Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Patent
1997-12-05
1999-11-16
Alexander, Lyle A.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
422 99, 422102, B01L 906
Patent
active
059852194
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a test tube holder insert to be inserted into a hole in a test tube rack for receiving test tubes of different diameters, comprising a ring to be secured in said hole and being provided with spring members extending from the ring towards the centre axis of the ring to resiliently engage the outside of a test tube inserted into the insert.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such test tube holder inserts are known. A cross-sectional view of such a known test tube holder insert is shown in FIG. 1 on the appended drawing. The insert shown comprises a ring 1 which in a manner not shown in any greater detail, is designed to be snapped in place in any of the holes in a tray provided with holes for receiving test tubes and belonging to a not shown test tube rack. In the embodiment shown, the ring 1 is provided with spring members in the form of resilient tongues 2, which extend obliquely towards the centre axis of the ring 1.
It has, however, been found that an insert designed in this manner, does not ensure that the test tubes in fact stand vertically in the test tube rack. This is particularly important in order to avoid spillage in connection with e.g. automatic pipetting of radioactive or other toxic liquids in certain applications.
Test tube racks having two trays provided with holes and arranged above each other with the holes aligned for receiving test tubes, are also known. In such test tube racks, inserts of the kind shown in FIG. 1, are secured in the holes in both trays. Hereby, a more stable but not completely reliable fixation is obtained of the lower portion of the test tubes since, after all, the test tubes can end askew.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to bring about a test holder insert for test tube racks, which insert, for test tubes within a certain range of diameters, ensures the vertical alignment of the test tube in test tube racks having one as well as two trays provided with holes.
This is attained by means of the test tube holder insert according to the present invention in that the spring members are connected at their other end to a second ring which is arranged coaxially with the first-mentioned ring along its centre axis, and that each spring member is curved towards said centre axis to exhibit a section which extends parallel to the centre axis and which resiliently engages the outside of a test tube inserted into the insert.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 depicts a test tube insert.
The invention will be described more in detail below with reference to the other Figures on the appended drawing, on which;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a test tube holder insert in accordance with the invention, and
FIG. 3 is a schematical sectional view of a test tube rack with two test tube holder inserts according to the invention into which two test tubes of different diameters have been inserted.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a test tube holder insert according to the invention.
The test tube holder insert shown in FIG. 2, is intended to be secured in a hole in a test tube rack in order to make it possible to receive test tubes of different diameters therein.
FIG. 3 is a schematical sectional view of an embodiment of a test tube rack, known per se, with two trays 3 and 4 provided with holes for inserts according to FIG. 2, and arranged above each other. The test tube rack shown also comprises an underlying tray 5 which is adapted to support, from below, test tubes placed in the test tube rack. Two test tubes, denoted 6 and 7, respectively, of different diameters have been inserted into the inserts as shown in FIG. 3.
The test tube holder insert according to the invention, shown in FIG. 2, comprises a ring 8 as the known insert shown in FIG. 1. On its outside, that ring is provided, on the one hand, with a number of hook-shaped elements 9 and, on the other hand, with a number of protrusions 10, which are adapted to co-operate in
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Alexander Lyle A.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics AB
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