SYSTEM FOR RELEASING GAS INTO MOLTEN METAL

• US 20080213111A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,178,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/435
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 1/06 Constructional features of mixers for pig-iron
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/30 Regulating or controlling the blowing
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 7/072 Treatment with gases C21C7/06, C21C7/064, C21C7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/426 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 2250/52 Outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12 All metal or with adjacent metals

Abstract

A device for releasing gas into molten metal includes a base having a discharge. The discharge has a first section including a first cross-sectional area and a second section including a second cross-sectional area, wherein the first section is upstream of the second section and the first cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area. A gas-release opening is positioned so that it can release gas into one or more of the first section or the second section. As the molten metal moves from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area gas is released into the molten metal and the molten metal flow helps to draw the gas into the flow, thereby lowering the pressure required to release gas into the molten metal. Metal-transfer conduits other than a discharge incorporated in a pump base are also disclosed, as are pumps including either a discharge or other metal-transfer conduit according to the invention.

Claims

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

a pump chamber;

a discharge in communication with the pump chamber, the discharge 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 larger than the first cross-sectional area; and

a gas-release opening in communication with one or more of the group consisting of the first section and the second section.

2. The base of claim 1 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in the second section.

3. The base of claim 2 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned along a side wall of the second section.

4. The base of claim 2 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned near a top wall of the second section.

5. The base of claim 1 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in the first section.

6. The base of claim 5 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in a top wall of the first section.

7. The base of claim 2 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned within 3″

of the first section.

8. The base of claim 1 wherein the discharge is fully enclosed.

9. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 110% and 350% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

10. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 110% and 120% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

11. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 120% and 150% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

12. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 150% and 200% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

13. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 200% and 300% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

14. The base of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 250% and 350% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

15. The base of claim 1 wherein the discharge further includes a third section having a third cross-sectional area, the third section being downstream of the second section and the third cross-sectional area being larger than the first cross-sectional area but smaller than the second cross-sectional area.

16. The base of claim 1 that is comprised of graphite.

17. The base of claim 1 wherein there is a gas-release opening in communication with the first section and a gas-release opening in communication with the second section.

18. A molten metal pump including:

a base for a molten metal pump, the base comprising;

a pump chamber;

a discharge in communication with the pump chamber, the discharge 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 larger than the first cross-sectional area; and

a gas-release opening in communication with one or more of the group consisting of the first section and the second section.

19. The molten metal pump of claim 18 that further comprises a gas-transfer conduit, the gas-transfer conduit having an end including the gas-release opening and an opposite end connected to a gas source, wherein gas from the gas source can pass through the gas-transfer conduit, through the gas-release opening and into the discharge.

20. The molten metal pump of claim 18 that further includes a metal-transfer conduit connected to the discharge.

21. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in the second section.

22. The molten metal pump of claim 21 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned less than 12″

from the first section.

23. The molten metal pump of claim 21 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned within 3″

of the first section.

24. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the discharge is fully enclosed.

25. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 110% and 350% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

26. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 110% and 120% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

27. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 120% and 150% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

28. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 150% and 200% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

29. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 200% and 300% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

30. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between about 250% and 350% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

31. The molten metal pump of claim 18 that further includes a device positioned in a pump chamber in the pump base, the device having a displacement structure and an inlet structure defining one or more inlets wherein the displacement structure and the inlet structure rotate as the device rotates.

32. The molten metal pump of claim 31 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned near a top wall of the second section.

33. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in the first section.

34. The molten metal pump of claim 33 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned near a top wall of the first section.

35. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein the discharge further includes a third section having a third cross-sectional area, the third section being downstream of the second section and the third cross-sectional area being larger than the first cross-sectional area but smaller than the second cross-sectional area.

36. The molten metal pump of claim 18 wherein there is a gas-release opening in communication with the first section and a gas-release opening in communication with the second section.