초록 ▼

A centrifuge housing has a lid with a hinge with two hinge parts and a horizontal hinge axis. The lid is able to rotate between a closed position, in which the lid's centre of gravity is positioned on one side of a vertical plane through the hinge axis, and a fully opened position, in which the cent

A centrifuge housing has a lid with a hinge with two hinge parts and a horizontal hinge axis. The lid is able to rotate between a closed position, in which the lid's centre of gravity is positioned on one side of a vertical plane through the hinge axis, and a fully opened position, in which the centre of gravity is positioned on the other side of the vertical plane. A longitudinal spring is connected to a connection member for urging it longitudinally. The connection member is connected at a hinge point at a distance from the hinge axis. The spring assists raising the lid initially during opening and closing the lid initially during closing from the fully opened position. The lid has a position of stable equilibrium in an intermediate position between the closed position and a vertical position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A centrifuge comprising a drum with an axis of rotation and a housing for the drum, said housing comprising a lower part and a lid, the lid being attached to the lower part by at least one hinge comprising two hinge parts one of which is connected to the lid and one of which is connected to the l

1. A centrifuge comprising a drum with an axis of rotation and a housing for the drum, said housing comprising a lower part and a lid, the lid being attached to the lower part by at least one hinge comprising two hinge parts one of which is connected to the lid and one of which is connected to the lower part, said hinge having a horizontal hinge axis, whereby the lid is able to rotate around the hinge axis between a closed position, in which a centre of gravity of the lid is positioned on a proximal side of a vertical plane through the hinge axis, and a fully opened position, in which the centre of gravity is positioned on a distal side of the vertical plane through the hinge axis, the lid being provided with a handle for manually opening the lid, at least one spring unit being attached to the hinge for assisting raising of the lid during opening, the spring unit being a longitudinal spring unit having a longitudinal direction, the spring unit being connected to a connection member for urging the connection member in the longitudinal direction, the connection member being connected to one of the hinge parts at a hinge point at a distance from the hinge axis, the spring unit having a neutral extension in which it is not urging the connection member in the longitudinal direction, when the lid is in an intermediate position between its closed position and its fully opened position, the spring unit being stressed away from its neutral extension to urge the connection member in the longitudinal direction and thus the lid in a direction towards the fully opened position, when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the connection member is connected to the spring unit to stress it during at least a final part of the lids rotation around the hinge axis to the fully opened position, whereby the spring unit will urge the lid through the connection member in a direction from the fully opened position towards the closed position, when the lid is in the fully opened position, and wherein the lid has a position of stable equilibrium in an intermediate position of the lid between the closed position and a vertical position, in which the centre of gravity is positioned vertically above the hinge axis. 2. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the centrifuge is a decanter centrifuge and the drum has a horizontal axis of rotation. 3. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the connection member connected to the hinge part is shiftable between limits relative to a force transferring interface between the connection member and the spring unit, when the spring unit is in a position, in which it has its neutral extension. 4. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein a vertical plane parallel to the hinge axis and passing through the hinge point, when the lid is in its closed position, is located between the centre of gravity of the lid and the hinge axis, and wherein the hinge allows limited vertical movement of the lid in the closed position. 5. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the spring unit is a mechanical spring unit, the connection member extends beyond a longitudinal extension of the spring unit, the spring unit is confined at its longitudinal ends between first abutments, which are fixed relative to the second of the hinge parts, and wherein the connection member comprises second abutments for compressing the spring unit from either longitudinal end thereof. 6. A centrifuge according to claim 5, wherein the mutual distances between the first abutments and the second abutments, respectively, are different. 7. A centrifuge according to claim 5, wherein a washer element is provided at one of the longitudinal ends of the spring unit, the spring unit abutting the washer element, the connection member is passing through the washer element, the connection member being longitudinally slidable relative to the washer element, a second abutment is engageable with the washer element, and wherein a stop is provided restricting movement of the washer element in a longitudinal direction away from the spring unit, the stop thus providing a first abutment. 8. A centrifuge according to claim 7, wherein a washer element is provided at either longitudinal end of the spring unit. 9. A centrifuge according to claim 7, wherein the washer element at the longitudinal end of the spring unit opposite the hinge point is movable in the longitudinal direction between two stops. 10. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the spring unit is hollow, and the connection member extends through the spring unit. 11. A centrifuge according to claim 10, wherein the spring unit comprises a stack of Belleville washers. 12. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is connected to a piston of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder assembly providing the spring unit.