Scrap melter and impeller therefore

• US 20040262825A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul V. Cooper
• Original Assignee: Paul V. Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US10/827,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262825A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 266/235
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 1/06 Constructional features of mixers for pig-iron
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/5211 in an alternating current [AC] electric arc furnace
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/527 Charging of the electric furnace
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 3/045 Multiple chambers, e.g. one of which is used for charging
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/00 Stirring devices for molten material F27D3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

A device for submerging scrap metal includes: (a) a drive source, (b) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the drive source, and (d) an impeller connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the impeller preferably having two or more outwardly-extending blades. Preferably, each of the blades has a portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward. The impeller design leads to lower operating speeds, lower vibration, longer component life and less maintenance. Additionally, the impeller preferably has a connective portion. The connective portion is used to connect the impeller to the shaft and preferably comprises a nonthreaded, tapered bore extending through the impeller.

Claims

1. A device for generating a downward stream of molten metal, the device including:

(a) a drive source;

(b) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the drive source; and

(c) an impeller connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the impeller having two or more outwardly extending blades, at least one blade including a portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the impeller has four blades.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a connective portion is formed in the impeller, the connective portion connecting the impeller to the drive shaft, the connective portion comprising a tapered, nonthreaded bore extending through the impeller.

4. The device of claim 3 which further includes a nut and wherein the second end of the drive shaft has a threaded section that is positioned beneath the impeller;

the nut being threaded onto the threaded section to connect the impeller to the drive shaft.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward is an angled surface.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each blade includes a portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the impeller has an overall length of at least 28″

.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the impeller has an overall length of at least 28″

and an overall width of at least 28″

.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein each blade has a height of between 6″

and 7″

.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein the angled surface is formed at a 45°

angle.

11. A device for melting scrap metal, the device comprising:

(a) a vessel containing molten metal; and

(b) a scrap melter positioned in the vessel, the scrap melter comprising;

(i) a drive source;

(ii) a drive shaft having an first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the drive source; and

(iii) an impeller connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the impeller having two or more outwardly extending blades, at least one of the blades including a portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward.

12. The device of claim 11 that further includes a circulation pump positioned in the vessel.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward is an angled surface.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the angled surface is formed at a 45°

angle.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the impeller has four blades.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the impeller further includes a hub and each blade extends outward from the hub by at least 10″

.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein each blade has a height between 6″

and 7″

.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the vessel has two compartments.

19. An impeller for use in a molten metal bath, the impeller comprising:

(d) means for connecting the impeller to a shaft, and

(e) means for generating a flow of molten metal.

20. The impeller of claim 19 wherein the means for connecting is a tapered, nonthreaded bore extending through the impeller.

21. The impeller of claim 19 wherein the means for generating a flow of molten metal is two or more blades formed on the impeller and extending outwardly from a hub, at least one of the blades having a portion for directing molten metal at least partially downward.

22. The impeller of claim 21 wherein there are four blades and the impeller further includes a hub.

23. The impeller of claim 21 wherein at least one of the portions for directing molten metal at least partially downward is an angled surface.

24. The impeller of claim 22 wherein each of the blades extends outward from the hub by at least ten inches.

26. A device for generating a downward stream of molten metal, the device including:

(f) a drive source;

(g) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the drive source; and

(h) an impeller connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the impeller having two or more outwardly extending blades, at least one blade including a vertical face that directs molten metal at outward from the impeller.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the impeller has four blades.

28. The impeller of claim 27 wherein the impeller is in the shape of a cross.

29. The device of claim 26 wherein the vertical face of each blade is at least 6 inches in height.

30. The device of claim 26 wherein the vertical face of each blade is more than 4 inches in height.

38. An open impeller for circulating molten metal in a molten metal bath, the impeller comprising:

a hub;

three or more blades extending outwardly from said hub, there being spaces between the blades, wherein at least one of said three or more blades includes an angled surface for directing molten metal at least partially in a downward direction, and wherein at least one of said three or more blades includes a vertical surface for directing molten metal at least partially in a radially outward direction, the hub including a non-threaded tapered bore for receiving an end of a drive shaft.

39. The impeller of claim 38 wherein the impeller includes four blades formed in substantially a cross shape.

40. The impeller of claim 38 wherein each of the three or more blades includes an angled surface and a vertical surface.

41. The impeller of claim 38 wherein the angled surface is formed at a 45°

angle.

42. The impeller of claim 38 wherein each of the three or more blades extends outward from said hub by at least 10″

.

43. A device for generating a downward stream of molten metal, the device comprising:

a drive source;

a drive shaft having a first end connected to the drive source and a second end; and

the impeller of claim 38 connected to the second end of the drive shaft.

57. The impeller of claim 38 wherein the impeller is comprised of graphite.

58. The impeller of claim 38 wherein each of the three or more blades includes an angled surface.

44. A molten metal mixing device, the device comprising:

a drive source;

a drive shaft having a first end connected to the drive source and a second end;

an impeller for mixing molten metal, the impeller comprising two or more blades and a bore for receiving the second end of the drive shaft; and

a fastener to secure the second end to the impeller, the fastener connected to the second end of the drive shaft and positioned beneath the impeller.

59. The molten metal mixing device of claim 44 that is a scrap melter.

60. The molten metal mixing device of claim 44 wherein the drive shaft and the impeller are comprised of graphite.

47. A device for generating a downward stream of molten metal, the device comprising:

a drive source;

a drive shaft having a first end connected to the drive source and a second end; and

an open impeller having a plurality of outward extending blades wherein each of the plurality of blades has a portion that directs molten metal at least partially downward, and each of the blades has a height and a width, the height being less than four times the width, and wherein the impeller further includes a tapered, non-threaded bore extending therethough.

48. The device of claim 47 wherein the portion is an angled surface.

49. The device of claim 47 that further includes a connective portion in the impeller for attaching the impeller to the drive shaft, the connective portion comprising a tapered, non-threaded bore.

50. The device of claim 47 wherein the width is greater than the height.

52. The device of claim 50 wherein the impeller means includes a plurality of blades wherein each of the blades comprises an angled surface and includes a height and width, the height being less than four times the width.

51. A device for generating a downward stream of molten metal, the device comprising:

a drive source;

a draft shaft having a first end connected to the drive source and a second end; and

an open impeller means for directing molten metal at least partially downward.