Vessel centering system and method

• US 20020051734A1
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Varian Incorporated (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fernando, C.J. Anthony, Swon, James E., Dean, Stephen D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,673,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/805 wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 13/00 Investigating surface or boundary effects, e.g. wetting power; Investigating diffusion effects; Analysing materials by determining surface, boundary, or diffusion effects scanning-probe techniques or apparatus G01Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2013/006 Dissolution of tablets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008

Abstract

A vessel centering system comprises a vessel, an annular spacer member, a fastening element, and a first magnetic element. The vessel includes an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface. The spacer member is fitted in the vessel groove and extends outwardly with respect to the vessel. The first and second lateral end surfaces define a spacing therebetween. The spacer member includes a tangential bore extending along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the spacer member. The fastening element, which could be a screw, is disposed in the tangential bore in engagement with the ring member and extends across the ring spacing. The first magnetic element is supported by or enclosed within the spacer member. A vessel plate with a vessel mounting aperture is structured to accommodate the mounting or installation of the vessel. A second magnetic element is supported by the vessel plate. When the vessel is inserted in the aperture of a vessel plate, magnetic attraction causes the first and second magnetic elements to become aligned with each other, and concentricity between the inner surfaces of the vessel and a shaft extending into the vessel is thereby established.

Claims

1. A vessel adapted for improved centering with respect to a spindle or other instrument when installed in a vessel plate, the vessel comprising:

(a) a vessel wall including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(b) a ring member fitted in the vessel groove and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel wall; and

(c) a magnetic element supported by the ring member.

2. The vessel according to claim 1 wherein the ring member terminates at a first lateral end surface and at a second lateral end surface, and a gap is defined between the first and second lateral end surfaces.

3. The vessel according to claim 2 comprising a fastening element engaging the ring member at the first and the second lateral end surfaces.

4. The vessel according to claim 1 wherein the ring member includes a plurality of segments, each segment having a lateral end surface spaced at a distance from an adjacent lateral end surface of at least one other segment, and wherein a plurality of gaps are defined between respective spaced lateral end surfaces of adjacent segments, and a plurality of fastening elements respectively engage the spaced lateral end surfaces of the adjacent segments.

5. The vessel according to claim 1 wherein the ring member includes upper and lower portions, the lower portion includes a recess, the magnetic element is disposed in the recess, and the upper portion contacts the lower portion to enclose the magnetic element.

6. The vessel according to claim 5 wherein the upper portion of the ring member terminates at first and second upper portion end surfaces, an upper portion gap is defined between the first and second upper portion end surfaces, the lower portion of the ring member terminates at first and second lower portion end surfaces, a lower portion gap is defined between the first lower portion and the second lower portion end surfaces, and the upper portion gap is generally aligned with the lower portion gap.

7. The vessel according to claim 6 wherein the upper portion of the ring member includes a first protrusion extending into the lower portion gap in contact with the first lower portion end surface, and a second protrusion extending into the lower portion gap in contact with the second lower portion end surface.

8. The vessel according to claim 6 comprising a fastening element engaging the lower portion of the ring member at the first and second lower portion end surfaces.

9. The vessel according to claim 6 wherein the lower portion of the ring member includes a first protrusion extending into the upper portion gap in contact with the first upper portion end surface, and a second protrusion extending into the upper portion gap in contact with the second upper portion end surface.

10. The vessel according to claim 6 comprising a fastening element engaging the upper portion of the ring member at the first and second upper portion end surfaces.

11. A vessel adapted for improved centering with respect to a spindle or other instrument when installed in a vessel plate, the vessel comprising:

(a) a vessel wall including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(b) a ring member fitted in the vessel groove and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel wall, the ring member terminating at a gap defined by a first lateral end surface of the ring member and a second lateral end surface of the ring member;

(c) a magnetic element supported by the ring member; and

(d) a fastening element engaging the ring member at the first and second lateral end surfaces.

13. The vessel according to claim 12 wherein the upper ring member includes a first protrusion extending into the lower gap in contact with the first lower ring member end surface, and a second protrusion extending into the lower portion gap in contact with the second lower ring member end surface.

15. The vessel according to claim 14 wherein at least one of the tangential bores includes a threaded section, and the fastening element is threaded for mating engagement with the threaded section.

17. The vessel centering system according to claim 16, wherein the tightening means includes a tangential bore formed in the spacer member and a fastening means disposed in adjustable engagement with the spacer member at the tangential bore, and wherein the tangential bore extends along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the spacer member.

18. The vessel centering system according to claim 17, wherein the spacer member includes an outer surface, a first lateral end surface and a second lateral end surface, the first and second lateral end surfaces defining a spacer gap therebetween.

19. The vessel centering system according to claim 18 wherein:

(a) the tangential bore of the spacer member includes a first tangential bore section extending from a first outer aperture of the spacer member outer surface to a first inner aperture of the first lateral end surface, and a second tangential bore section extending from a second outer aperture of the spacer member outer surface to a second inner aperture of the second lateral end surface; and

(b) the fastening means includes a fastening element disposed in the first and second tangential bore sections, the fastening element extending through the first inner aperture, across the spacer gap, and through the second inner aperture, wherein the fastening element is adjustable along the generally tangential line of the first and second tangential bore sections to adjust a tightness of the fit of the spacer member in the vessel groove.

20. The vessel centering system according to claim 16 wherein the spacer member includes an upper portion and a lower portion disposed in engagement with the upper portion.

12. A vessel adapted for improved centering with respect to a spindle or other instrument when installed in a vessel plate, the vessel comprising:

(a) a vessel wall including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(b) an upper ring member fitted in the vessel groove and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel wall, the upper ring member terminating at a first upper ring member end surface and a second upper ring member end surface, wherein an upper gap is defined between the first and second upper ring member end surfaces;

(c) a lower ring member fitted in the vessel groove in adjacent contact with the upper ring member and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel wall, the lower ring member terminating at a first lower ring member end surface and a second lower ring member end surface, wherein a lower gap is defined between the first and second lower ring member end surfaces and is substantially aligned with the upper gap;

(d) a magnetic element mounted to the lower ring member and covered by the upper ring member; and

(e) a fastening element extending between the first and second end surfaces of the upper and lower ring members.

14. A vessel adapted to be centered with respect to a spindle or other instrument when installed in a vessel plate, the vessel comprising:

(a) a vessel wall including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(b) a ring member fitted in the vessel groove and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel, the ring member including an outer surface, a first lateral end surface, a second lateral end surface, a first tangential bore extending from a first outer aperture of the ring member outer surface to a first inner aperture of the first lateral end surface, and a second tangential bore extending from a second outer aperture of the ring member outer surface to a second inner aperture of the second lateral end surface, wherein the first and second lateral end surfaces define a gap therebetween, and wherein the first and second tangential bores extend along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the ring member;

(c) a magnetic element supported by the ring member; and

(d) a fastening element disposed in the first and second tangential bores, the fastening element extending through the first inner aperture, across the gap, and through the second inner aperture, wherein the fastening element is movable along the generally tangential line of the first and second tangential bores in engagement with the ring member.

16. A vessel centering system comprising:

(a) a vessel including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(b) an annular spacer member fitted in the vessel groove and extending outwardly with respect to the vessel

(c) a magnetic element supported by the spacer member; and

(d) means for tightening the spacer member against the vessel groove.

21. A vessel centering system comprising:

(a) a vessel plate including a first magnetic element and a vessel plate aperture;

(b) a vessel extending through the vessel plate aperture, the vessel including an outer surface and a vessel groove formed on a circumference of the vessel outer surface;

(c) an annular spacer member fitted in the vessel groove and disposed on the vessel plate; and

(d) a second magnetic element supported by the spacer member and aligned with the first magnetic element by magnetic attraction.

22. The vessel centering system according to claim 21 wherein the vessel plate aperture includes a first edge and a second edge, the first and second edges cooperatively defining an annular shoulder, and the spacer member is disposed on the first edge.

23. The vessel centering system according to claim 22 wherein the first magnetic element is supported by the vessel plate at a location below the first edge of the vessel plate aperture.

24. The vessel centering system according to claim 23 comprising a mounting block extending from the vessel plate at a location proximate to the first edge of the vessel plate aperture, wherein the first magnet is supported by the mounting block.

25. The vessel centering system according to claim 22 wherein the second edge of the vessel plate aperture is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vessel, and the first magnetic element is disposed in the vessel plate at a radially outward distance from the longitudinal axis.

26. The vessel centering system according to claim 21 wherein the vessel plate includes an upper side, a bottom side opposing the upper side, and a mounting block extending from the bottom side, and wherein the first magnetic element is supported by the mounting block and the spacer member is disposed on the upper side.

27. The vessel centering system according to claim 21 comprising a fastening element, wherein the spacer member terminates at a first lateral end surface and a second lateral end surface and the fastening element engages the spacer member at the first and second lateral end surfaces.

28. The vessel centering system according to claim 27 wherein the spacer member includes an outer surface, a first tangential bore extending from a first outer aperture of the spacer member outer surface to a first inner aperture of the first lateral end surface, and a second tangential bore extending from a second outer aperture of the spacer member outer surface to a second inner aperture of the second lateral end surface, the first and second lateral end surfaces defining a gap therebetween, and the first and second tangential bores extending along a line generally tangential to a curvature of the spacer member.

29. The vessel centering system according to claim 28 wherein the fastening element is disposed in the first and second tangential bores and extends through the first inner aperture, across the gap and through the second inner aperture, and wherein the fastening element is adjustable along the generally tangential line of the first and second tangential bores to adjust a tightness of the fit of the spacer member in the vessel groove.

30. The vessel centering system according to claim 21 wherein the vessel outer surface is coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the vessel, and the first and second magnetic elements are co-aligned with each other along a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis.

31. The vessel centering system according to claim 21 wherein the vessel outer surface is coaxially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the vessel, and the first and second magnetic elements are co-aligned with each other along a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

32. A method for aligning a vessel concentrically with respect to a shaft extending into the vessel, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a flangeless vessel body having a groove formed circumferentially around an outer surface of the vessel;

(b) fitting an annular spacer member in the vessel groove, the spacer member including a first magnetic element, wherein the vessel body and the spacer member cooperatively form a multi-piece flanged vessel; and

(c) securing the spacer member in the vessel groove by utilizing a fastening element engaging the spacer member.

33. The method according to claim 32 comprising the step of installing the vessel in an aperture of a vessel plate, the vessel plate including a second magnetic element, wherein magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic elements causes the vessel to become aligned in the aperture.

34. The method according to claim 32 comprising the step of providing the spacer member in two-part form, wherein a first part of the spacer member contacts a second part of the spacer member, and the first magnetic element is enclosed by the first and second parts.

35. The method according to claim 32 wherein the step of fitting the spacer member in the vessel groove includes using a fastener element to engage the spacer member.