Gas-transfer foot

• US 20070253807A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Cooper
• Original Assignee: Paul Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/413,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/90
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/708 specially for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 31/00 Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time
• 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: F17D 1/04 for distribution of gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

The present invention includes a molten metal pump and associated components that enable gas to be released into a stream of molten metal. The gas may be released into the molten metal stream (preferably into the bottom of the stream) flowing through a passage. Such a stream may be within the pump discharge and/or within a metal-transfer conduit extending from the pump discharge. The gas is released by using a gas-transfer foot that is positioned next to and is preferably attachable to the pump base or to the metal-transfer conduit. Preferably, the conduit (and/or discharge) in which the gas is released comprises two sections: a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section downstream of the first section and having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross sectional area is larger than the first cross-sectional area. Preferably, the gas is released into or near the second section so that the gas is released into an area of relatively lower pressure.

Claims

1. A molten metal pump including:

(a) a motor;

(b) a rotor;

(c) a shaft connecting the motor to the rotor;

(d) a base comprising;

a pump chamber;

a discharge in communication with the pump chamber, the discharge having a bottom surface and a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, the second section being downstream of the first section and the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area; and

an opening on the bottom surface in communication with one or more of the group consisting of the first section and the section; and

(e) a gas-transfer foot, the gas-transfer foot comprising;

a gas-inlet port through which gas enters the foot; and

a gas-outlet port in communication with the opening so that gas can be transferred from the gas-outlet port through the opening and into the discharge.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein the gas-transfer foot is connected to the base.

3. The pump of claim 1 wherein a notch is constructed in the base, the notch configured to receive at least part of the gas-transfer foot such when the gas-transfer foot is received in the notch the gas-outlet port is in communication with the opening.

4. The pump of claim 1 that further includes a metal-transfer conduit extending from the discharge.

5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the opening is in the first section.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein opening is in the second section.

7. The pump of claim 1 wherein opening is in both the first section and the second section.

8. The pump of claim 1 that further includes a gas-transfer conduit having a first end connectable to a gas source and a second end connectable to the gas-inlet port of the gas-release foot.

9. The pump of claim 1 wherein the pump base and the gas-transfer foot are comprised of graphite.

10. The pump of claim 1 wherein the notch has a first end at a side of the base and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having a width greater than the width of the second end.

11. The pump of claim 10 wherein the gas release opening is formed at the second end.

12. The pump of claim 1 that further includes a metal-transfer conduit in communication with the discharge such that at least some of the molten metal moving through the discharge enters and passes through the metal-transfer conduit.

13. The pump of claim 12 that further includes a structure for releasing gas into the discharge.

14. The pump of claim 1 wherein the discharge has sections in addition to the first section and second section.

15. A molten metal pump including:

(a) a motor;

(b) a rotor;

(c) a shaft connecting the motor to the rotor;

(d) a base comprising;

a pump chamber; and

a discharge in communication with the pump chamber;

(e) a metal-transfer conduit extending from the discharge, the metal-transfer conduit in communication with the discharge such that at least some of the molten metal moving through the discharge also moves through the metal-transfer conduit;

the metal-transfer conduit having an internal channel including a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, the second section being downstream of the first section and the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area; and

a gas-release opening on the bottom surface of the channel in communication with one or more of the group consisting of the first section and the second section; and

(f) a gas-transfer foot comprising;

a gas inlet port through which gas passes into the gas-transfer foot; and

a gas outlet port in communication with the gas-release opening so that gas can be transferred from the gas outlet port through the gas-release opening into the conduit path.

16. The pump of claim 15, wherein a notch is formed in the metal-transfer conduit such that when the gas-transfer foot is inserted into the notch it is in communication with the gas-release opening.

17. The pump of claim 15 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the first section.

18. The pump of claim 15 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the second section.

19. The pump of claim 15 wherein the internal channel has sections in addition to the first section and second section.

20. A gas-transfer assembly for a molten metal pump, the gas-transfer assembly comprising:

(a) a gas-transfer conduit having a gas-release end and an opposite end connectable to a gas source; and

(b) a gas-transfer foot, the gas-transfer foot comprising;

a gas-inlet port in communication with the gas-release end of the gas-transfer tube; and

a gas-outlet port downstream from the gas inlet port, wherein the gas-transfer foot is attachable to a component of the molten metal pump such that the gas outlet port can transfer gas into the bottom of a flow of molten metal.

21. A gas-transfer foot for a molten metal pump, the gas-transfer foot comprising:

(a) a gas inlet port through which gas passes into the foot;

(b) a gas outlet port downstream from the gas inlet port, wherein the gas-transfer foot is attachable to a component of the molten metal pump such that the gas outlet port can transfer gas into the bottom of a flow of molten metal.

22. A base for a molten metal pump, the base comprising:

(a) a pump chamber;

(b) a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber for discharging a molten metal stream, the discharge having a bottom surface;

(c) a gas-release opening on the bottom surface of the discharge; and

(d) a notch constructed in the base such that an inserted gas-transfer foot is in communication with the gas-release opening so that gas may be released into the discharge.

23. The base of claim 22 wherein the discharge includes a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, the second section being downstream of the first section and the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area.

24. The base of claim 23 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the first section.

25. The base of claim 23 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the second section.

26. The base of claim 23 wherein the discharge has sections in addition to the first section and second section.

27. A metal-transfer conduit for a molten metal pump, the metal-transfer conduit comprising:

(a) an internal channel extending therethrough, the channel having a bottom surface;

(b) a gas-release opening in the bottom surface of the channel; and

(c) a notch formed in the metal-transfer conduit, the notch configured to receive a gas-transfer foot having a gas-outlet port such that when the gas-transfer foot is received in the notch, the gas-outlet port is in communication with the gas-release opening so that gas may be released into the channel.

28. The metal-transfer conduit of claim 27 wherein the conduit path includes a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, the second section being downstream of the first section and the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area.

29. The metal-transfer conduit of claim 28 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the first section.

30. The metal-transfer conduit of claim 28 wherein the gas-release opening is in communication with the second section.

31. The metal-transfer conduit of claim 28 wherein the conduit path has sections in addition to the first section and second section.