ADJUSTABLE FLOW OVERFLOW VORTEX TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20160346836A1
• Filed: 02/04/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Henderson, Richard S., Tetkoskie, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,322,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 2/003 for the level of the molten metal B22D11/181 and B22D11/201 take precedence; level indicators in general G01F23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 37/00 Controlling or regulating the pouring of molten metal from a casting melt-holding vessel B22D11/18, B22D39/00, B22D41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/00 Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 41/00 Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like B22D39/00, B22D43/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/08 for submerged use
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a molten metal transfer system. The system includes a pump having interchangeable low flow and high flow impellers and selective low flow and high flow transfer troughs.

Claims

1. A molten metal pump comprising an elongated tube having a base end and a top end, a shaft disposed within said tube and an impeller rotatable by said shaft, said impeller disposed proximate said base end, said base end including an inlet and said top end including an outlet, said outlet in fluid communication with a pair of trough members comprising a first trough member having a first width and a second trough member having a second width, said second width being greater than said first width.

2. The pump of claim 1 including a diverter suitable for closing one of said first and second trough members.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein each of said trough members is inclined towards said outlet.

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the first trough member has a first depth and the second trough member has a second depth and wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth.

5. The pump of claim 4, wherein said first trough is in fluid communication with a deox castor and the second trough is in fluid communication with a ladle device.

6. A method of changing the molten metal flow rate of the pump of claim 1, said method comprising providing said pump with an impeller having a first flow rate and positioning a diverter such that molten metal flow to an associated one of said trough members is blocked and changing the molten metal flow rate by replacing the first flow rate impeller with an impeller having a second flow rate and repositioning said diverter such that molten metal flow to the other of said associated trough members is blocked.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first flow rate impeller has a relatively lower flow rate and said second flow rate impeller has a relatively higher flow rate and wherein when said first flow rate impeller is in operation the diverter blocks the trough member having the second width and when the impeller having the relatively higher flow rate is in operation the diverter blocks the trough member having the first width.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the determination of a molten metal level within one of the first and second trough members and adjusting the speed of rotation of the impeller based on said determination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a laser is used in the determination of the molten metal level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said laser is in communication with a controller and said controller provides operating instructions to a motor associated with said pump.

11. A metal casting operation comprising a molten metal pump configured for elevating a quantity of molten metal above a wall of a furnace, said pump in fluid communication with at least two troughs, a first trough having a first volume and a second trough having a second volume greater than the first volume, and a diverter positioned to selectively permit molten metal to enter one of the first or second troughs.

12. The metal casting operation of claim 11, wherein said pump comprises:

a vessel disposed in the furnace;

a dividing wall dividing the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, the dividing wall having a height H1;

the molten metal pump positioned in the first chamber, the pump generating a flow of molten metal from the first chamber into the second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2, and wherein H2 is less than H1; and

wherein when the pump is activated molten metal is pumped from the first chamber into the second chamber until the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2 and moves past the opening and out of the second chamber and into one of the first or second troughs.

13. The metal casting operation of claim 11, wherein said pump comprises an elongated tube having a first inlet end disposed in said furnace and a second outlet end disposed above the furnace and in fluid communication with said trough members, a shaft and impeller disposed within said tube and a motor engaging said shaft.

14. The metal casting operation of claim 11, wherein said second trough is in fluid communication with a ladle.

15. The metal casting operation of claim 14, wherein said first trough is in fluid communication with a caster.

17. The metal casting operation of claim 11 further comprising an apparatus configured to determine the depth of molten metal in at least one of said first and second trough.

18. The metal casting operation of claim 17, wherein said apparatus is in communication with a controller and said controller instructs a motor associated with said pump.

20. The metal casting operation of claim 11, wherein said diverter is comprised of a refractory material.

16. The metal casting operation of 11, wherein said pump is provided with interchangeable shaft and impeller combinations, at least two of said combinations having different flow profiles.

19. The metal casting operation of claim 16, wherein said shaft and impeller combinations include a quick disconnect feature.