US 11,986,840 B2
Centrifuge with elastocaloric cooling and method for cooling a centrifuge
Daniel Langer, Osterode (DE); and Andreas Karl, Osterode (DE)
Assigned to THERMO ELECTRON LED GMBH, Langenselbold (DE)
Filed by Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Langenselbold (DE)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/517,909.
Claims priority of application No. 102020214000.6 (DE), filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0143628 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. B04B 15/02 (2006.01); B04B 5/04 (2006.01); F25B 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC B04B 15/02 (2013.01) [B04B 5/0414 (2013.01); F25B 23/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A centrifuge, comprising:
a rotor rotatably mounted in an interior of a rotor chamber and being designed to accommodate sample vessels,
a drive motor to set the rotor in rotation, and
a cooling device designed to dissipate heat from the interior of the rotor chamber via a coolant,
wherein the cooling device is designed to use an elastocaloric effect and has at least one cooling unit which comprises an elastocaloric material arranged between a counter block and a punch, the punch being designed to periodically apply a force to the elastocaloric material and then to let the elastocaloric material relax again, the cooling device being designed to transfer both heat from the elastocaloric material to the coolant and from the coolant to the elastocaloric material,
wherein the cooling device comprises a cooling group which has a plurality of cooling units connected in series, the cooling units being arranged and designed such that a rotating eccentric successively applies a force to the punches of the cooling units, wherein the eccentric has an eccentrically rotating shaft which is surrounded by a sleeve that is rotatable relative to the shaft, and wherein the drive motor drives both the rotor and the eccentric.