Molten metal rotor with hardened tip

• US 10,641,279 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamo, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Wesley G
• Application Number:
  US15/804,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20180058465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/30 Accessories for supplying molten metal, e.g. in rations supplying molten metal in ration in general B22D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/00 Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0092 Remelting scrap, skimmings or any secondary source aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/003 only remelting, e.g. of chips, borings, turnings; apparatus used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/08 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/026 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2216 Shape, geometry F04D29/2211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2222 Construction and assembly F04D29/2211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2227 for special materials
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2261 with special measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/242 Geometry, shape
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/00 Pumps adapted for handling specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts F04D11/005, F04D29/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/06 the fluids being hot or corrosive, e.g. liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/303 related to the leading edge of a rotor blade
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/226 Carbides
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/0054 Means to move molten metal, e.g. electromagnetic pump
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/50 Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 266/901 : Scrap metal preheating or melting

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a rotor for a molten metal pump and a molten metal pump including the rotor. The rotor has a main body and a top comprised of a material that is at least twice as hard as the main body. The top, among other things, may form a first portion of each rotor blade wherein the first portion directs molten metal into a pump chamber or other structure in which the rotor is mounted.

Claims

1. A rotor for use in a molten metal pump, the rotor including:

a graphite body, a top surface, and a plurality of vanes, wherein each of the plurality of vanes has a leading face and a trailing face, and hardened portions comprising hardened material at least twice as hard as the graphite body, the hardened portions comprising;

the top surface, less than all of the leading face and less than all of the trailing face;

wherein each of the plurality of vanes further comprises a recess, each recess being configured to enlarge an opening between each vane of the plurality of vanes so as to allow more molten metal to pass through the opening, and at least part of each recess is comprised of the hardened material;

wherein the graphite body has gaps at a corner of each blade and the hardened top surface has sections that are received by and mate with the gaps.

2. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the hardened portions are comprised of material from 2-3 times as hard as the graphite body.

3. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the hardened portions are comprised of material from 2-4 times as hard as the graphite body.

4. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the hardened portions are comprised of material from 2-5 times as hard as the graphite body.

5. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the hardened portions are cemented to the graphite body.

6. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the hardened portions are comprised of silicon carbide.

7. The rotor of claim 1, wherein each vane has a first section and a second section, and the first section pushes molten metal towards the second section, and the second section pushes molten metal outward, wherein the first section is comprised of hardened material.

8. The rotor of claim 7, wherein part of the second section is comprised of hardened material.

9. The rotor of claim 7, wherein the part of the second section comprised of hardened material is immediately beneath the first section.

10. The rotor of claim 7 that further includes a bearing ring having a circumference, each of the plurality of vanes has a length, and the length extends no more than 1½

″

beyond the circumference.

11. The rotor of claim 7, wherein the first section of each of the the plurality of vanes has a lower surface formed at a planar angle.

12. The rotor of claim 7, wherein the first section of each vane of the plurality of vanes has a horizontally-extending leading edge with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is angled to move molten metal into a pump chamber.

13. The rotor of claim 12, wherein the second section of each vane of the plurality of vanes is vertical.

14. The rotor of claim 12, wherein the bottom surface of each horizontally-extending leading edge is formed at a 10°

-60°

downward angle relative a horizontal axis.

15. The rotor of claim 12, wherein the horizontally-extending leading edge is at least ⅛

″

thick.

16. The rotor of claim 7, wherein the first section further comprises an angled bottom surface with an angle of between 30°

and 60°

.

17. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the graphite body has a back surface and the recess begins at a position forward of the back surface and terminates at a position even with the back surface.

18. The rotor of claim 1 that further includes a bearing surface.

19. The rotor of claim 1, wherein there are three vanes.

20. The rotor of claim 1 that further includes a threaded connective portion at the top surface that is configured to connect to a rotor shaft.

21. The rotor of claim 1 that further includes a flow-blocking plate at the bottom.

22. The rotor of claim 1, wherein each recess begins at a position forward of the second section of each vane of the plurality of vanes.

23. The rotor of claim 1, wherein the top surface is horizontal.

24. A molten metal pump including the rotor of claim 1.

25. The pump of claim 24 that includes a superstructure on which a motor is supported, a pump base including a pump chamber in which the rotor is received, and a plurality of support rests connecting the superstructure to the pump base.