Centrifugal separator with first and second control panels

• US 7,396,324 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tobita, Yoshinori, Aizawa, Masaharu, Akatsu, Katsunori, Maehara, Yukiyoshi, Tetsu, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley; Charles E
• Application Number:
  US10/965,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 494 7- 10, 494 16- 21, 700/273, 422/72, 210/85, 210/143
• US Class Current: 494/7
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00
• 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 5/0442 with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation

Abstract

A centrifugal separator includes a rotator part, a controller part, and a first control panel. The rotator part has a rotor for separating components in a liquid sample, and a drive shaft for driving the rotor to rotate. The controller part controls operations of the rotator part. The first control panel is provided with a first operating part for setting operating conditions of the rotator part including the desired rotating speed of the rotor and the desired operation period of time of the rotor, and a first display unit for displaying the operating conditions and status of the rotator part. A second control panel having the same functions as the first control panel is provided in a location separate from the controller part. Hence, a user can check the operating status of the centrifugal separator and set and modify operating conditions for the centrifugal separator not only by using the first control panel but also by using the second control panel.

Claims

1. A centrifugal separator comprising:

a rotator part that separates a liquid sample, the rotator part including a rotor and a drive part, the rotor receiving a liquid sample therein and rotating to separate the liquid sample, the drive part driving the rotor to rotate;

a controller part that controls operations of the rotator part so that the drive part rotates the rotor to separate the liquid sample;

a first control panel coupled to the controller part and disposed at a position proximate to the rotator part for at least controlling actual operation of the rotator part via the controller part; and

a second control panel coupled to the controller part and disposed at a position remote from the rotator part for at least controlling actual operation of the rotator part via the controller part;

wherein the controller part is responsive to both of the first and second control panels for operating the drive part in accordance therewith;

wherein the first control panel includes at least one of a first operating part and a first display part, the first operating part enabling a user to set operating conditions for the rotator part, the first display part displaying the operating conditions set at the first operating part and an operating status of the rotator part;

wherein the second control panel includes at least one of a second operating part and a second display part, the second operating part enabling the user to set operating conditions for the rotator part, the second display part displaying the operating conditions set at the second operating part and the operating status of the rotator part;

wherein the first control panel includes both of the first operating part and the first display part; and

wherein the second control panel includes both of the second operating part and the second display part;

the first display part displaying the operating conditions set at each of the first operating part and the second operating part, and the second display part displaying the operating conditions set at each of the first operating part and the second operating part.

3. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1, wherein the first display part and the second display part display the operating status of the rotator part respectively.

4. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1, wherein the first control panel is connected via a wiring to the controller part;

wherein the first operating part supplies information on the user'"'"'s set operating conditions to the controller part via the wiring, the controller part controls the drive part to drive the rotor to rotate under the user'"'"'s set operating conditions; and

wherein the controller part checks the operating status of the rotator part and supplies information on the operating status to the first control panel via the wiring, the first display part displaying the operating status of the rotator part.

11. A centrifugal separator according to claim 1, further comprising a casing, in which both of the rotator part and the controller part are mounted;

wherein the first control panel is attached to the casing; and

wherein the second control panel is separate from the casing.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising:

a rotator part that separates a liquid sample, the rotator part including a rotor and a drive part, the rotor receiving a liquid sample therein and rotating to separate the liquid sample, the drive part driving the rotor to rotate;

a controller part that controls operations of the rotator part so that the drive part rotates the rotor to separate the liquid sample;

a first control panel coupled to the controller part and disposed at a position proximate to the rotator part for at least controlling actual operation of the rotator part via the controller part; and

a second control panel coupled to the controller part and disposed at a position remote from the rotator part for at least controlling actual operation of the rotator part via the controller part;

wherein the controller part is responsive to both of the first and second control panels for operating the drive part in accordance therewith;

wherein the first control panel includes at least one of a first operating part and a first display part, the first operating part enabling a user to set operating conditions for the rotator part, the first display part displaying the operating conditions set at the first operating part and an operating status of the rotator part; and

wherein the second control panel includes a second operating part enabling the user to set operating conditions for the rotator part, the first display part displaying the operating conditions set at the second operating part; and

wherein the second control panel further includes a second display part that displays operating conditions for the rotator part set at the first operating part and the second operating part.

5. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2,

wherein the second operating part supplies information on the user'"'"'s set operating conditions to the controller part, the controller part controls the drive part to drive the rotor to rotate under the user'"'"'s set operating conditions;

and

wherein the controller part checks the operating status of the rotator part and supplies information on the operating status to the second control panel, the second display part displaying the operating status of the rotator part.

6. A centrifugal separator according to claim 5, wherein the second control panel is connected via a wiring to the controller part.

7. A centrifugal separator according to claim 5, wherein the second control panel is connected wirelessly to the controller part.

8. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2,

wherein the first operating part further includes a first start switch and a first stop switch, the first start switch enabling the user to start operations of the rotator part, the first stop switch enabling the user to stop operations of the rotator part;

and

wherein the second operating part further includes a second start switch and a second stop switch, the second start switch enabling the user to start operations of the rotator part, the second stop switch enabling the user to stop operations of the rotator part.

9. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2,

wherein the first control panel further includes a first emergency stop switch that is manipulated by the user to cause the controller part to control the drive part to stop driving the rotor to rotate, to bring the first operating part into an inoperable state, and to bring the second operating part into an inoperable state;

and

wherein the second control panel further includes a second emergency stop switch that is manipulated by the user to cause the controller part to control the drive part to stop driving the rotor to rotate, to bring the first operating part into an inoperable state, and to bring the second operating part into an inoperable state.

10. A centrifugal separator according to claim 2,

wherein the first control panel further includes a first emergency stop switch that is manipulated by the user to shut power off;

and

wherein the second control panel further includes a second emergency stop switch that is manipulated by the user to shut power off.

12. A centrifugal separator comprising:

a casing;

a rotor installed in the casing and adapted to hold a liquid sample;

a driving unit that rotates the rotor;

a controller that controls operating conditions of the rotor;

a first control panel coupled to the controller and located on the casing, the first control panel including a first operating part to set operating conditions of the rotor and a first display part; and

a second control panel coupled to the controller and located at a position remote from the casing, the second control panel including a second operating part to set operating conditions of the rotor and a second display part;

wherein the first display part displays the operating conditions set at the first and the second operating parts, and second display part displays the operating conditions set at the first and the second operating parts.