LOCKING CENTRIFUGE ROTOR COVER ASSEMBLY

摘要

A centrifuge rotor cover assembly for use with a centrifuge having a rotor and a housing enclosing the rotor and including a lid movable between a closed position overlying the rotor and an open position providing access to the rotor. The cover assembly includes a rotor cover removably coupled to the lid. Means are provided for engaging the rotor cover with the rotor for rotation therewith and for uncoupling the cover from the lid in response to the lid being moved to the closed position. Means are also provided for disengaging the rotor cover from the rotor and for coupling the cover to the lid in response to the lid being moved to the open position. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a locking centrifuge rotor cover that includes a locking mechanism having at least one locking element which engages a locking portion of the rotor so as to lock the cover onto the rotor, the locking element being responsive to centrifugally induced forces during rotation of the rotor for increasing the locking force between the cover and rotor. In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a centrifuge rotor cover locking hub which includes a hub housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being supported by the lid and the lower portion being adapted to releasably support the cover. A locking mechanism is disposed within the hub housing which locks the cover to the rotor in response to the cover being engaged with the rotor.