Molten metal pump with metal-transfer conduit molten metal pump

• US 6,345,964 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• 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, TAE JUN
• Application Number:
  US09/275,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 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, 416/185, 415/88, 415/200, 403/383, 403/220, 403/337, 464/179, 164/337, 266/235, 266/239
• 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 the superstructure, the motor connected to a drive shaft;

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

(d) a support post connected to the base and to the superstructure, the support post formed of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections;

(e) a rotor positioned within the chamber, the rotor having a vane including a section for directing molten metal into the pump chamber and including a section that directs molten metal towards the chamber wall, and a portion of the rotor extending beyond the input port in the pump base to deflect solid particles before the particles enter the pump chamber;

(f) a rotor shaft connected to the rotor, the rotor shaft formed of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections;

(g) a coupling for connecting the rotor shaft to the drive shaft;

(h) a metal-transfer conduit forming a connection with the output port without the use of cement or other sealant, the metal-transfer conduit formed of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections; and

(i) a thermocouple contained within the support post.

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

(a) a motor;

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

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

(d) a rotor within the pump chamber, the rotor connected to the second end of the drive shaft and having a portion extending beyond the input port in the pump base, the portion of the rotor extending beyond the input port in the pump base including one or more projections that deflect solid particles thereby preventing the deflected particles from entering the input port, wherein none of the projections is a deflector disk.

3. A transfer pump for pumping molten metal, the transfer pump comprising:

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

(d) a pump base having a top surface, an input port, a pump chamber, and a discharge leading from the pump chamber to an output port; and

(e) a support post connecting the pump base to the superstructure;

(f) a button having a first end, a second end and a passage extending therethrough, the first end attached to the top surface of the pump base whereby the passage is in fluid communication with the outlet, the second end of the button for connecting to a metal-transfer conduit to facilitate a connection for the transfer of molten metal therebetween;

(g) a rotor positioned in the pump chamber and being connected to the second end of the drive shaft; and

(h) a metal-transfer conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned on the second end of the button to form a connection without the use of cement or other sealant, the connection facilitating the transfer of molten metal from the passage in the button to the metal-transfer conduit, and the second end of the metal transfer conduit being connected to the superstructure.

4. The pump of claim 3 wherein the second end of the button has an angled lip and the first end of the metal-transfer conduit has an angled lip that aligns with the angled lip on the second end of the button.

5. The pump of claim 3 wherein the button has an outer diameter and the metal-transfer conduit has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the button.

6. The pump of claim 3 wherein the second end of the metal-transfer conduit is connected to the superstructure by an adaptor.

7. The pump of claim 6 wherein the adaptor is connected to the superstructure without the use of cement of other sealant.

8. The pump of claim 6 wherein the adaptor has a section that retains the second end of the metal-transfer conduit without the use of cement or other sealant.

9. The pump of claim 8 wherein the adaptor is a two-piece, adjustable adaptor capable of compensating for different diameter metal-transfer conduits.

10. The pump of claim 9 wherein the adaptor includes at least one flat surface for clamping against the outer surface of the metal-transfer conduit to compensate for dimensional variations in the shape of the metal-transfer conduit.

11. The pump of claim 3 that further comprises a gasket positioned between the first end of the metal-transfer conduit and the second end of the button.

12. A method for removing a metal-transfer conduit from a molten metal pumping device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a molten metal bath;

(b) providing a molten metal pumping device positioned in the molten metal bath, the device including;

i. a superstructure;

ii. a motor positioned on the superstructure;

iii. a pump base having a pump chamber, an input port and a discharge leading from the pump chamber to an output port;

iv. a support post connected to the pump base and connected to the superstructure;

v. a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the motor;

vi. a rotor connected to the second end of the drive shaft, the rotor positioned within the pump chamber;

vii. an adaptor attached to the superstructure; and

viii. a metal-transfer conduit having a first end that forms a connection with the output port without the use of cement or other sealant in order to transfer molten metal from the output port to the metal transfer conduit, and a second end retained by the adaptor and thereby being connected to the superstructure;

(c) removing the device from the molten metal bath;

(d) disconnecting the second end of the metal-transfer conduit from the superstructure without removing any cement or other sealant; and

(e) disconnecting the first end of the metal-transfer conduit from the output port without removing any cement or other sealant.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the pumping device further includes a button having a first end, a second end and a passage formed therethrough, the first end of the button being connected to the output port, such that the passage is in communication with the output port, the first end of the metal-transfer conduit forming a connection with the output port by being positioned on the second end of the button.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the metal-transfer conduit has an outer diameter and the button has an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of the metal-transfer conduit.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the pumping device further includes a gasket positioned between the first end of the metal-transfer conduit and the second end of the button.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the adaptor is connected to the superstructure without the use of cement or other sealant.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the adaptor retains the second end of the metal-transfer conduit without the use of cement or other sealant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the adaptor is adjustable and includes a flat clamping surface for clamping against the outer surface of the metal-transfer conduit to retain the metal-transfer conduit.

19. A molten metal pumping device including a metal-transfer conduit comprising a plurality of interconnected sections, 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 drivingly connected to the motor;

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

(e) a support post having a first end connected to the base and a second end connected to the superstructure, the support post comprised of a plurality of interconnected vertically-aligned sections, each of the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a separate coupling component by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material;

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

(g) a metal-transfer conduit extending from the output port to the superstructure, the metal-transfer conduit being connected to the output port without the use of cement or other sealant, the 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 the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a coupling by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material.

20. The pumping device of claim 19 the metal transfer conduit wherein at least one of the sections is formed of ceramic and at least one of the sections is formed of graphite.

21. The pumping device of claim 19 the metal transfer conduit wherein the sections are threadingly connected.

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

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

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

(e) a rotor connected to the rotor drive shaft opposite the motor drive shaft, the rotor being positioned in the chamber;

wherein the rotor drive shaft extends from the rotor to the motor shaft, the rotor drive shaft being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a separate coupling component by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material; and

(f) a support post extending from the base to the superstructure, the support post having a first end connected to the base and a second end connected to the superstructure, the support post comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a separate coupling component by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material.

23. The pumping device of claim 22 the support post wherein at least one of the sections is formed of ceramic and at least one of the sections is formed of graphite.

24. The pumping device of claim 22 the support post wherein the sections are threadingly connected.

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

(a) a superstructure;

(b) a motor positioned on the superstructure;

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

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

(e) a rotor connected to the rotor drive shaft opposite the motor drive shaft, the rotor being positioned in the chamber;

wherein the rotor drive shaft extends from the rotor to the motor shaft, the rotor drive shaft being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a separate coupling component by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material;

(f) a support post connecting the base to the superstructure; and

(g) a metal-transfer conduit extending from the output port to the superstructure, the metal-transfer conduit being connected to the output port without the use of cement or other sealant, the 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 the sections having a connecting end, the sections being connected without the use of a coupling by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of the sections being comprised of refractory material.

26. The pumping device of claim 25 the rotor drive shaft wherein at least one of the sections is formed of ceramic and at least one of the sections is formed of graphite.

27. The pumping device of claim 25 the rotor drive shaft wherein the sections are threadingly connected.

28. A support post for use in a molten metal pumping device, the support post including a cavity for retention of a thermocouple, a thermocouple being retained in the cavity, the thermocouple for measuring the temperature of molten metal and being positioned below the surface of a molten metal bath when the support post is in use on a molten metal pump.

29. A molten metal pumping device including:

(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 drivingly connected to the motor;

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

(e) a support post connecting the superstructure to the base;

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

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

(h) a thermocouple, the thermocouple being positioned within the cavity and being positioned beneath the surface of a molten metal bath when the pumping device is in use, the thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the molten metal bath.