Abstract: A swinging bucket centrifuge rotor having a conforming bucket seat which includes a plurality of cavities evenly spaced about its vertical axis. Each has a seat portion that with an inward profile generally following the profile of a swinging bucket, subjected to centrifugal forces. A passageway extends entirely through the rotor head and includes a slot extending radially outward from the passageway, positioned so as to bifurcate the seat portion. Located between the vertical axis and the passageway is an improved hanging mechanism that reduces the likelihood of improperly mounting a swinging bucket onto the rotor. Three embodiments of the hanging mechanism are disclosed, each of which is integrally formed with the inner wall of each cavity. The hanging mechanism is positioned so that during centrifugation, the seat portion of the rotor will bear the full centrifugal force of the bucket.

Abstract: A bracket for shock mounting of a vibrating or rotating device, such as a centrifuge, to a support surface. The bracket is formed from a plate of stiff material, such as steel, having an expandible deformable section along a lengthwise axis of the plate and a rotationally deformable leg section formed by undulations in the plate from one end to the other. At narrower plate regions, formed by the undulations, plate rotation is possible until the plate exceeds its elastic limit in the rotational direction and permanent deformation occurs. Such permanent deformation absorbs energy from accidents within the device in which energy would otherwise be transferred to a support surface and the surrounding environment.

Abstract: The present invention makes use of a single detector to monitor several process functions, e.g. reaction efficiency, reagent flow rates, the presence of empty reagent reservoirs, the absence of a chemical reactor column in the system, blockage of flow system, etc., at a single location in the flow system. In accordance with the detection scheme of the present invention, only one detector is required to accomplish the same, if not more, functions as many detectors in the prior art instruments. In the described embodiment, an optical detector is positioned downstream of a chemical reaction chamber. This detector monitors the effluent from the reaction chamber to monitor the reaction efficiency. It also monitors the system functions upstream of the reaction chamber. System flow rate is monitored by detecting the presence of a gas bubble which has been introduced into the system at a known instance.