Molten metal pump with a flexible coupling and cement-free metal-transfer conduit connection

• US 5,944,496 A
• Filed: 12/03/1996
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Paul V. Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ted
• Application Number:
  US08/759,780
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 417/360, 417/424.1, 417/363, 417/372, 417/32, 417/423.9, 417/292, 416/223 R, 416/223 A, 416/223 B, 248/159, 403/383, 403/220, 403/337, 266/235, 266/239, 164/337, 464/179
• US Class Current: 417/423.3
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/0413 hydrostatic; hydrodynamic thrust bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/044 Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/0465 Ceramic bearing designs
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/047 hydrostatic; hydrodynamic
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2288 for comminuting, mixing or separating
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/406 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/45 Flexibly connected rigid members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7098 Non-circular rod section is joint component

Abstract

A molten metal pumping device is disclosed that comprises a pump base including at least one input port, a pump chamber, and a discharge leading to an output port. A rotor is retained within the chamber and is connected to a rotor shaft. The device further includes a superstructure attached to and positioned above the pump housing, a motor on the superstructure, a drive shaft connected to the motor and a coupling connecting the drive shaft to the rotor shaft. The rotor extends beyond the input port to deflect solid particles thereby reducing jams and preferably is a dual-flow rotor, directing molten metal both into the chamber and out through the discharge. The coupling is flexible and has two coupling members with a flexible disc disposed therebetween. Another aspect of the invention is a housing for a transfer pump that includes a discharge leading to an output port and a button adaptor extending from the discharge. The button is dimensioned so that it can connect to a metal transfer conduit without the use of cement thereby reducing maintenance costs and downtime. Further, the vertical members such as the support posts, metal transfer conduit and rotor shaft, may be sectional so that anti-corrosive materials may be used for the sections positioned in the most corrosive areas of the molten metal furnace. Additionally, a stationary component of the device may be configured to retain a thermocouple.

Claims

1. A device for pumping molten metal comprising:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor on said superstructure, said motor connected to a drive shaft;

c) a pump base having an input port, a chamber formed therein, and a discharge leading to an output port;

d) a support post connected to said base and to said superstructure;

e) a vaned rotor position within said chamber, said vaned rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond said input port in said pump base toward the drive shaft;

f) a rotor shaft connected to said rotor;

g) a coupling for connecting said rotor shaft to said drive shaft;

h) a metal-transfer conduit forming a connection with said output port without the use of cement or other sealant; and

i) a thermocouple contained within said support post.

4. A transfer pump as defined in claim 1 wherein said metal-transfer conduit is dimensioned to connect said button and is connected to said button without the use of cement or other sealant.

2. A transfer pump including:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor positioned on said superstructure, sad motor connected to a first end of a drive shaft;

c) a pump base, said base having a top surface, an input port, a pump chamber, and a discharge leading from said pump chamber to an output port;

d) a vaned rotor connected to a second end of said drive shaft for pumping molten metal, said vaned rotor positioned in said pump chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;

e) a button attached to said top surface of said pump base and extending from said output port, said button defining a passage for the transfer of molten metal, said button for connecting to a metal-transfer conduit to facilitate a connection for the transfer of molten metal therebetween;

f) a support post connecting said pump base to said superstructure; and

g) a metal-transfer conduit connected to said button, said metal-transfer conduit resting upon said button.

3. A transfer pump as defined in claim 2 wherein said button is integrally formed with said pump base.

5. A device for pumping molten metal, said device comprising:

a) a motor;

b) a pump base having an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port, wherein molten metal enters said base through said input port;

(c) a drive shaft having a first end drivingly connected to said motor, and a second end; and

d) a vaned rotor within said pump chamber, said vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and having a vaned portion extending through said input port beyond said pump base in the direction of the drive shaft, said vaned portion of said rotor extending through said input port beyond said pump base including one or more projections that deflect solid particles in the molten metal and prevents the solid particles from entering the input port when said rotor is in operation.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotor is imperforate.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said rotor is trilobal.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said rotor is quadralobal.

9. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said device further comprises a chamber wall and said rotor includes one or more vanes wherein at least one of said vanes includes a portion that directs molten metal into said chamber and at least one of said vanes includes a portion that directs molten metal outward against the wall of said chamber.

10. A molten metal pumping device including a metal-transfer conduit comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections, said device comprising:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;

c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being drivingly connected to said motor;

d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;

e) a support post connecting said base to said superstructure;

f) a vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port; and

g) a metal-transfer conduit extending from said output port to said superstructure, said metal-transfer conduit defining a passage therein for the transfer of molten metal and being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of said sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

11. A metal-transfer conduit as defined in claim 10 wherein said sections are interconnected without the use of cement or other sealant.

12. A metal-transfer conduit as defined in claim 10 wherein one of said sections is comprised of ceramic and the other sections are comprised of graphite.

13. A molten metal pumping device including a support post comprised of a plurality of sections, said device comprising:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;

c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being drivingly connected to said motor;

d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;

e) a vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port; and

f) a support post extending from said base to said superstructure, said support post having a first end connected to said base and a second end connected to said superstructure, said support post comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of sad sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

14. A molten metal pumping device including a rotor drive shaft comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections, said device comprising:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;

c) a drive shaft comprised of a motor shaft and a rotor drive shaft, said motor shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end drivingly connected to said motor, said second end connected to said rotor drive shaft;

d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;

c) a vaned rotor connected to said rotor drive shaft opposite said motor drive shaft, said rotor being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;

wherein said rotor drive shaft extends from said rotor to said motor shaft, said rotor drive shaft being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of said sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

15. A molten metal pumping device including:

a) a superstructure;

b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;

c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end drivingly connected to said motor;

d) a base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an outlet;

e) a support post connecting said superstructure to said base;

f) a rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber;

g) a cavity formed within said molten metal pumping device; and

h) a thermocouple, said thermocouple extending through said support post and being positioned within said cavity and being positioned beneath the surface of a molten metal bath when said pumping device is in use, said thermocouple measuring the temperature of the molten metal bath.

16. A device for pumping molten metal, said device comprising a motor and a pump base having an input port, a non-conical pump chamber having a non-conical pump chamber chamber wall, and a discharge leading to an output port, said device further comprising a driveshaft connecting said motor to a rotor within said pump chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port, said rotor including one or more vanes wherein at least one of said vanes includes a portion that directs molten metal outward against the wall of said chamber and at least one of said vanes includes a portion that directs molten metal into said chamber.