Pump for pumping molten metal having cleaning and repair features
First Claim
1. A method of cleaning a pump for pumping molten metal, comprising the steps of:
- rotating a shaft of the pump in molten metal in a shaft sleeve surrounding the shaft, an impeller of the pump being disposed on an end of the shaft in an impeller chamber of a base;
adjusting the rotational velocity of the shaft to a cleaning velocity approximating a rotational velocity of the shaft at which cavitation occurs in the pump; and
removing metal oxides inside the shaft sleeve from the pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump for pumping molten metal includes a motor supported by motor mounting structure above a bath of the molten metal. A shaft has one end connected to the motor. An impeller is connected to the other end of the shaft. The motor mounting structure supports the motor above a bath of molten metal. A device connects the motor to the base member, facilitating replacement of the shaft. The pump may be cleaned by rotating the shaft in a shaft sleeve, the impeller being disposed in an impeller chamber of a base. The rotational velocity of the shaft is adjusted to approximate the velocity at which cavitation occurs in the pump. Metal oxides inside the shaft sleeve are then removed from the pump.
131 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of cleaning a pump for pumping molten metal, comprising the steps of:
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rotating a shaft of the pump in molten metal in a shaft sleeve surrounding the shaft, an impeller of the pump being disposed on an end of the shaft in an impeller chamber of a base; adjusting the rotational velocity of the shaft to a cleaning velocity approximating a rotational velocity of the shaft at which cavitation occurs in the pump; and removing metal oxides inside the shaft sleeve from the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of cleaning a pump for pumping molten metal, comprising the steps of:
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rotating a shaft of the pump in molten metal in a shaft sleeve surrounding the shaft, an impeller of the pump being disposed on an end of the shaft in an impeller chamber of a base; rotating the shaft at a cleaning rotational velocity uc above a rotational velocity un at which the shaft can be rotated during normal pumping of the molten metal, the cleaning rotational velocity approximating a rotational velocity of the shaft at which cavitation occurs in the pump; and removing metal oxides inside the shaft sleeve from the pump. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification