Rotor for a high speed laboratory centrifuge, in particular of an ultracentrifuge

摘要

In a centrifuge including a centrifuge rotor and a drive shaft for spinning the rotor at selected rotational speeds, a safety device adapted to prevent the rotor from attaining a rotational speed likely to cause the rotor to explode with a force that could not be contained within the centrifuge housing. The device includes a hub member having a central opening adapted to receive the upper end of the drive shaft for supporting the rotor thereon, the hub member being formed with oppositely disposed heavier portions connected by relatively thinner web sections. The web sections are so designed and constructed, relative to the weight of the heavier sections, as to rupture at a predetermined rotational velocity of the rotor thereby causing the hub member to depart from the shaft, leaving no driving capacity or support for the rotor on the shaft, which then causes the rotor to separate from the drive shaft before attaining a hazardous rotational speed.