Apparatus for the preparation and the performance of sedimentation velocity tests on organic liquids and other substances

Abstract

On a base structure ( 101, 103 ), an assembly ( 104 ) oscillates about a horizontal axis (X-X) between two limit positions; on said assembly, a rotor ( 106 ) is capable of rotating about an axis (Y-Y) of rotation orthogonal to said horizontal axis (X-X) and has a ring of seats ( 121 ) for test tubes ( 1 ); an actuator ( 145 ) moves said assembly into a position with the axis of rotation (Y-Y) roughly horizontal, to carry out an agitation stage, and into a position with the axis of rotation (Y-Y) vertical, to carry out, before the reading stage, a centrifugation stage. The ring of seats ( 121 ) for test tubes ( 1 ) oriented, in the vertical position of said axis of rotation (Y-Y), with their bottom facing downwards and outwards.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . (New) A method for determining a sedimentation rate of a sample, the method comprising the steps of: 
 agitating the sample;    applying, after said agitating, a combination of gravitation force and centrifugal force to the sample in a substantially constant direction with respect to the sample to settle matter in the sample;    reading a degree of sedimentation of the sample after said applying of said combination of said gravitational and centrifugal force.    
     
     
         2 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said applying of said gravitational and centrifugal force is performed by rotating the sample about a substantially vertical axis at a high speed to cause rapid sedimentation of the matter in the sample;    said agitating of the sample is performed by rotating the sample about an axis angularly spaced from vertical.    
     
     
         3 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said rotating about said substantially vertical axis is performed in a range of approximately 300 revolutions per minute.    
     
     
         4 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an organic liquid is provided as the sample;    the organic liquid is placed in a container;    said agitating includes agitating the liquid by rotating said container around a rotation axis in an agitation position;    said applying of said gravitational and centrifugal force is performed to cause accelerated sedimentation of said liquid by rotating said container around a rotation axis in a sedimentation position;    said reading of the sedimentation includes reading the sedimentation rate of said liquid.    
     
     
         5 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the container is supported on a rotor having a rotor rotation axis;    said rotor is placed with the rotor rotation axis in said agitation position;    said agitating of said liquid is performed by rotating said rotor with said rotor rotation axis in said agitation position;    said rotor is placed with the rotor rotation axis in said sedimentation position after said agitating;    said accelerated sedimentation of said liquid is performed by rotating said rotor around said rotor rotation axis in said sedimentation position.    
     
     
         6 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said container has a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor;    said agitating includes oscillating said container around said tangential pivot connection.    
     
     
         7 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said sedimentation position of said rotation axis is substantially vertical.    
     
     
         8 . (New) A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said agitation position of said rotation axis is substantially horizontal.    
     
     
         9 . (New) A method for determining a sedimentation rate of an organic liquid, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a rotor having a rotation axis with a plurality of seats for a plurality of containers, said seats being arranged around said rotation axis;    arranging an organic liquid in said plurality of containers;    arranging each of said containers in a corresponding seat of said rotor;    placing the rotation axis of said rotor in an agitating position;    agitating said liquid in said containers by rotating said rotor at a first rotation speed around said rotation axis in said agitating position;    placing the rotation axis of said rotor in a sedimentation position;    causing sedimentation of the liquid contained in said containers by rotating said rotor at a second rotation speed around said rotation axis in said sedimentation position;    stopping rotation of said rotor and optically reading said containers to determine the sedimentation rate of the liquid in said containers.    
     
     
         10 . (New) A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said second rotation speed is higher than said first rotation speed.  
     
     
         11 . (New) A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said rotation axis is substantially vertical in said sedimentation position.  
     
     
         12 . (New) A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said rotation axis is substantially horizontal in said agitation position.  
     
     
         13 . (New) A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said seats have a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor.  
     
     
         14 . (New) A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said seats have a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor.  
     
     
         15 . (New) A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said seats have a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor.  
     
     
         16 . (New) A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said seats have a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor.  
     
     
         17 . (New) A method according to  claim 9 , wherein during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed said seats are caused to oscillate around a pivotal axis tangential to said rotor.  
     
     
         18 . (New) A method according to  claim 11 , wherein during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed said seats are caused to oscillate around a pivotal axis tangential to said rotor.  
     
     
         19 . (New) A method according to  claim 12 , wherein during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed said seats are caused to oscillate around a pivotal axis tangential to said rotor.  
     
     
         20 . (New) A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of arranging a guide member along a trajectory of said containers during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed and contacting said containers with said guide member to cause said containers to oscillate around said pivotal axis.  
     
     
         21 . (New) A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of arranging a guide member along a trajectory of said containers during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed and contacting said containers with said guide member to cause said containers to oscillate around said pivotal axis.  
     
     
         22 . (New) A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of arranging a guide member along a trajectory of said containers during rotation of said rotor at said first rotation speed and contacting said containers with said guide member to cause said containers to oscillate around said pivotal axis.  
     
     
         23 . (New) An apparatus for analysis of sedimentation rate on agitated liquids in containers, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base structure;    an assembly pivotally mounted on said base structure about an oscillation axis between first and second positions;    a rotor rotatably mounted on said assembly about a rotation axis orthogonal to said oscillation axis;    a plurality of seats for receiving the containers, said seats being peripherally arranged around said rotor, each of said seats being rigidly supported by said rotor and being inclined with respect to said rotation axis and said seats receiving a container, the container being arranged with the bottom facing downwards and outwards in relation to said rotation axis;    an actuator moving said assembly and said rotor into said second position to have rotation of said rotor cause agitation of the liquids in the containers, said actuator moving said assembly and said rotor into said first position for measuring the sedimentation rate;    a reading station for optical reading along the containers;    a drive for rotating said rotor at an agitation speed when said assembly and said rotor are in said second position for agitating the liquids in the container, said drive rotating said rotor at a centrifugal speed when said assembly and said rotor are in said first position to accelerate sedimentation.    
     
     
         24 . (New) An apparatus for analysis of sedimentation rate on agitated liquids in containers, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base structure;    an assembly pivotally mounted on said base structure about an oscillation axis between first and second positions;    a rotor rotatably mounted on said assembly about a rotation axis orthogonal to said oscillation axis;    a plurality of seats for receiving the containers, each of said seats having a tangential pivotal connection to said rotor for being pivotally connected to said rotor about a seat axis tangential to rotation of said rotor about said rotation axis;    an actuator moving said assembly and said rotor into said second position to have rotation of said rotor cause agitation of the liquids in the containers, said actuator moving said assembly and said rotor into said first position for measuring the sedimentation rate;    a reading station for optical reading along the containers;    a drive for rotating said rotor at an agitation speed when said assembly and said rotor are in said second position for agitating the liquids in the container, said drive rotating said rotor at a centrifugal speed when said assembly and said rotor are in said first position to accelerate sedimentation.    
     
     
         25 . (New) The apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said first position of said rotor and said tangential pivotal connection of said seats cooperate with rotation of said rotor and gravity to force sediment in the liquids to a bottom of the containers;    said second position of said rotor and said tangential pivotal connection of said seats cooperate with rotation of said rotor and gravity to agitate the sediment in the liquids.    
     
     
         26 . (New) An apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said reading station includes a sensor for measuring a transparency of the liquids in the containers.    
     
     
         27 . (New) An apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said reading station includes a sensor for measuring a sedimentation rate of the liquids in the containers.    
     
     
         28 . (New) An apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said reading station includes a sensor for measuring Erytro Sedimentation Rate (E.S.R.) of the liquids in the containers.    
     
     
         29 . (New) An apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said tangential pivotal connection of said seats cooperate with gravity to position a longitudinal axis of the containers substantially vertical in said reading station;    said tangential pivotal connection cooperates with gravity to pivot the containers between first and second pivot positions and about said seat axis during rotation of said rotor in said second position.    
     
     
         30 . (New) An apparatus in accordance with  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said first pivot position is substantially radially outward of said rotor;    said second position of said assemble holds said rotation axis angularly spaced from horizontal to cause said second pivot position of the containers to always be on a same axial side of said rotor.