ROTARY DEGASSERS AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR

• US 20160047602A1
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• 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 9,657,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 1/06 Constructional features of mixers for pig-iron
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/18 Hollow blades, i.e. blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities structure of hollow blades in general F01D5/147; Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 3/02 Shafts; Axles
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/108 having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 3/22 Arrangements of air or gas supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2027/002 Gas stirring
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/00 Stirring devices for molten material F27D3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/16 Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge porous elements for gas flushing of molten metals B22D1/005

Abstract

Disclosed are degassers, couplings, impeller shafts and impellers for use in molten metal. One such coupling transfers gas into an impeller shaft, the coupling having a smooth, tapered internal surface to align with a corresponding surface on the impeller shaft and help prevent gas leakage and to assist in preventing damage to the impeller shaft. Improved impellers for shearing and mixing gas are also disclosed, as is a degasser including one or more of these components.

Claims

1. A shaft for use in a rotary degasser, the shaft comprising:

a first end, a second end, an outer sidewall, and an inner passage for transferring gas, wherein the first end is tapered, and at least one groove is formed adjacent the tapered first end, wherein the tapered first end mates with an inner tapered portion in a coupling, and one or more retainers that are threadingly received in the coupling are each threadingly received in an opening of the coupling positioned such that each of the one or more retainers is positioned to be received in and to apply pressure to one or more of the grooves, in order to apply driving force from the coupling to the shaft.

2. The shaft of claim 1 that has a plurality of grooves.

3. The shaft of claim 1 that is comprised of graphite.

4. The shaft of claim 2 wherein the grooves are not vertically aligned.

5. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove is vertical.

6. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the at least one groove is circular.

7. The shaft of claim 1 that is coupled with a metal coupling having a first, tapered end that receives the tapered first end of the shaft and a second end that receives the adjacent portion of the shaft containing the at least one groove, the second end including one or more openings through which retainers may be received to contact at least one of the one or more grooves to apply driving force to the shaft.

8. The shaft of claim 7 wherein there is a plurality of grooves and a plurality of openings with each opening corresponding to one groove.

9. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the second end of the shaft connects to a rotor.

10. The shaft of claim 9 wherein the second end of the shaft threadingly connects to a rotor.

11. The shaft of claim 7 wherein the coupling is comprised of steel.

12. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the taper is at an angle between 20°

and 45°

.