Patent Application
20210060581
The field of this disclosure is related to centrifuge apparatus for separation of fluids by the use of centripetal forces.
Generally, a centrifuge is an apparatus that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a potentially strong radial force perpendicular to the axis of spin. The centrifuge works using the sedimentation principle, where centripetal acceleration causes denser substances and particles that are held within the spinning container, to move outward in the radial direction. At the same time, objects that are less dense are displaced and forced toward the axis of spin. In a laboratory centrifuge that uses sample tubes, the radial acceleration causes denser particles to settle to the bottom of the tube, while low-density substances rise to the top. There are three types of centrifuge designed for different applications. Industrial scale centrifuges are commonly used in manufacturing and waste processing to sediment suspended solids, or to separate immiscible liquids. An example is the cream separator found in dairies. Very high-speed centrifuges and ultracentrifuges are able to provide very high accelerations separating fine particles down to the nano-scale, and also molecules of different masses. Gas centrifuges are used for isotope separation, such as to enrich nuclear fuel to obtain fissile isotopes.
A wide variety of laboratory-scale centrifuges are used in chemistry, biology, biochemistry and clinical medicine for isolating and separating suspensions and various fluid substances. They vary widely in speed, capacity, temperature control, and other characteristics. Laboratory centrifuges often can accept a range of different fixed-angle and swinging bucket rotors able to carry different numbers of centrifuge tubes and rated for specific maximum speeds. Controls vary from simple electrical timers to programmable models able to control acceleration and deceleration rates, running speeds, and temperature regimes. Ultracentrifuges spin rotors under vacuum, eliminating air resistance and enabling exact temperature control. Zonal rotors and continuous flow systems are capable of handing bulk and larger sample volumes, respectively, in a laboratory-scale instrument. An important application in medicine is blood separation. Blood separates into cells and proteins (RBC,WBC, platelets, etc.) and serum. DNA preparation is another common application for pharmacogenetics and clinical diagnosis. DNA samples are purified and the DNA is prepped for separation by adding buffers and then centrifuging it for a certain amount of time. The blood waste is then removed and another buffer is added and spun inside the centrifuge again. Once the blood waste is removed and another buffer is added the pellet can be suspended and cooled. Proteins can then be removed and with further centrifuging DNA may be isolated completely. Protocols for centrifugation typically specify the amount of acceleration to be applied to the sample, rather than specifying a rotational speed, i.e., revolutions per minute. This distinction is important because two rotors with different diameters running at the same rotational speed will subject samples to different acceleration forces. In circular motion, acceleration is the product of radial distance, the square of angular velocity and the acceleration relative to “g” the standard acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration is normally expressed in multiples of “g” a dimensionless quantity.
Embodiments of the described apparatus are illustrated only as examples in the figures of the accompanying drawing sheets wherein the same element appearing in various figures is referenced by a common reference mark.
The invention is a centrifuge 10 as shown in
As centrifuge 10 describes simple rotational motion along said great circle and about the X-axis, it also reciprocates side to side about the Y-axis following the sinusoidal track 50. Therefore, centrifuge 10 experiences a mixture of the simple rotation about the X-axis and reciprocating motion about the Y-axis. Because of this joint motion any material that may be enclosed within centrifuge 10 will experience centripetal forces accelerating it radially in two orthogonal planes, P5 and P7 which are defined by the X and the Y axis respectively as shown in
Centrifuge 10 may be enclosed and centered within cubical structure 40 as shown in
A controller (not shown), such as a common industrial motor controller may be used to operate drive motors 75 as to their speed and operating program, as is also well known in the art.
In the foregoing description, embodiments are described as a plurality of individual parts, and methods as a plurality of individual steps and this is solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some additional parts or steps may be added, some parts or steps may be changed or omitted, and the order of the parts or steps may be re-arranged, while maintaining the sense and understanding of the apparatus and methods as claimed.
