Mixed flow rotor for molten metal pumping device

• US 6,303,074 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• 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): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US09/312,361
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 266/216, 266/233, 266/235, 266/901, 415/200
• US Class Current: 266/235
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0092 Remelting scrap, skimmings or any secondary source aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/05 Refining by treating with gases, e.g. gas flushing also refining by means of a material generating gas in situ
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/0054 Means to move molten metal, e.g. electromagnetic pump
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

A molten metal pumping device is disclosed that comprises a pump base including at least one input port, a pump chamber, a chamber wall, 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 is a dual-flow (or mixed-flow) rotor, directing molten metal both into the chamber and towards the chamber wall, where it ultimately exits the chamber through the discharge. The dual-flow rotor can also be used with a scrap melter.

Claims

1. A device for pumping molten metal, the device comprising:

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

(d) a pump base having an input port, a pump chamber, a chamber wall and a discharge leading to an output port; and

(e) a rotor connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the rotor positioned in said pump chamber and having a vane including;

(i) a first surface for moving molten metal into the pump chamber, the first surface being angled;

(ii) a second surface for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall, the second surface being positioned farther from the inlet than the first surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pump base includes a top surface and the output port is in the top surface, the device further including a metal-transfer conduit extending from said output port to the superstructure, and a clamp on the superstructure for securing the metal-transfer conduit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pump base includes a side surface and the output port is in the side surface, the device further including a gas-release device for releasing gas into a stream of molten metal generated by the device.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the gas-release device is connected to the discharge for the release of gas therein.

5. The device of claim 3 which further includes a metal-transfer conduit extending from the discharge, the gas-release device being connected to the metal-transfer conduit for the release of gas therein.

6. The device of claim 1 which includes a gas-release device for releasing gas directly into the pump chamber.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the second surface of the rotor is vertical.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotor vane is comprised of graphite.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotor is imperforate.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is a circulation pump.

7. A device for pumping molten metal, the device comprising:

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

(d) a pump base having an input port, a pump chamber, a chamber wall and a discharge leading to an output port; and

(e) a rotor connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the rotor positioned in said pump chamber and having a vane including;

(i) a first surface for moving molten metal into the pump chamber, the first surface being angled; and

(ii) a second surface for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall, the second surface being positioned farther from the inlet than the first surface,

wherein the rotor includes a horizontally-extending projection, the projection including a leading edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, the first surface being formed on the bottom surface of the projection.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the projection has a width and a height and the second surface has a height, the height of the projection being no more than ½

the height of the second surface.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the second surface is the leading face of a vertical portion of the vane, the vertical portion having a width and including a trailing face, a recess being formed on the vane, the recess extending from the top surface of the projection to the trailing face of the vertical portion.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the width of the vertical portion is no greater than ½

the width of the projection.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the recess begins on the upper surface at a position forward of the second surface.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the recess terminates on the trailing face of the vertical portion at a position one-third the height of the vertical portion.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the recess is formed at a 30°

-60°

angle.

14. The device of claim 7 wherein the top surface is flush with the inlet.

16. The device of claim 7 wherein the bottom surface of the projection further comprises a horizontal surface between the first surface and the second surface.

19. A device for pumping molten metal, the device comprising:

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

(d) a pump base having an input port, a pump chamber, a chamber wall and a discharge leading to an output port; and

(e) a rotor connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the rotor positioned in said pump chamber and having a vane including;

(i) a first surface for moving molten metal into the pump chamber, the first surface being angled; and

(ii) a second surface for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall, the second surface being positioned farther from the inlet than the first surface,

wherein the rotor includes three vanes.

26. The device according to claim 19, wherein the rotor is imperforate.

27. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a gas-release device for releasing gas directly into the pump chamber.

28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the rotor further comprises a recess in a top surface of said rotor between each of said three vanes.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the top surface of said rotor is flush with an inlet of said pump chamber.

21. A dual-flow rotor for directing molten metal into and out of a pump chamber, the rotor including a rotor vane comprising:

(a) a first means for moving molten metal into the pump chamber; and

(b) a second means for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall.

22. The rotor of claim 21 wherein:

(a) the first means for moving molten metal into the pump chamber is an angled surface; and

(b) the second means for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall is a second surface beneath said angled surface.

23. The rotor of claim 22 wherein said second surface is vertical.

24. The rotor of claim 21 wherein the vane further comprises a top surface and a recess means on the top surface to allow molten metal to enter a pump chamber.

25. A dual flow rotor for use in a molten metal pump having a pump chamber and a chamber wall, the rotor comprising:

(a) a first means for moving molten metal into the pump chamber;

(b) a second means for moving molten metal into the pump chamber; and

(c) a third means for moving molten metal towards the chamber wall, the third means positioned between the first means and the second means.

30. A dual flow rotor for use in a molten metal pump having a pump chamber and a chamber wall, the rotor comprising:

at least three vanes, each vane including first means for forcing molten metal into the pump chamber and second means for forcing molten metal towards the chamber wall.

31. A scrap melter to be used in a vessel having a vessel wall and containing a molten metal bath, the scrap melter comprising:

a motor;

a shaft having a first end connected to the motor and a second end; and

a rotor attached to the second end of said shaft, the rotor comprising at least three vanes, wherein each vane comprises first means for pushing molten metal into the molten metal bath, and second means for pushing molten metal toward the vessel wall.

32. The scrap melter according to claim 31, further comprising recess means formed in a top surface of said rotor between said at least three vanes, said recess means for allowing molten metal to pass the top surface of the rotor to encounter the at least three vanes.