VIBRATORY CENTRIFUGE

摘要

The present invention relates generally to a vibratory centrifuge (10) comprising a shaft assembly (12) mounted to a basket assembly (14) which is rotated by a drive mechanism (16). The shaft assembly (12) includes a shaft (38) rotationally mounted in a shaft housing (40) and adapted at opposing ends to connect to the basket assembly (14) and the drive mechanism (16), respectively. The shaft assembly (12) also includes a pair of preloaded thrust bearings (42A and 42B) mounted to the shaft (38) and designed to handle axial vibratory loads in the shaft (38). One of the preloaded thrust bearings (42A) is mounted to the shaft housing (40) and thus designed to also handle radial loads. The shaft assembly (12) further comprises biasing means in the form of disc springs (46) mounted between the pair of preloaded bearings (42A/B) to maintain a predetermined constant static preload under the axial vibratory loads.