Support post system for molten metal pump

• US 20050053499A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Paul V. Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,906,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/423.140
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/021 containing a coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/026 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/628 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• 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 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/171 Steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/20 Oxide or non-oxide ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/224 Carbon, e.g. graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12 All metal or with adjacent metals

Abstract

An improved post clamp for a molten metal pump includes a support post clamp that supports the weight of a pump superstructure on the top of the support posts. The clamp preferably includes (a) a bottom flange for connecting to the pump superstructure, (b) a cavity for receiving an end of a support post, wherein the end has a top surface, and (c) a top flange for being positioned above the top surface. In operation the top flange rests on the top surface of the support post thereby supporting at least part of the weight of the superstructure. It is preferred that a plurality of support posts and post clamps according to the invention be used with a molten metal pump wherein the top surface of each support post supports some of the weight of the superstructure. Also disclosed are novel support posts that may be used with the post clamp, and a pump in which the post clamp and/or support posts may be used.

Claims

1. A post clamp for use in a molten metal pump, the clamp for positioning a superstructure of the pump relative a support post, the post clamp including a cavity for receiving an end of the support post, a lower flange for connecting to the superstructure, and an upper flange that supports at least part of the weight of the superstructure when the molten metal pump is in use.

2. The post clamp of claim 1 wherein the clamp is a one-piece clamp.

3. The post clamp of claim 1 wherein the clamp is a two-piece clamp.

4. The post clamp of claim 3 wherein each piece has a lower flange for connecting to the superstructure.

5. The post clamp of claim 1 that is comprised of steel.

6. The post clamp of claim 3 wherein each piece has an aperture, and the apertures are aligned so that a single bolt may pass through each aperture.

7. The post clamp of claim 3 wherein each piece has an upper flange for supporting at least part of the weight of the superstructure.

8. A molten metal pump including a superstructure and a plurality of support posts for supporting the superstructure, each of the support posts having a substantially similar height.

9. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein each of the support posts has a height H plus or minus 0.010″

.

10. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein each support post has a top and the superstructure is supported at least in part by the top of each support post.

11. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein none of the support posts includes a through bolt hole.

12. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein one or more of the support posts includes a through bolt hole.

13. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein each of the support posts has a through bolt hole.

14. The molten metal pump of claim 13 wherein a bolt is received in each of the through bolt holes and each through bolt hole has a diameter greater than the diameter of the bolt received therein.

15. The molten metal pump of claim 14 wherein each through bolt hole has a diameter of {fraction (1/32)}″

or more greater than the diameter of the bolt received therein

16. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein the pump includes a pump base having a discharge and a gas-transfer conduit attached to the discharge.

17. The molten metal pump of claim 8 wherein the pump includes a pump base having a discharge, a metal-transfer conduit attached to the discharge and a gas-transfer conduit attached to the metal-transfer conduit.

18. The molten metal pump of claim 15 that is a transfer pump, that includes a pump base having a discharge and that includes a metal-transfer conduit attached to the discharge.

19. A support post for use in a molten metal pump wherein the support post has an outer wall and an end that is secured to a superstructure of the pump and the end does not include a through bolt hole or a grove formed in the outer wall.

20. The support post of claim 19 that is comprised of graphite.

21. A plurality of support posts for use in a molten metal pump, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a height, an end and a top surface, each end for being received in a post clamp and each top surface for supporting at least part of the weight of a pump superstructure, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a height H plus or minus 0.010″

.

22. The plurality of support posts of claim 21 wherein each of the support posts is comprised of graphite.

23. The plurality of support posts of claim 21 wherein each of the support posts further includes a ceramic sleeve.

24. The plurality of support posts of claim 21 wherein each of the support posts includes a through bolt hole at its end.

25. A post clamp for use with a molten metal pump, the pump including a superstructure having a weight, and at least one support post wherein the support post has an end;

the post clamp having a section for securing the post clamp to the superstructure and means for enabling at least part of the weight of the superstructure to be supported on the end of the at least one support post.