Spiral vane insert for a centrifuge

1. A removable, spiral vane insert for receipt by a rotor enclosure of a fluid-processing centrifuge, the fluid processing centrifuge having a centrifuge housing and the rotor having an axis of rotation relative to said centrifuge housing, said removable, spiral vane insert comprising:

a unitary, molded plastic spiral vane portion including a spiral vane module and a baseplate, said spiral vane module including a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotor; and

a unitary, molded plastic housing joined to said baseplate for enclosing said spiral vane module; and

said housing includes an annular protrusion and said baseplate defines an annular receiving slot for receipt of said annular protrusion.

2. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 1 wherein said spiral vane module includes a plurality of uniformly spaced vanes, each vane of said plurality being integrally joined to said tubular sleeve as part of said unitary construction.

3. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 2 wherein each vane of said plurality being integrally joined to said baseplate as part of said unitary construction.

4. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 1 wherein said baseplate portion defines a plurality of flow holes that are located in close proximity to said tubular sleeve.

5. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 4 wherein there is one flow hole positioned between each pair of adjacent vanes.

6. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 1 wherein each vane of said plurality being integrally joined to said baseplate portion as part of said unitary construction.

7. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 1 wherein said baseplate portion defines a plurality of flow holes that are located in close proximity to said tubular sleeve.

8. The removable, spiral vane insert of claim 7 wherein there is one flow hole positioned between each pair of adjacent vanes.

9. A rotor assembly for use as part of a fluid-processing centrifuge, said rotor assembly having an axis of rotation and comprising:

a rotor base;

a rotor housing removably assembled to said rotor base for defining a rotor enclosure with a hollow interior;

a removable, spiral vane insert assembled into said rotor enclosure;

a unitary, molded plastic spiral vane portion including a spiral vane module and a baseplate, said spiral vane module including a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotor assembly; and

a unitary, molded plastic housing joined to said baseplate for enclosing said spiral vane module.

10. The rotor assembly of claim 9 wherein said spiral vane module includes a plurality of uniformly spaced vanes, each vane of said plurality being integrally joined to said tubular sleeve as part of said unitary construction.

11. The rotor assembly of claim 10 wherein each vane of said plurality being integrally joined to said baseplate as part of said unitary construction.

12. The rotor assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing includes an annular protrusion and said baseplate defines an annular receiving slot for receipt of said annular protrusion.

13. The rotor assembly of claim 12 wherein said baseplate portion defines a plurality of flow holes that are located in close proximity to said tubular sleeve.

14. The rotor assembly of claim 9 which further includes a wiper blade positioned between said spiral vane insert and said rotor housing.

15. The rotor assembly of claim 14 wherein said rotor base includes a center tube extending beyond said rotor housing with a threaded end portion.

16. The rotor assembly of claim 15 wherein a threaded nut is received by said threaded end portion for the assembly of said rotor housing to said rotor base.

17. The rotor assembly of claim 16 wherein said spiral vane insert includes:

a unitary, molded plastic spiral vane portion including a spiral vane module and a baseplate, said spiral vane module including a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotor; and

a unitary, molded plastic housing joined to said baseplate for enclosing said spiral vane module.

18. A removable, spiral vane insert for receipt by a rotor enclosure of a fluid-processing centrifuge, the fluid processing centrifuge having a centrifuge housing and the rotor having an axis of rotation relative to said centrifuge housing, said removable, spiral vane insert comprising:

a unitary, molded plastic spiral vane portion including a spiral vane module and a baseplate, said spiral vane module including a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotor; and

a unitary, molded plastic housing joined to said baseplate for enclosing said spiral vane module; and

said baseplate portion defines a plurality of flow holes that are located in close proximity to said tubular sleeve.