MOLTEN METAL ROTOR WITH HARDENED TOP

• US 20140271219A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• 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 9,903,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/241.R
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/30 Accessories for supplying molten metal, e.g. in rations supplying molten metal in ration in general B22D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/00 Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0092 Remelting scrap, skimmings or any secondary source aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/003 only remelting, e.g. of chips, borings, turnings; apparatus used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/08 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/026 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2216 Shape, geometry F04D29/2211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2222 Construction and assembly F04D29/2211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2227 for special materials
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2261 with special measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/242 Geometry, shape
• 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 7/06 the fluids being hot or corrosive, e.g. liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/303 related to the leading edge of a rotor blade
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/226 Carbides
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/0054 Means to move molten metal, e.g. electromagnetic pump
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/50 Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 266/901 : Scrap metal preheating or melting

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a rotor for a molten metal pump and a molten metal pump including the rotor. The rotor has a main body and a top comprised of a material that is at least twice as hard as the main body. The top, among other things, may form a first portion of each rotor blade wherein the first portion directs molten metal into a pump chamber or other structure in which the rotor is mounted.

Claims

1. A rotor for use in a molten metal pump, the rotor having a graphite body and a hardened top surface covering the entire body, the hardened top comprising material at least twice as hard as the graphite body.

2. The rotor of claim 1 wherein the top is comprised of material between 2-3 times as hard as the graphite body.

3. The rotor of claim 1 wherein the top is comprised of material between 2-4 times as hard as the graphite body.

4. The rotor of claim 1 wherein the top is comprised of material between 2-5 times as hard as the graphite body.

5. The rotor of claim 1 wherein the top is cemented to the graphite body.

6. The rotor of claim 1 wherein the hardened top is silicon carbide.

7. The rotor of claim 1 that comprises a plurality of blades, wherein each blade has a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion pushes molten metal towards the second portion, and the second portion pushes molten metal outward, wherein the first portion is formed as part of the hardened top.

8. The rotor of claim 7 wherein the hardened top forms at least part of the second portion.

9. The rotor of claim 7 wherein the at least part of the second portion formed by the hardened top is immediately beneath the first portion.

10. The rotor of claim 7 wherein that includes a bearing ring having a circumference and the length of each blade extends no more than 1½

″

beyond the circumference.

11. The rotor of claim 7 wherein each rotor blade has a square tip.

12. The rotor of claim 7 wherein each rotor blade includes a recess on the side opposite the first portion, each recess for enlarging the opening between each rotor blade so as to allow more molten metal to pass through the opening.

13. The rotor of claim 12 wherein the recess is part of the hardened top.

14. The rotor of claim 13 wherein the body portion has a back surface and the recess begins at a position forward of the back surface and terminate at a position even with the back surface.

15. The rotor of claim 7 wherein the body portion has gaps at the corner of each blade and the hardened top has sections that are received by and mate with the gaps.

16. The rotor of claim 15 wherein the gaps include openings that each receive a pin positioned in each respective section of the hardened top.

17. The rotor of claim 15 wherein the gap and the hardened top include mating openings wherein each two mating openings receive a dowel pin.

18. The rotor of claim 7 wherein the body portion includes a locating ring and the hardened top portion includes a projection that is received in the locating ring.

19. The rotor of claim 1 that includes a top and a bottom;

a plurality of openings through which molten metal can pass, wherein each of the openings is defined in part by an inlet perimeter;

a plurality of imperforate rotor blades for displacing molten metal, wherein each of the plurality of rotor blades has a leading face that includes a first portion that directs molten metal downward and a second portion beneath the first portion that directs molten metal outward, and a trailing face that includes a recess that increases the size of one of the openings to help permit molten metal to pass therethrough and into the pump chamber;

wherein as the device is rotated, the openings, the inlet perimeters, and the rotor blades rotate.

20. The rotor of claim 19 that further includes a bearing surface.

21. The rotor of claim 19 wherein the one or more rotor blades are comprised of graphite.

22. The rotor of claim 19 wherein the inlet perimeters are comprised of graphite.

23. The rotor of claim 19 wherein the inlet perimeters are comprised of ceramic.

24. The rotor of claim 19 wherein there are three openings.

25. The rotor of claim 19 wherein there are three rotor blades.

26. The rotor of claim 19 that further includes a threaded connective portion at the top for connecting to a rotor shaft.

27. The rotor of claim 19 wherein the device includes a flow-blocking plate at the bottom.

28. The rotor of claim 20 wherein the bearing surface is a ring comprised of ceramic.

29. The rotor of claim 28 that has a circumferential outer surface formed partially by the inlet perimeters, and wherein the ring is positioned on the circumferential outer surface.

30. The rotor of claim 29 that further includes a flow blocking plate at the bottom and a second bearing ring on the flow blocking plate.

31. The rotor of claim 19 wherein the first portion of each rotor blade has a horizontally-extending projection with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is angled to move molten metal into the pump chamber.

32. The rotor of claim 31 wherein the second portion of each rotor blade is vertical.

33. The rotor of claim 31 wherein the bottom surface of each horizontally-extending projection is formed at a 10°

-60°

downward angle relative a horizontal axis.

34. The rotor of claim 19 wherein each recess begins at a position forward of the second portion of the rotor blade.

35. The rotor of claim 31 wherein the top surface is horizontal.

36. The rotor of claim 31 wherein the horizontally-extending projection has a leading edge at least ⅛

″

thick.

37. A molten metal pump including the rotor of claim 4.

38. The pump of claim 10 that includes a superstructure on which a motor is supported, a pump base including a pump chamber in which the rotor is received, and a plurality of support rests connecting the superstructure to the pump base.

39. A molten metal pump including the rotor of claim 7.

40. The pump of claim 39 that includes a superstructure on which a motor is supported, a pump base including a pump chamber in which the rotor is received, and a plurality of support rests connecting the superstructure to the pump base.

41. The rotor of claim 7 wherein the first portion has an angled bottom with an angle of between 30°

and 60°

.