SUPPORT POSTS FOR MOLTEN METAL PUMPS

• US 20110210232A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• 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 8,501,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/669
• 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 support post for use in a molten metal pump wherein the support post has an outer wall and an upper end that supports at least part of the weight of a superstructure of the pump, and the upper end does not include a grove formed in the outer wall.

2. The support post of claim 1 that is comprised of graphite.

3. The support post of claim 1 wherein the upper end has a top surface, and the upper end is received in a post clamp attached to the superstructure of the pump.

4. The support post of claim 1 that further comprises a ceramic sleeve.

5. A plurality of support posts for use in a molten metal pump having a superstructure, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a height, an upper end and a top surface, each upper end for being received in a post clamp attached to the superstructure, each post clamp having an upper flange with an inner surface, and each top surface configured to rest against the inner surface of a top flange of a post clamp to support at least part of the weight of the superstructure, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a height plus or minus 0.010″

of the height of each of the other support posts.

6. The plurality of support posts of claim 5 wherein each of the support posts is comprised of graphite.

7. The plurality of support posts of claim 5 wherein each of the support posts further includes a ceramic sleeve.

8. The plurality of support posts of claim 5 wherein each of the support posts includes a through bolt hole at its upper end.

9. A support post for use with a molten metal pump having a pump base and superstructure, the support post having lifting means for lifting the pump base when the pump is being moved, and support means for supporting at least part of the weight of the superstructure when the pump is in use.

10. The support post of claim 9 wherein the lifting means is a through bolt hole in the support post, apertures in the post clamp, and a bolt passing through the apertures and through bolt hole.

11. The support post of claim 9 wherein the support means is a top surface of an upper end of the support post.