Centrifuge with shaft-coupling capable of maintaining motor shaft concentricity

摘要

The invention is directed to a centrifuge drive shaft (710) assembly comprising: a rotor; a drive shaft; a rotor shaft (705) disposed between said drive shaft (710) and said rotor; and a motor which is capable of rotating said drive shaft (710) thereabout; wherein the improvement comprises: a member (725) situated between said rotor shaft (705) and said drive shaft (710) for limiting vertical displacement of said rotor shaft (705) and permitting angular deflection of said rotor shaft (705) with respect to said drive shaft (710), wherein said member comprises:
A) a disk-shaped pad accommodated within an axially directed center hole through a coupling (730) and held in place by said coupling (730); or
B) a first sleeve that is disposed substantially around an end of said rotor shaft, a second sleeve that is disposed substantially around an end of said drive shaft, and a flexible column disposed between said first sleeve and said second sleeve.