CONTROLLED MOLTEN METAL FLOW FROM TRANSFER VESSEL

• US 20160348974A1
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• 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 10,126,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B22D 41/12 Travelling ladles or similar containers; Cars for ladles casting cranes B66C
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/12 Travelling or movable supports or containers for the charge

Abstract

A method for transporting molten metal from one location to another. A transportable vessel that is not part of a reverbatory furnace, and that can be moved to different locations, has molten metal placed therein. The transportable vessel is then moved to a different location. A pump inside of the transportable vessel is then operated to move molten metal out of the transportable vessel.

Claims

1. A method of transporting molten metal from one location to another, utilizing a transportable vessel for retaining molten metal, the transportable vessel not being part of a reverbatory furnace and including a cavity for retaining molten metal and a molten metal pump, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing molten metal into the transportable vessel;

(b) moving the transportable vessel from a first location to a second location; and

(c) operating the pump to move molten metal out of transportable vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of moving the molten metal into another vessel when the molten metal is moved out of the transportable vessel.

3. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of keeping the transportable vessel level while the pump is operating.

4. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of keeping the transportable vessel level while moving it.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transportable vessel has an uppermost portion and the outlet is lower than the uppermost portion.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the molten metal pump includes a rotor that has a plurality of blades.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein each blade is a dual-flow blade, with a first, angled portion that moves molten metal upward, and a second portion that moves molten metal outward.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein each blade is vertically oriented.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the transportable vessel further includes a transfer conduit, wherein the transfer conduit has a bottom that includes an opening in communication with the cavity, a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section above the first section, the second section having a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area, and an outlet in fluid communication with the second section and leading out of the transfer conduit;

wherein the first section is configured to receive a rotor of the pump.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the opening is beneath the rotor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the transportable vessel is comprised of refractory material.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the transportable vessel is a ladle.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first section is cylindrical and the second section is cylindrical.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein there are one or more walls that separate the cavity from the transfer conduit and the opening is formed in the bottom of at least one of the one or more walls, wherein the opening allows molten metal to pass from the cavity to the transfer conduit.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the pump includes a motor, a rotor, and a shaft, wherein the shaft has a first end connected to the motor and a second end connected to the rotor, wherein at least part of the shaft is positioned in the second section and the rotor is positioned in the first section.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump has a platform for supporting the motor, the vessel has an upper perimeter, and the transfer conduit has an upper perimeter, and the platform of the molten metal pump is at least partially supported by the upper perimeter of the transfer conduit in order to at least partially support the pump.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the platform of the molten metal pump is also supported by at least an upper perimeter of the transportable vessel.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the transfer conduit includes a first wall having a first outer surface and a second wall having a second outer surface, and the platform has a first side that includes a first centering bracket and a second side that includes a second centering bracket;

the first centering bracket being juxtaposed the first outer surface and the second centering bracket being juxtaposed the second outer surface to help center the shaft and rotor in the transfer conduit.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the cavity has an uppermost portion and the outlet has a bottom surface, the bottom surface being lower than the uppermost portion.

22. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of constructing a frame for attaching the pump to the transportable vessel.

23. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of providing a frame for the transportable vessel, wherein the frame attaches to the transportable vessel and the pump.

24. The method of claim 23 that further includes the step of attaching the frame to the transportable vessel.

25. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of attaching a pump to the transportable vessel.

26. The method of claim 24 that further includes the step of attaching the pump to the frame attached to the transportable vessel.

27. The method of claim 19 that further includes the step of constructing a platform having a first side with a first centering bracket, and a second side with a second centering bracket, wherein the first centering bracket is configured to be juxtaposed a first center surface of the transfer conduit and the second centering bracket is configured to be juxtaposed the second outer surface of the transfer conduit.

20. A method of building a transportable vessel for transferring molten metal from one place to another, the transportable vessel not being part of a reverbatory furnace, the vessel including a cavity for retaining molten metal, and a transfer conduit having a bottom that includes an opening in communication with the cavity, a first section having a diameter and a first cross-sectional area, and a second section above the first section, the second section having a second cross-sectional area, and an outlet in fluid communication with the second section and leading out of the transfer conduit;

wherein the first section is configured to receive a rotor of the pump;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) taking a height dimension of a pump having a motor, a rotor, and a shaft having a first end connected to the rotor and a second end connected to the motor) and the width dimension of the rotor; and

(b) constructing the transfer conduit so the rotor has a diameter of ¼

″

or less than the diameter of the first section, and the motor is outside of the cavity when the rotor is positioned in the first section.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein a frame is added to an upper perimeter of the transfer conduit and is configured for receiving a platform of the pump.