Centrifuge with pivot-out, easy-load processing chamber
First Claim
1. A centrifuge comprisinga yoke element including a base, a pair of arms extending from the base defining a space between the arms, a cross member, a hinge coupling the cross member to one of the arms for pivoting the cross member about the hinge between an operating position, in which the cross member extends across the space between the arms, and an access position, in which the cross member is cantilevered from the hinge outside the space between the arms,a drive mechanism coupled to the base of the yoke element to rotate the yoke element about a rotational axis,a processing chamber carried by the cross member for rotation about an axis and for pivoting with the cross member about the hinge between the operating position and the access position, the processing chamber including a bowl element having a wall defining an interior area, a spool element having an exterior surface, and a mechanism joining the spool and bowl elements for movement between a mutually cooperating position, in which the spool element is enclosed within the interior area of the bowl element to define the processing chamber between the bowl element wall and the exterior spool surface, and a mutually separated position, in which the spool element is at least partially out of the interior area of the bowl element to expose the exterior spool surface for access, andthe cross member, when in the operating position, orienting the spool and bowl elements in the space between the arms with the processing chamber axis oriented generally coaxial with the rotational axis for rotation with the yoke element about the rotational axis, and the cross member, when in the access position, orienting the spool and bowl elements outside the space between the arms and outside the rotational axis for movement from the mutually cooperating position into the mutually separated position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifuge comprising a yoke element that rotates about a rotational axis and a processing chamber having an axis. The processing chamber includes a bowl element, a spool element, and a mechanism for joining the spool and bowl elements for relative movement between a mutually cooperating position for centrifugal processing and a mutually separated position for loading. A hinge attaches the processing chamber to the yoke element for pivotal movement between an operating position and an access position. In the operating position, the spool and bowl elements are in their mutually cooperating position and oriented for rotation with the yoke element about the rotational axis. In the access position, the processing chamber axis lies outside the axis of rotation and the spool and bowl elements are oriented for movement from their mutually cooperating position into their mutually separated position.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A centrifuge comprising
a yoke element including a base, a pair of arms extending from the base defining a space between the arms, a cross member, a hinge coupling the cross member to one of the arms for pivoting the cross member about the hinge between an operating position, in which the cross member extends across the space between the arms, and an access position, in which the cross member is cantilevered from the hinge outside the space between the arms, a drive mechanism coupled to the base of the yoke element to rotate the yoke element about a rotational axis, a processing chamber carried by the cross member for rotation about an axis and for pivoting with the cross member about the hinge between the operating position and the access position, the processing chamber including a bowl element having a wall defining an interior area, a spool element having an exterior surface, and a mechanism joining the spool and bowl elements for movement between a mutually cooperating position, in which the spool element is enclosed within the interior area of the bowl element to define the processing chamber between the bowl element wall and the exterior spool surface, and a mutually separated position, in which the spool element is at least partially out of the interior area of the bowl element to expose the exterior spool surface for access, and the cross member, when in the operating position, orienting the spool and bowl elements in the space between the arms with the processing chamber axis oriented generally coaxial with the rotational axis for rotation with the yoke element about the rotational axis, and the cross member, when in the access position, orienting the spool and bowl elements outside the space between the arms and outside the rotational axis for movement from the mutually cooperating position into the mutually separated position.
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7. A centrifuge comprising
a yoke element including a base, a pair of arms extending from the base defining a space between the arms, a cross member, a hinge coupling the cross member to one of the arms for pivoting the cross member about the hinge between an operating position, in which the cross member extends across the space between the arms, and an access position, in which the cross member is cantilevered from the hinge outside the space between the arms, means coupled to the base of the yoke element for rotating the yoke element about a rotational axis, a processing chamber carried by the cross member for rotation about a second axis and for pivoting with the cross member about the hinge between the operating position and the access position, the processing chamber including a bowl element having a wall defining an interior area, a spool element having an exterior surface, and means for joining the spool and bowl elements for movement between a mutually cooperating position, in which the spool element is enclosed within the interior area of the bowl element to define the processing chamber between the bowl element wall and the exterior spool surface, and a mutually separated position, in which the spool element is at least partially out of the interior area of the bowl element to expose the exterior spool surface for access, the cross member, when in the operating position, orienting the spool and bowl elements in the space between the arms with the second axis oriented generally coaxial with the rotational axis for rotation with the yoke element, and the cross member, when in the access position, orienting the spool and bowl elements outside the space between the arms and outside the rotational axis for movement from the mutually cooperating position into the mutually separated position for access by the user, an umbilicus in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the umbilicus having an upper region, a middle region, and a lower region, a stationary first holder located above the yoke element that releasably receives the upper umbilicus region in alignment with the rotational axis, a rotating second holder on the yoke element that releasably receives the middle umbilicus region for rotation about the rotational axis, and a rotating third holder on the processing chamber that releasably receives the lower umbilicus region for rotation about the second axis.
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11. A centrifuge comprising
a frame enclosing an interior area and including at least one weight bearing member for engaging a support surface lying in the horizontal plane, a centrifuge assembly including a yoke element including a base, a pair of arms extending from the base defining a space between the arms, and a cross member, a drive mechanism coupled to the base of the yoke element to rotate the yoke element about a rotational axis, a processing chamber mounted on the cross member for rotation about a second axis, and a hinge coupling the cross member to one of the arms for pivoting the cross member about the hinge between an operating position, in which the cross member extends across the space between the arms, and an access position, in which the cross member is cantilevered from the hinge outside the space between the arms, the hinge, when in the operating position, orienting the processing chamber in the space between the arms with the second axis aligned generally coaxial with the rotational axis, orienting the processing chamber for centrifugal processing during rotation of the yoke element, the hinge, when in the access position, orienting the processing chamber outside the space between the arms with the second axis lying outside the axis of rotation, orienting the processing chamber for access by the user, and a base supporting the centrifuge assembly on the frame within the interior area with the rotational axis oriented in a plane that lies outside a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
Specification