Abstract: A laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a cabinet; a tub, arranged in the interior of the cabinet, for storing laundry water; longitudinal dampers connecting the cabinet and tub and supported on supporting ends on the hub, and supporting the tub as same hangs from the cabinet; pivot supporting parts arranged on the top parts of the cabinet and from which the longitudinal dampers are hung and supported; upper guide pins fixed to the pivot supporting parts and extending vertically; upper transverse dampers, connecting the upper guide pins and tub and vertically movable along the upper guide pins, for reducing the horizontal vibration for the tub. The laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention has the effect of reducing the horizontal vibration of the tub by means of the transverse dampers connecting the pivot supporting parts and tub.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and two annular balance rings coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. Each balance ring includes a sump for holding balancing fluid when the rotational speed of the basket is below a critical speed.

Abstract: A compensating damper comprises opposed working end faces (1788), a hermetically sealed chamber between the working end faces, and a set of plates (1701) in the chamber with a film of viscous fluid between each pair of adjacent plates. The damper has at least two different film thickness zones across the set of plates, each of the different film thickness zones providing a different resistance response when acted upon by an outside force exerted on at least one of the opposed working end faces. Multiple internal guide pins (1723) may extend axially from the opposed working end faces for engaging the plate stack partially from each of said working end faces to increase the stroke while providing for a compact damper. The plates may have a conical configuration to providing dampening in different plans.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a cabinet defining an external appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus, a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet, the drum being configured to accommodate laundry therein, a drive unit configured to generate torque required to rotate the drum, a power transmission unit provided on one surface of the drum, the power transmission unit being configured to transmit the torque generated by the drive unit to the drum so as to rotate along with the drum, and at least one balancer provided on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. Water is selectively supplied into the balancer so as to eliminate unbalance occurring in the drum, and the balancer has a shorter length than a longitudinal length of the drum.

Abstract: A force limiting device comprises a housing defining an axially extending chamber containing a working fluid. A force transmitting member may be mounted for linear reciprocable movement inside the chamber under the action of external loads. An axial array of plates is floatingly disposed in the chamber between the force transmitting member and an end wall of the chamber. At rest, each plate is spaced from an adjacent plate by a gap occupied by the working fluid. When the force transmitting member is displaced towards the array of plates, the fluid in the chamber causes the plates to be successively pushed against each other, thereby causing some of the fluid to be squeezed out from between the plates.

Abstract: A flow cytometer may include a vibration isolation structure on which a flow cytometer optical system assembly is supported when the flow cytometer is in an operational configuration. A shear protection structure may be positioned to protect a vibration isolation structure from damage during handling and shipping. A flow cytometer optical system assembly may include optical component units fixed in position on a support platform with adjustability of one or more optical features in the optical component units. A light-tight dichroic mirror unit may include a rotatably mounted dichroic mirror with a locking mechanism to permit re-setting angular positioning of a dichroic mirror.

Abstract: A method for wetting laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable treating chamber in which laundry is received for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation comprises forming an annulus of laundry within the treating chamber prior to wetting the laundry, spraying liquid onto the annulus while the treating chamber is being rotated, after the formation of the annulus, redistributing the laundry, after the redistributing, rotating the treating chamber to form an annulus of laundry, and, while the treating chamber is rotated, recirculating the liquid through the laundry.

Abstract: A Microtiter plate centrifuge is disclosed. The centrifuge includes a motor assembly, a rotor assembly attached to the motor assembly via a shaft, the rotor assembly including at least two slots, symmetrically positioned, with respect to the shaft and a channel corresponding to each of said slots. The channels extending from the rotor assembly are suitable for holding Microtiter plates in a vertical position. Also included is a bottom plate engaging a brake pad, which when engaged creates sufficient friction to halt rotation of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for separating components of a fluid having an outer housing containing a core wherein three separate fluid pathways are provided to allow continuous separation of biological fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus for improving the yield for separating components of fluids, for example biological or sensitive fluids such as blood, and improving the component yield, for example, from donated whole blood by separating its components by density in a centrifuge bowl with a multi-axial lumen. The apparatus, system, and method eliminate the need to batch-type separate blood and can reduce the time needed to treat patients suffering from T-cell or white blood cell mediated diseases or conditions to less than 70 minutes. In one aspect, the invention is a centrifuge bowl (10) comprising an outer housing (100); a core (200); a lower plate (300); a lumen (400); a first bowl channel (420) within said lumen (400) for inflowing said fluid (800); a second bowl channel (410) for removing a first separated fluid component (810); and a third bowl channel (740) for removing a second separated fluid component (820).

Abstract: Said floating group comprises: a drum (20) aligned with a center line (M) which rotates within a wrapping bin (10) driven by a motor (32), and when it rotates it creates, by an effect of masses unbalance, an actual rotation axis (N) different from said center line (M); a counterweigh (40) of mass mCE associated to a front part of the bin (10) and a counterweigh (42) of mass mCT associated to a front part of the drum (20), where the ratio [mCT/(mCE+mCT)]×100≧55, said mass mCT either a given magnitude centered with said center line (M) or a very lower magnitude and in the form of one or more fluid rings (60), the stresses the floating group sustains resulting substantially reduced, it being for it made in a light construction.

Abstract: An automatic balancing device for rotary units or systems. The automatic balancing device includes an annular housing, and an annular outer race track disposed in the annular housing. The outer race track is concentric with and attachable to the rotary system so as to rotate with the rotary system. A number of roller bodies are disposed in the annular housing and are freely movable along the race track for dynamic and/or static contact therewith during rotation of the rotary unit or system. The outer racetrack is provided in a separate ring of a large diameter having a torus-shaped groove forming the race track and having a curved concave profile facing the center of the separate ring.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes an elastically supported centrifuge basket, a drive unit, and an endless drive arrangement, such as a drive belt arranged on a drive pulley of the drive unit and a driven pulley of the centrifuge basket support unit, for driving the centrifuge basket. A tension relieving device is provided for relieving or counteracting the tension forces of the endless drive arrangement. Thus the elastic supporting members of the centrifuge basket support unit are not stressed by the tension forces of the endless drive arrangement, and the tension relieving device can be pre-stressed so that the basket is in a neutral position during operation. For pre-stressing the tension relieving device, it includes an elastic thrust element, such as a compression spring packet, in addition to a length adjustable strut. To avoid tilting moments, the tension relieving device is arranged in a plane of the endless drive arrangement between the two pulleys.

Abstract: A rotary washer/extractor for use with textiles and other materials includes a dynamically controlled suspension system for supporting the washer/extractor from a stationary frame to minimize forces exerted onto the frame and transmitted to the floor or other structure supporting the washer/extractor. The suspension system includes a plurality of supports extending between the frame and the washer/extractor at spaced apart locations in relation to the spin axis. At least one of the supports is a variable length member which may be continually adjusted to vary the distance between the frame and the washer/extractor and thereby minimize the forces caused by eccentric masses of textiles and washing fluids contained in the washer/extractor. A force sensor is provided for measuring the force acting between the washer/extractor and the frame.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine includes a resin drum which is rotatably supported in a frame by a horizontal shaft. The resin drum includes a body portion molded out of a synthetic resin, and an end surface formed at one end of the body portion, the other end being open. A fluid balancer positioned at the open end of the body portion includes a hollow annular member and a predetermined amount of saltwater sealed therein. The drum diameter is increased from the one end to the other end by utilizing a taper or slope from a plastic molding process. Therefore, the wash in the drum, in operation, moves to the vicinity of the fluid balancer at the other end of the drum along the slope of the inner surface of the drum, thereby to produce a maximum balancing effect of the fluid balancer.

Abstract: A disk shaped cassette for centrifugal fluid separation, particularly blood separation, and a drive system for high speed rotation of the cassette. The cassette is driven at speeds which permit very rapid separation of the blood in times on the order of seven (7) to twenty (20) seconds by an automated control. The cassette is supported by a flexible support coupling and mounting system that permits the entire rotating mass to spin about the center of mass unique to the particular cassette as filled. The cassette typically includes a peripheral collection chamber which may be either annular, lobed or channel shaped. A cassette enabled to hold plural separation tubes is also shown. A gel can be placed in the cassette with a density between the fluid components to be separated and after centrifuging maintains the component separation that centrifuging creates.

Abstract: A liquid bearing for use in rotary devices processing biological fluids is disclosed. The device has a stationary housing and a rotating cartridge. One end of the cartridge is rotatably connected to the housing. The other end is not directly connected to the housing, and, thus, is free to move laterally during rotation. The liquid bearing tends to recenter the free end of the cartridge during rotation.

Abstract: A neutralizer ring for dynamically balancing a gimbal-mounted overhung centrifuge, wherein the neutralizer ring must have a particular mass and location in accordance with the parameters of a given system and a method for determining the mass and location of said system by iterative manipulation of the mass and location.

Abstract: In apparatus for removing water and impurity components from sand, there are provided a rotary member having an opening at one end for charging and discharging sand and a filter for passing water. The rotary member is supported by a support and driven by a variable speed motor. Piston-cylinders or the like are provided for tilting the support. In a modified embodiment, two of the rotary bodies are juxtaposed with their openings faced each other. A peripheral wall of the rotary member is provided with a member of perforations for discharging water separated from sand.

Abstract: A first container for receiving fine-grained material to be dewatered with a concentric outer second container for receiving material from the first container and separating liquid, means for driving the containers in unison, circumferentially separated radial first and second plates connected to the first and second containers respectively, rubber blocks between the plates, and means for separately imparting vibration motion to the first and second containers with the vibrations being accommodated by the rubber blocks.

Abstract: This invention relates to centrifuging machines, and more particularly to vertical axis washing machines, wherein improved vibration-isolating devices are provided to prevent unbalance-caused vibrations of the movable mass from being transmitted to the support structure of the machine to the extent that damage to or "walking" of the machine may occur.A suspension system is provided for suspending the movable mass above the machine support structure. The suspension system is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members supported at the lower ends to the support structure. The springs are connected at their upper ends to a support member. The suspension system for supporting the movable mass on the support member includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced links which extend in the general direction of the vertical axis.

Abstract: A batch-type centrifugal system utilizes a gimbal-like suspension at the end of a rotating shaft distal an attached bowl at the other end of the shaft. The shaft rotates within an elongated bearing which is supported proximal the bowl by a support which is selectively variable in resiliency. This variation in resiliency changes the natural radial frequency of the system whereby operation of the system at rotational speeds which correspond to the natural radial frequency may be minimized, thereby effecting smooth loading, drying, and unloading operations.

Abstract: A continuously operable sugar centrifuge modified as taught herein is capable of producing quality sugar. For this purpose elastic, spring resilient sheet metal members (11) are attached to a rotatable ring with an adjustable angle of incidence so that the surface of these flexible sheet metal members encloses a selectable incidence angle with the flight path (12) of the sugar crystals, whereby the speed with which the sugar crystals impinge on the flexible sheet metal members may be controlled. Such control may be accomplished, for example, by a closed loop deceleration or braking action of the rotatable ring carrying the metal members.

Abstract: A suspension system for a washing machine including a tub assembly having an outer stationary tub and an inner clothes receiving tub mounted for rotation on a central shaft extending downwardly through the lower wall of the stationary tub, comprises a first support cup defined in the base of the washing machine, support legs spaced about the periphery of and attached at first ends to the outer tub and at opposite ends to a second support cup shaped complementarily to the first cup. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the support cups is a truncated hemisphere. The second support cup is received in the first cup to support the tub assembly on the base. A plurality of spring members are provided about the periphery of the outer tub, extending between the last mentioned tub and base to aid in stabilizing the tub assembly.

Abstract: An improved cyclical centrifugal machine includes a rigid support mounted above the basket of the machine, a bearing housing suspended from the support for gyratory motion, a basket-carrying spindle rotatable in fixed position relative to the housing on bearings therein, and an electric motor for bringing the spindle and basket to rotational speed. The improved centrifugal machine further includes a buffer system for resisting gyration of the bearing housing, spindle, and basket as well as a sensing system for detecting when such gyration, nevertheless, becomes excessive and for then discontinuing driving of the spindle and basket by the motor.

Abstract: An improved washing machine of simplified construction including means for stabilizing same during the fluid extraction or spin portion of its operation cycle. When a spin basket therein rotates at high speed the stabilization means counteracts the imbalance in the basket caused by clothes placed therein. The means for stabilizing the washing machine includes in combination: a fluid retaining jacket surrounding the spin basket and in fluid communication therewith for obtaining fluid extracted therefrom and retaining a portion therein by centrifugal force; and a plurality of flexible casing mounting support bars generally vertically positioned in spatial relation inside the washing machine casing adjacent its external corners. Each of the bars is rigidly mounted at its top end to the casing inwardly adjacent the top thereof and extends substantially freely downwardly through the casing.