Patents by Inventor MATTHIAS HORNEK

MATTHIAS HORNEK has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11986842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (14), which is mounted on the drive shaft (12) and is axially removable in a removal direction (26), a quick closure (20), which operates between the rotor (14) and the drive shaft (12) and by means of which the rotor (14) can be fixed relative to the drive shaft (12) in the removal direction (26), a thrust bearing (44) connected to the drive shaft (12), a locking bearing (24) connected to the rotor (14), at least one blocking element (38), which, when activated, fixes the rotor (14) relative to the drive shaft (12) and operates between the locking bearing (24) of the rotor (14) and the thrust bearing (44) of the drive shaft (12). The pivot axis (38b) is aligned perpendicular to a straight line parallel to the drive shaft (12) and the blocking element (38) has a cardan shaft (38a), which is rotatable about the pivot axis (38b), and is connected to a bearing (40) via the cardan shaft (38a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Andreas Hoelderle, Rainer Prilla, Robert Hegele, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Publication number: 20230182151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), in particular a laboratory centrifuge, having a) a rotor (32) for receiving containers having material for centrifuging, b) a drive shaft (42), on which the rotor (32) is mounted, c) a motor (18), which drives the rotor (32) via the drive shaft (42), d) a bearing unit (44) having bearings (20, 22, 24; 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56; 64, 66, 68), which each have damping elements (20a, 22a, 24a; 46a, 48a, 50a; 52a, 54a, 56a, 64a, 66a, 68a) comprising a spring axis (20e, 22e, 24e; 46e, 48e, 50e; 52e, 54e, 56e; 64e, 66e, 68e), and e) a carrier element (16) for fixing the motor (18) via the bearing unit (44) in the centrifuge (10). The invention is characterized in that at least one damping element is formed completely from metal and as a metal cushion (46a, 48a, 50a; 52a, 54a, 56a, 64a, 66a, 68a) comprising a wire knit having elastic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: BERND FIEDLER, ANDREAS HOELDERLE, MATTHIAS HORNEK, KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20220401967
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) for automatic loading, having a drive shaft (44), which is driven in a rotatable manner about a rotor axis (42), having a rotor (46), which is releasably coupled for conjoint rotation to the drive shaft (44) and has mounts for containers for media to be centrifuged, having a housing (12) with lateral outer walls (14, 16, 18, 20) delimiting the centrifuge (10) and with a ceiling (22), wherein at least one outer wall (14) has a sideways directed side opening (28) for loading the rotor (46) as required, and having a safety vessel (50) with at least one partially enclosing protective wall (34), which is adapted at least to the shape of the adjacent outer wall (14) with side opening (28) such that said protective wall closes off the side opening (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Rainer PRILLA, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20220266264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) with a housing (12), in which a rotor (32) for receiving a sample that is to be centrifuged is arranged. The rotor (32) is driven by the drive shaft (22) during operation of the centrifuge (10) and rotates about a rotation axis (30). The rotor (32) has a first, rotor-side transceiver unit, which is excited by an electric field, thus inducing voltage in the first transceiver unit (48). The first transceiver unit (48) is associated with a second, housing-side transceiver unit (62), which is connected to a voltage source. The two transceiver units (48, 62) are connected to a transceiver antenna (52, 64) each, and the transceiver units (48, 62) and the transceiver antennas (62, 64) are in each case arranged on an annular support (46, 60) concentrically with the rotation axis (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Andreas HOELDERLE, Albert RUNTZE, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20210245174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (14), which is mounted on the drive shaft (12) and is axially removable in a removal direction (26), a quick closure (20), which operates between the rotor (14) and the drive shaft (12) and by means of which the rotor (14) can be fixed relative to the drive shaft (12) in the removal direction (26), a thrust bearing (44) connected to the drive shaft (12), a locking bearing (24) connected to the rotor (14), at least one blocking element (38), which, when activated, fixes the rotor (14) relative to the drive shaft (12) and operates between the locking bearing (24) of the rotor (14) and the thrust bearing (44) of the drive shaft (12). The pivot axis (38b) is aligned perpendicular to a straight line parallel to the drive shaft (12) and the blocking element (38) has a cardan shaft (38a), which is rotatable about the pivot axis (38b), and is connected to a bearing (40) via the cardan shaft (38a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Andreas HOELDERLE, Rainer PRILLA, Robert HEGELE, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Patent number: 10981182
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) having a centrifuge housing, a safety vessel (14) arranged in the centrifuge housing, an interior space (16) at least partially bounded by the safety vessel (14), a rotor arranged in the interior space (16), and a cooling system, arranged in the centrifuge housing, for cooling the interior space (16), having a compressor (22), a condenser (24) and an evaporator (26), which are connected together via lines. The invention is distinguished by the fact that the cooling system has a primary circuit (52) with primary line (29) and a secondary circuit (62) with secondary line (34), wherein the primary circuit (52) comprises the compressor (22), the condenser (24) and the evaporator (26), which is part of a heat exchanger (30), and wherein the secondary circuit (62) flows through the heat exchanger (30), cools the safety vessel (14) and is provided with a pump (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10894260
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) having a safety vessel (30) with a vessel wall (32), a rotor (17), which is arranged in the safety vessel (30) and is connected via a drive shaft (20) to a drive device (22), wherein at least the drive shaft (20) extends through the safety vessel (30), a cooling system for cooling an interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30), which comprises a heat transfer medium (19) for taking up heat from the safety vessel (30), a refrigerating unit (12) and conducting pipelines (18) for the heat transfer medium (19). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the refrigerating unit (12) is based on the magnetocaloric effect, and the interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30) is cooled by a first cooling circuit (111), the magnetocaloric effect of the refrigerating unit (12) extracts heat from the heat transfer medium (19) of the first cooling circuit (111) and feeds the heat to a second cooling circuit (113).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Matthias Hornek, Wolfgang Preter
  • Patent number: 10493469
    Abstract: A rotor 10 of a centrifuge 100 having a rotor axis R, a receiving space 18 for samples to be centrifuged, a lid 40 which limits the receiving space 18 at the top, which is concentrically mounted relative to the rotor and which has, on its side remote from the receiving space 18, a handle 44 for carrying the rotor and the lid 40, and a locking mechanism of lid 40 and rotor, which mechanism is mounted in a support 52, 54 in the lid 40, said locking mechanism 50, 34b comprising a locking element 50 adapted to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and which has an actuating member 56 and a latching element 58, with the actuating member 56 and the latching element 58 being axially spaced from each other relative to the rotor axis R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG.
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Rainer Prilla, Andreas Hoelderle, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10486170
    Abstract: A rotor 10 of a centrifuge 100, having a receiving chamber 18 for samples to be centrifuged, a concentrically mounted seat 20 which is associated with a support 106 of a drive shaft 104 of said centrifuge 100, a lid 40 which limits the receiving chamber 18 at the top, which is mounted concentrically relative to the rotor and which has, on its side remote from the receiving chamber 18, a handle 44 for carrying the rotor and the lid 40, and a locking mechanism 50, 34b of lid 40 and rotor, which locking mechanism 50, 34b comprises a locking element 50 which can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position thereof. In accordance with the invention, part of the handle 44 is adapted to be movable and is operatively connected to a retaining element 48b, 48c, which retaining element 48b, 48c can be moved, by the handle 44, between a first position which prevents actuation of the locking element 50, and a second position which releases the locking element 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Rainer Prilla, Andreas Hoelderle, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10350615
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) comprising a housing (12), a rotor (32), a safety vessel (26) in which the rotor (32) is supported on a drive shaft (37) extending through the safety vessel (26) and a centrifuge cover (16) limiting an inner space (24) of the housing (12), wherein the safety vessel (26) is provided in the inner space (24), a gaseous coolant enters the inner space (24) via a suction opening (20), flows through the inner space (24), thereby guided laterally past the safety vessel (26) and at least sectionally past the drive motor via the rotor (32), and laterally exits the inner space (24) of the housing (12) through an outlet opening (46). The invention is characterized by a channel (41) being provided for the gaseous coolant, running around the safety vessel (26) at least in part and formed by the safety vessel (26) and at least one flow guidance (40), provided in radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Matthias Hornek, Robert Hegele
  • Patent number: 10300499
    Abstract: A centrifuge having a driveshaft that has an end section that tapers toward the central axis of the driveshaft. A rotor is removably mounted on the driveshaft such that the rotor may be axially removed in a removal direction. A bearing surface of a locking element of the rotor is connected to the driveshaft and holds the rotor against removal. A quick-action closure is integrated into the rotor and prevents removal of the driveshaft and the rotor in the removal direction. The end section of the driveshaft extends through an opening in the rotor where it is partially surrounded by multiple locking elements of the rotor for fixing the rotor and the driveshaft together. The locking elements include bearing surfaces engaging the end section and support surfaces engaging the rotor. The quick-action closure has force-transmitting elements which connect the locking elements to a handle permitting locking and/or unlocking the quick-action closure by a respective movement of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Frank Thuringer, Andreas Holderle, Klaus-Gunter Eberle
  • Publication number: 20170209874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) having a centrifuge housing, a safety vessel (14) arranged in the centrifuge housing, an interior space (16) at least partially bounded by the safety vessel (14), a rotor arranged in the interior space (16), and a cooling system, arranged in the centrifuge housing, for cooling the interior space (16), having a compressor (22), a condenser (24) and an evaporator (26), which are connected together via line means. The invention is distinguished by the fact that the cooling system has a primary circuit (52) with primary line means (29) and a secondary circuit (62) with secondary line means (34), wherein the primary circuit (52) comprises the compressor (22), the condenser (24) and the evaporator (26), which is part of a heat exchanger (30), and wherein the secondary circuit (62) flows through the heat exchanger (30), cools the safety vessel (14) and is provided with a pump (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: MATTHIAS HORNEK, KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20170189916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) having a safety vessel (30) with a vessel wall (32), a rotor (17), which is arranged in the safety vessel (30) and is connected via a drive shaft (20) to a drive device (22), wherein at least the drive shaft (20) extends through the safety vessel (30), a cooling system for cooling an interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30), which comprises a heat transfer medium (19) for taking up heat from the safety vessel (30), a refrigerating unit (12) and conducting means (18) for the heat transfer medium (19). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the refrigerating unit (12) is based on the magnetocaloric effect, and the interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30) is cooled by a first cooling circuit (111), the magnetocaloric effect of the refrigerating unit (12) extracts heat from the heat transfer medium (19) of the first cooling circuit (111) and feeds the heat to a second cooling circuit (113).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE, MATTHIAS HORNEK, WOLFGANG PRETER
  • Publication number: 20170056893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) comprising a housing (12), a rotor (32), a safety vessel (26) in which the rotor (32) is supported on a drive shaft (37) extending through the safety vessel (26) and a centrifuge cover (16) limiting an inner space (24) of the housing (12), wherein the safety vessel (26) is provided in the inner space (24), a gaseous coolant enters the inner space (24) via a suction opening (20), flows through the inner space (24), thereby guided laterally past the safety vessel (26) and at least sectionally past the drive motor via the rotor (32), and laterally exits the inner space (24) of the housing (12) through an outlet opening (46). The invention is characterized by a channel (41) being provided for the gaseous coolant, running around the safety vessel (26) at least in part and formed by the safety vessel (26) and at least one flow guidance (40), provided in radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE, MATTHIAS HORNEK, ROBERT HEGELE
  • Publication number: 20170050194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor 10 of a centrifuge 100 having a rotor axis R, a receiving space 18 for samples to be centrifuged, a lid 40 which limits the receiving space 18 at the top, which is concentrically mounted relative to the rotor and which has, on its side remote from the receiving space 18, a handle 44 for carrying the rotor and the lid 40, and a locking mechanism of lid 40 and rotor, which mechanism is mounted in a support 52, 54 in the lid 40, said locking mechanism 50, 34b comprising a locking element 50 adapted to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and which has an actuating member 56 and a latching element 58, with the actuating member 56 and the latching element 58 being axially spaced from each other relative to the rotor axis R.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: MATTHIAS HORNEK, RAINER PRILLA, ANDREAS HOELDERLE, KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20170050195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor 10 of a centrifuge 100, having a receiving chamber 18 for samples to be centrifuged, a concentrically mounted seat 20 which is associated with a support 106 of a drive shaft 104 of said centrifuge 100, a lid 40 which limits the receiving chamber 18 at the top, which is mounted concentrically relative to the rotor and which has, on its side remote from the receiving chamber 18, a handle 44 for carrying the rotor and the lid 40, and a locking mechanism 50, 34b of lid 40 and rotor, which locking mechanism 50, 34b comprises a locking element 50 which can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position thereof. In accordance with the invention, part of the handle 44 is adapted to be movable and is operatively connected to a retaining element 48b, 48c, which retaining element 48b, 48c can be moved, by means of the handle 44, between a first position which prevents actuation of the locking element 50, and a second position which releases the locking element 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: MATTHIAS HORNEK, RAINER PRILLA, ANDREAS HOELDERLE, KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20160158769
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) having a driveshaft (12) which has an end section (13b) that tapers toward the central axis (11) of the driveshaft (12), a rotor (18) which is mounted on the driveshaft (12) and which can be axially removed in a removal direction (16), a bearing (20) for the rotor (18), the bearing being connected to the driveshaft (12) and holding the rotor (18) at least against the removal direction (16), a quick-action closure (22) which is integrated into the rotor (18) and by means of which the driveshaft (12) and the rotor (18) are fixed in the removal direction (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: MATTHIAS HORNEK, FRANK THURINGER, ANDREAS HOLDERLE, KLAUS-GUNTER EBERLE