METHOD AND APPARATUS CAPABLE OF PREVENTING VERTICAL FORCES DURING ROTOR FAILURE

摘要

A method and apparatus which control the motion of a rotor body fragment (2) after a rotor failure has occurred within a centrifuge assembly which comprises a rotor body, a centrifuge chamber (14) and a centrifuge lid (18). The moment of the rotor body fragment (2) can be controlled such that it moves along the centrifuge chamber (14) away from the centrifuge lid (18) by any of the following: (a) adjusting the center of gravity of the rotor such that it is below the strike point plane (16) of the rotor; (b) adjusting the shape of the centrifuge chamber (14) to conform to the rotor body shape; (c) sloping the guard ring (4) such that the lower portion is furthest away from the centrifuge chamber (14); (d) varying the strength or stiffness of the guard ring (4) or centrifuge chamber (14) at or above the center of gravity of the rotor body fragment (2); and (e) adding a ring member (36) to the top of the centrifuge rotor body.