TRANSFER PUMP LAUNDER SYSTEM

• US 20180178281A1
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• 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 10,322,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 45/00 Equipment for casting, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/607 means for positioning from outside
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

Disclosed is a transfer pump having a pump base with a pump chamber, tangential discharge and an outlet in the top surface of the pump base. A riser tube extends from the outlet and terminates at a launder in order to move molten metal out of a vessel with relatively little turbulence.

Claims

1. A pump configured to be positioned in a vessel that contains molten metal, the pump comprising:

(a) a pump base having a pump chamber, a top surface, and a tangential discharge leading to an output port;

(b) a riser tube having a passage therethrough, a proximal end having an opening in communication with the passage, the proximal end physically attached to the output port, a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the distal end has an opening in communication with the passage, the distal end being open;

(c) a superstructure above the pump output port, the riser tube being supported by the superstructure; and

(d) a launder configured to extend from the vessel to a second vessel, the launder having an open top, and a bottom surface, wherein the distal end of the riser tube is physically connected to the bottom surface of the launder, and the opening in the distal end terminates at or above the bottom surface of the launder and below the open top of the launder, and wherein molten metal can be pumped upward through the riser tube and into the launder.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein there is an opening in the bottom surface of the launder and the distal end of the riser tube is received in the opening.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the opening in the bottom surface of the launder is circular and the riser tube is cylindrical, and the distal end of the riser tube is received in the circular opening in the bottom surface of the launder.

4. The pump of claim 3, wherein the distal end of the riser tube has a front portion that terminates at or above the bottom surface of the launder, and has a raised back portion opposite the front portion, wherein the back portion extends above the front portion, and, to the open top of the launder or higher wherein molten metal reaching the distal end of the riser tube exits the front portion and enters the launder.

5. The pump of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the riser tube has a raised back portion and a front portion being lower than the back portion, and, wherein molten metal reaching the distal end of the riser tube exits the front portion and enters the launder.

6. The pump of claim 5, wherein the front portion is at a height between:

being even with the top surface of the launder to 3″

above the top surface of the launder.

7. The pump of claim 4, wherein the front portion is within 3″

above the top surface of the launder.

8. The pump of claim 1, wherein the launder tilts backward towards the distal end of the riser tube.

9. The pump of claim 8, wherein the launder has a horizontal angle of 0°

, or tilts towards the riser tube at a horizontal angle of between 1-5 degrees, or 1-3 degrees.

10. The pump of claim 8, wherein the launder tilts backwards at a slope of ⅛

″

for every 10′

of launder length.

11. The pump of claim 1 that includes a motor positioned on the superstructure, and support posts attached to the pump base, wherein the support posts support the superstructure.

12. The pump of claim 11 that includes a drive shaft having a first end connected to the motor, and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned in the pump chamber.

13. The pump of claim 12, wherein the drive shaft comprises a rotor shaft having an end that is received in a coupling, and a motor shaft having an end that is also received in the coupling.

14. The pump of claim 12, wherein the second end of the rotor shaft is threadingly received in the rotor.

15. The pump of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the riser tube terminates at the top surface of the launder or within 3″

above the top surface of the launder.

16. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump base has a side surface and the pump outlet is in the side surface.

17. The pump of claim 16, wherein the proximal end of the riser tube is an extension piece formed as an elbow to direct the flow from the output port upwards.

18. A riser tube for use in a molten metal transfer pump, wherein the transfer pump includes (i) a pump base having an inlet, a pump casing, and an outlet, and (ii) a superstructure, wherein the riser tube is configured to have a length sufficient to extend from the outlet to a position at which it connects to a launder, the riser tube comprising:

(a) a passage therethrough;

(b) a proximal end having an opening in communication with the passage, the proximal end configured to be physically attached to the output port; and

(c) a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the distal end has an opening in communication with the passage, the distal end being open.

19. The riser tube of claim 18, wherein the distal end of the riser tube has a front portion that terminates at or above the bottom surface of a launder, and has a raised back portion opposite the front portion, wherein the back portion extends above a height of the front portion.

20. The riser tube of claim 19, wherein the raised back portion is up to 3″

higher than the front portion.

21. The riser tube of claim 18 that is supported by the superstructure.

22. The riser tube of claim 22, wherein the distal end is above the superstructure.