EP0335475B1 - Zentrifuge mit thermoelektrischer Temperaturregelungseinheit - Google Patents

Zentrifuge mit thermoelektrischer Temperaturregelungseinheit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0335475B1
EP0335475B1 EP89201159A EP89201159A EP0335475B1 EP 0335475 B1 EP0335475 B1 EP 0335475B1 EP 89201159 A EP89201159 A EP 89201159A EP 89201159 A EP89201159 A EP 89201159A EP 0335475 B1 EP0335475 B1 EP 0335475B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
thermoelectric
heat sink
centrifuge
thermoelectric device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP89201159A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0335475A2 (de
EP0335475A3 (de
Inventor
Robert Carl Wedemeyer
Robert Henry Giebeler, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Beckman Coulter Inc
Original Assignee
Beckman Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/605,360 external-priority patent/US4512758A/en
Application filed by Beckman Instruments Inc filed Critical Beckman Instruments Inc
Priority to AT8989201159T priority Critical patent/ATE105213T1/de
Publication of EP0335475A2 publication Critical patent/EP0335475A2/de
Publication of EP0335475A3 publication Critical patent/EP0335475A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0335475B1 publication Critical patent/EP0335475B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04B—CENTRIFUGES
    • B04B15/00—Other accessories for centrifuges
    • B04B15/02—Other accessories for centrifuges for cooling, heating, or heat insulating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to centrifuges with an improved thermoelectric temperature control assembly.
  • thermoelectric devices which utilize the Peltier effect have come into widespread use as solid-state heating and cooling elements.
  • Thermoelectric devices have, for example, been widely used to control the temperatures of vessels and compartments, such as the refrigerated rotor compartments of centrifuges.
  • thermoelectric devices do not exhibit the high thermal mass that characterizes temperature control systems which utilize liquid baths. This, in turn, allows the temperature that is established by the system to be changed at a rapid rate, thereby greatly increasing the rate at which batches of samples may be processed.
  • Another reason for this widespread use is that the direction of heat flow through a thermoelectric device can be reversed by simply reversing the direction of current flow there through. As a result, temperature control systems which utilize thermoelectric devices need not utilize separate heating and cooling elements.
  • thermoelectric heating and cooling systems One important consideration in the design of thermoelectric heating and cooling systems is the provision of structures whereby the heat which is removed or supplied by its thermoelectric devices may be conducted away from or toward the outer surfaces thereof.
  • the outer surfaces of the thermoelectric devices are connected to a heat sink over which air is circulated.
  • the outer surfaces of the thermoelectric devices are connected to jackets through which water is circulated.
  • a system of the latter type which is used to cool a centrifuge is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,347,453, which issued on October 17, 1967 in the name of K. Goergen.
  • thermoelectric heating and cooling systems Another important consideration in the design of thermoelectric heating and cooling systems is the maintenance of a low thermal resistance between the inner and outer surfaces of the thermoelectric devices and the structures with which those surfaces are in contact
  • This low thermal resistance may, for example, be established, in part, by grinding the contact surfaces flat and smooth and by applying thermally conductive grease therebetween.
  • the desired low thermal resistance may also be established by using clamping arrangements to create a relatively high contact pressure between the thermoelectric devices and the structures with which they are in contact.
  • thermoelectric devices Prior to the present invention, the clamping arrangements that have been used with thermoelectric devices have been relatively bulky and complex. Some clamping arrangements, for example, have required that each thermoelectric device be surrounded by a plurliaty of symmetrically positioned bolts which squeeze each device between the item to be cooled and a heat sink. Because each of these clamping bolts provides a thermal leakage path across the respective thermoelectric device, however, such arrangements have a poor efficienty.
  • thermoelectric temperature control system is also provide and includes a heat sink supported by said housing; at least one thermoelectric temperature device supported on the heat sink; the vessel is positioned such that it rests on the heat sink so that the upper surface of the thermoelectric device is in thermal contact with the vessel and the lower surface of the thermoelectric device is in thermal contact with the heat sink whereby the vessel under its own weight applies a pressure on the thermoelectric device against the heat sink which improves thermal contact between the surfaces of the thermoelectric device and the heat sink and vessel in contact therewith.
  • the centrifuge may also include spring loading means supported by the housing for pressing the vessel downwardly to apply additional pressure on the thermoelectric device to further improve thermal contact between the surfaces of the thermoelectric device and the vessel and heat sink in contact therewith.
  • Each thermoelectric device may include slots along opposite edges thereof, mounted to a non-conductive substrate which defines at least one pair of mounting tongues adapted to fit into the slots of the thermoelectric device and may include means for fastening said tongues to the heat sink and thereby further pressing the thermoelectric devices against the heat sink.
  • the substrate may be provided with a plurality of bonding pads and the leads of the thermoelectric devices may be soldered to said bonding pads.
  • the substrate may may a central opening through which the rotor may be coupled to a drive motor.
  • thermoelectric devices may be positioned symmetrically with respect to the center of the vessel.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of the non-conducting substrate to support an plurality of bonding pads for the leads of the thermoelectric devices.
  • these bonding pads can also be used to establish the desired electrical connections between the thermoelectric devices.
  • the problem of supplying power to each of a plurality of thermoelectric devices is reduced to the problem of connecting an external power supply to a single pair of bonding pads.
  • the assembly of the invention thereby simplifies and reduces the cost of electrically connecting a plurality of thermoelectric devices.
  • Centrifuge 8 includes a drive motor 12 for driving a rotor 14, via a shaft 15 and hub (not shown), the internal detail of the motor and its associated drive components being omitted for the sake of clarity.
  • rotor 14 is located within a temperature controlled compartment 16 that is enclosed by a generally cylindrical metal vessel 18 and by a cover (not shown).
  • Vessel 18 is, in turn, enclosed by an explosion containment ring 20, an outer retaining wall 22 and upper and lower retaining walls 24 and 26, respectively.
  • retaining walls 22, 24 and 26 may be used to form a sealed chamber within which a vacuum may be created if desired. Because the seals and pumps that are associated with the creation of a vacuum have no bearing on the present invention, they have been omitted for the sake of clarity.
  • thermoelectric assembly 10 which has been constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • thermoelectric assembly 10 is positioned between the bottom of vessel 18 and a suitable heat sink 30.
  • heat sink 30 comprises a circularly cut section of a conventional aluminum heat sink from which part or all of the central fins have been cut away in order to provide room for drive motor 12. This heat sink is supported on a circular shoulder in lower retaining wall 26.
  • thermoelectric devices of assembly 10 are in direct, low thermal resistance contact with the upper surface of heat sink 30.
  • the upper surfaces of the thermoelectric devices of assembly 10 are in direct, low thermal resistance contact with the bottom of vessel 18.
  • thermoelectric devices can efficiently transfer heat either into or out of compartment 16, as necessary to maintain the desired temperature therein. This heat transfer is controlled by a conventional closed loop temperature control circuit (not shown) which directs current through the thermoelectric devices in response to the output of one or more thermistors that are located within bottom closure ring 17 of vessel 18.
  • FIG. 1A there is shown an enlarged view of one of spring loaded assemblies 34.
  • This assembly includes a pin 19, which is threaded into a suitable hole in upper retaining wall 24, a spring 20 and a generally cylindrical sleeve 21 having a clamping arm 21a.
  • spring 21 is compressed between a snap ring 19a on pin 19 and the lower end of sleeve 21.
  • arm 21a produces a downwardly clamping force on the edge of vessel 18.
  • the strength of this clamping force may be adjusted by turning pin 19 via the slot that is provided in the upper end thereof.
  • thermoelectric assembly 10 between vessel 18 and heat sink 30 tends to establish low thermal resistance contacts between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric devices and vessel 18 and heat sink 30.
  • the thermal resistance at the lower surfaces of the thermoelectric devices is further improved by the clamping force which is produced by thermoelectric assembly 10 itself. The manner in which this clamping force is produced will now be described in connection with Figures 2A-2D.
  • thermoelectric assembly 10 includes a nonconducting substrate 40 which preferably comprises a piece of printed circuit board. This substrate is provided with a central hole 42 to accommodate the drive shaft of rotor 14. Assembly 10 also includes a plurality of thermoelectric devices 50, 52 and 54, each of which may be of the type sold under the designation 801-3958-01 by the Cambion Division of Midland Oil Corporation. These devices are preferably spaced apart at equal angular intervals and are approximately equidistant from the center of the substrate. The latter relationships are desirable because they assure the establishment of a symmetrical heat flow pattern at the bottom of vessel and threby assure that vessel can be brought to the desired temperature in the shortest possible time. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited either to any particular physical arrangement of thermoelectric devices or to any particular number of thermoelectric devices.
  • substrate 40 is provided with a plurality of mounting openings or pockets 44 each of which has the shape shown in Figure 2C.
  • the width of pocket 44 i.e., the distance between edges 44a and 44b thereof, is such that edges 44a and 44b can slide into respective slots in the sides of a respective thermoelectric device.
  • the slots 54a and 54b in the sides of the thermoelectric device 54 which fits into pocket 44 are shown in Figure 2B.
  • the thickness of substrate 40 need not be nearly closely matched to the width of the slots of the thermoelectric devices.
  • pocket 44 is provided with secondary or stress relief openings 44c and 44d which, together with edges 44a and 44b of pocket 44 and adjacent edges 40a and 40b of substrate 40, define flexible tongues 48 which are used to clamp the respective thermoelectric device against heat sink 30.
  • This clamping action results from the deformation of the tongues by clamping bolts 56 which pass through respective clamping holes 46 that are located within each tongue and engage the mating threads of respective holes in heat sink 30.
  • This deformation of the tongues by the clamping bolts is shown in Figure 2D.
  • the magnitude of the clamping force may be fixed at the desired value by inserting deformation limiting spacers such as 58 of Figure 2D between substrate 40 and heat sink 30.
  • the magnitude of the clamping force may also be fixed at the desired value by selecting the proper distance between the clamping holes and the edges of the tongues.
  • the location of the clamping holes within the tongues is such that the tongues produce an approximately uniform clamping pressure across the edges of the tongues.
  • this location may or may not lie along the center line of the tongue. In the event that it is necessary to locate clamping holes 46 at their optimal off-center locations, those locations may be easily determined by experiment. In many cases, however, locating the clamping holes along the center lines of the tongues will provide an adequate degree of uniformity in the clamping force.
  • secondary openings 44c and 44d have the shape shown in Figure 2C, they serve to define an additional tongue 49.
  • This tongue serves as a convenient stop to fix the insertion depth of the thermoelectric devices in the respective pockets.
  • tongue 49 may also be adapted for use as an additional clamping member by extending hole 44 to form additional openings 44e and 44f, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2C, and by providing tongue 49 with a suitably located clamping hole.
  • substrate 40 is provided with a plurality of bonding pads for terminating and interconnecting the leads of the thermoelectric devices.
  • these bonding pads comprise rectangular metallized regions 60 through 66 which are applied to substrate 40 in the same manner as the traces of printed circuit boards.
  • Bonding pad 60 serves both to fasten leads 50a and 54b of thermoelectric devices 50 and 54 to substrate 40 and to produce a series connection therebetween.
  • Bonding pads 64 serve a similar fastening function for leads 52a and 50b as well as providing convenient points at which the thermoelectric devices may be connected to the external source which supplies current thereto.
  • the connection between the leads and the bonding pads also serves to hold the thermoelectric devices in place on substrate 40, thereby allowing assembly 10 to be handled and installed as a single unit.

Claims (7)

  1. Zentrifuge des Typs mit einem Rotor (14), einem temperaturgesteuerten bzw. -geregelten Behälter (18) und einem den Behälter (18) wenigstens teilweise umschließenden Gehäuse (22,24,26), sowie mit einem thermoelektrischen Temperatursteuer- bzw. Regelsystem
    gekennzeichnet durch:
       eine an dem genannten Gehäuse (26) angeordnete Wärmesenke (30);
       wenigstens eine auf der Wärmesenke (30) angeordnete thermoelektrische Temperaturvorrichtung (50,52,54);
       wobei der Behälter (18) so angeordnet ist, daß er auf der Wärmesenke (30) aufruht, derart daß die thermoelektrische Vorrichtung mit ihrer Oberseite in thermischem Kontakt mit dem Behälter (18) und die Unterseite der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtung (50,52,54) in thermischem Kontakt mit der Wärmesenke (30) steht,
       derart daß der Behälter (18) unter der Wirkung seines eigenen Gewichts einen Anpreßdruck auf die thermoelektrische Vorrichtung (50,52,54) gegen die Wärmesenke (30) ausübt, welcher den thermischen Kontakt zwischen den Oberflächen der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtung und der mit ihnen in Berührung stehenden Wärmesenke bzw. Behälter verbessert.
  2. Zentrifuge nach Anspruch 1, weiter gekennzeichnet durch
    an dem Gehäuse (24) angeordnete, unter Federvorspannung stehende Mittel (34), welche den Behälter (18) zur Erzeugung eines zusätzlichen Anpreßdrucks auf die thermoelektrische Vorrichtung (50,52,54) abwärts drücken, zur weiteren Verbesserung des thermischen Kontakts zwischen den Oberflächen der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtung und den mit diesen in Kontaktberührung stehenden Behälter und Wärmesenke.
  3. Zentrifuge nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    jeweils jede thermoelektrische Vorrichtung (50,52,54) Schlitze längs gegenüberliegenden Randkanten aufweist und auf einem nicht-leitenden Substrat (40) montiert ist, welches wenigstens ein Paar Montagezungen (40a,40b) in solcher Ausbildung aufweist, daß sie in die Schlitze der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtung (50,52,54) passen.
  4. Zentrifuge nach Anspruch 3, gekennzeichnet durch
    Mittel zur Befestigung der genannten Zungen (40a,40b) an der Wärmesenke und dadurch weiteren Anpressung der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtungen (50,52,54) gegen die Wärmesenke (30).
  5. Zentrifuge nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    das Substrat (40) mit mehreren Bondierungskissen (60, 62,64,66) versehen ist, und daß die Zuleitungen (50a, 50b) der thermoelektrischen Vorrichtungen (50,52,54) mit den genannten Bondierungskissen (60,62,64,66) verlötet sind.
  6. Zentrifuge nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    das Substrat (40) eine Mittelöffnung (42) aufweist, durch welche hindurch der Rotor (14) mit einem Antriebsmotor (12) kuppelbar ist.
  7. Zentrifuge nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
    thermoelektrischen Vorrichtungen (50,52,54) symmetrisch bezüglich des Zentrums des Behälters (18) angeordnet sind.
EP89201159A 1984-04-30 1985-03-18 Zentrifuge mit thermoelektrischer Temperaturregelungseinheit Expired - Lifetime EP0335475B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT8989201159T ATE105213T1 (de) 1984-04-30 1985-03-18 Zentrifuge mit thermoelektrischer temperaturregelungseinheit.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US605360 1984-04-30
US06/605,360 US4512758A (en) 1984-04-30 1984-04-30 Thermoelectric temperature control assembly for centrifuges
EP85901768A EP0185672B1 (de) 1984-04-30 1985-03-18 Thermoelektrische temperaturregelungseinheit

Related Parent Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85901768A Division-Into EP0185672B1 (de) 1984-04-30 1985-03-18 Thermoelektrische temperaturregelungseinheit
EP85901768A Division EP0185672B1 (de) 1984-04-30 1985-03-18 Thermoelektrische temperaturregelungseinheit
EP85901768.3 Division 1985-11-26

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Publication Number Publication Date
EP0335475A2 EP0335475A2 (de) 1989-10-04
EP0335475A3 EP0335475A3 (de) 1991-01-02
EP0335475B1 true EP0335475B1 (de) 1994-05-04

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9018511B2 (en) 2013-03-08 2015-04-28 Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc. Spring-loaded heat exchanger fins

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4341333B4 (de) * 1993-12-03 2004-04-29 Deltron Elektronische Systeme Gmbh Verfahren zum Betreiben einer elektronischen Wegfahrsperre und elektronische Wegfahrsperre für Kraftfahrzeuge
DE102014107294B4 (de) * 2014-05-23 2017-02-09 Andreas Hettich Gmbh & Co. Kg Zentrifuge
CN113083517A (zh) * 2021-03-31 2021-07-09 江苏南大生态环境建设有限公司 一种废乳化液处理装置
AT525851B1 (de) * 2022-01-27 2024-03-15 Henning Lange Asschenfeldt Prof Dr Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur thermoelektrischen Konversion durch Vermittlung der Zentrifugalkraft

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3444695A (en) * 1967-03-20 1969-05-20 Int Equipment Co Refrigerated centrifuge

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB985715A (en) * 1962-05-12 1965-03-10 Martin Christ Improvements in and relating to centrifuges
US3326727A (en) * 1962-07-11 1967-06-20 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Thermopile module with displacement permitting slotted thermojunction members
CH413018A (de) * 1963-04-30 1966-05-15 Du Pont Thermoelektrischer Generator
US3232063A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-02-01 Whirlpool Co Cooling plate and shelf structure
US3412566A (en) * 1965-06-21 1968-11-26 Borg Warner Thermoelectric apparatus
US3409212A (en) * 1966-07-14 1968-11-05 Beckman Instrumetns Inc Apparatus for controllling centrifuge rotor temperature
US3447695A (en) * 1966-11-21 1969-06-03 P & F Ind Inc Stacker
DE7224033U (de) * 1972-06-27 1972-10-12 Heraeus-Christ Gmbh Kleinzentrifuge

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3444695A (en) * 1967-03-20 1969-05-20 Int Equipment Co Refrigerated centrifuge

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9018511B2 (en) 2013-03-08 2015-04-28 Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc. Spring-loaded heat exchanger fins

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0335475A2 (de) 1989-10-04
EP0335475A3 (de) 1991-01-02

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