ROTARY DEGASSERS AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR

• US 20170082368A1
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Published: 03/23/2017
• 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 10,570,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 that cannot be threadingly connected to a corresponding coupling for use in a rotary degasser, the shaft comprising:

a first end, a second end, an outer sidewall, a center portion between the first end and the second end, and an inner passage for transferring gas, wherein the first end is tapered and not threaded, and one or more grooves that are not threads formed adjacent the tapered first end between the center portion and the tapered first end;

wherein the shaft is configured to be received in the corresponding coupling so that the tapered first end mates with an inner tapered portion in the coupling, and one or more retainers are received in the coupling such that each is positioned to be pressed against one of the one or more 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 2 wherein the grooves are not vertically aligned.

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

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

6. The shaft of claim 2 wherein at least two of the plurality of grooves are each configured to align with an opening on the coupling.

7. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the second end of the shaft is threaded.

8. The shaft of claim 9 wherein the second end of the shaft is configured to threadingly connect to a rotor.

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

and 45°

.

10. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves are not vertically aligned.

11. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves is a helical groove.

12. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a center portion between the first end and the second end and the one or more grooves is between the center portion and the tapered part of the first end.

13. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves do not extend onto the tapered part of the first end.

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

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

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

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

19. The shaft of claim 2 wherein at least two of the plurality of grooves are each configured to align with an opening on the coupling.

20. The shaft of claim 9 wherein the second end of the shaft is configured to threadingly connect to a rotor.

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

and 45°

.

22. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves are not vertically aligned.

23. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves is a helical groove.

24. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a center portion between the first end and the second end and the one or more grooves is between the center portion and the tapered part of the first end.

25. The shaft of claim 1 wherein the one or more grooves do not extend onto the tapered part of the first end.

14. A shaft that cannot be threadingly connected to a corresponding coupling 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 not threaded, and one or more grooves that are not threads formed adjacent the tapered first end and the one or more grooves do not extend onto the tapered part of the first end;

wherein the shaft is configured to be received in the corresponding coupling so that the tapered first end mates with an inner tapered portion in the coupling, and one or more retainers are received in the coupling such that each is positioned to be pressed against one of the one or more grooves, in order to apply driving force from the coupling to the shaft.