving members;

a first open end and a second open end that are oppositely disposed; and

a reference axis extending through a center of the first and second open ends, wherein the chamfer and ramp are configured to facilitate loading of the object along the reference axis for receipt in the receiving area.

2-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A bearing support, comprising:

a base;

a first open end and an oppositely disposed second open end, wherein a first reference axis extends through said bearing support between said first open end and said second open end;

a pair of projections that extend upwardly from said base and that are disposed in opposing and spaced relation to one another, wherein each projection of said pair is disposed on an opposite side of said first reference axis, and wherein upper portions of said projections of said pair are separated from one another by an open space;

a receiving area between said pair of projections;

a magnet aperture that projects toward said receiving area; and

a magnet disposed in said magnet aperture.

17. The bearing support of claim 16, wherein said magnet is located between said pair of projections.

19. The bearing support of claim 16, further comprising:

a perimeter surface that defines a boundary of said receiving area, wherein said perimeter surface comprises an interior surface of each projection of said pair of projections, and wherein said magnet aperture is located on a portion of said perimeter surface that extends between said pair of projections.

20. The bearing support of claim 16, wherein said open space is smaller than an outer diameter of a bearing for which said bearing support is configured and said bearing support is configured to only allow the bearing to be directed into said receiving area through said first open end.

25. The bearing support of claim 16, wherein end surfaces of said pair of projections collectively define an aperture that extends toward said receiving area, wherein an effective diameter of said aperture is progressively reduced in proceeding in a direction of said receiving area.

26. The bearing support of claim 25, wherein said end surface of each said projection of said pair of projections is spherically-shaped.

27. The bearing support of claim 16, wherein said receiving area is further located between said first open end and said second open end, wherein said first reference axis extends through a center of said first open end and a center of said second open end, wherein said first reference axis is parallel to said pair of projections, and wherein said bearing support comprises a first surface that slopes toward said first reference axis in proceeding from said first open end toward said second open end.

28. The bearing support of claim 27, wherein said first surface is oriented to direct a bearing toward said receiving area.

29. The bearing support of claim 16, wherein said first open end is spaced from said receiving area and comprises a first surface that is sloped.

30. The bearing support of claim 29, wherein a slope said first surface is oriented to direct a bearing toward said receiving area.

31. The bearing support of claim 29, wherein said first surface is inwardly sloped in progressing toward said receiving area from said first open end.

32. The bearing support of claim 16, further comprising a bearing slot.

33. The bearing support of claim 32, wherein said magnet aperture is aligned with and intersects said bearing slot, and wherein said magnet is positioned below said bearing slot.

36. The bearing support of claim 32, wherein said bearing slot is located between said first and second projections.

37. The bearing support of claim 32, wherein said bearing support further comprises a perimeter surface that defines a boundary of said receiving area, wherein said perimeter surface comprises an interior surface of each projection of said pair of projections, and wherein said bearing slot is located on a portion of said perimeter surface that extends between said pair of projections.

38. A bearing assembly comprising a bearing and the bearing support of claim 32, wherein only a lower portion of said bearing is disposed in said bearing slot such an upper portion of said bearing is disposed outside of said bearing slot.

39. The bearing assembly of claim 38, wherein said bearing support further comprises a ledge, wherein a back side of said upper portion of said bearing is disposed against said ledge, and wherein said ledge precludes said bearing from being directed into said receiving area through said second open end.

40. The bearing assembly of claim 16, wherein said bearing support further comprises a mounting post, wherein said pair of projections extend from one side of said base and said mounting post extends from an opposite side of said base.

41. A centrifuge system, comprising:

a frame;

a centrifuge bowl interconnected and rotatable in conjunction with said frame;

a tube extending from said centrifuge bowl; and

a first bearing, wherein said tube extends through said first bearing, and wherein said first bearing is disposed within the bearing support of claim 16, and wherein the bearing support is mounted to said frame.

18. (canceled)

21-24. -24. (canceled)

34-35. -35. (canceled)