Monolithic rotor and rigid coupling

• US 6,398,525 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1998
• 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): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US09/590,108
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 417/423.6, 417/900, 415/200
• US Class Current: 417/423.6
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 21/106 with a radial surface, e.g. cam rings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/044 Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/02 for connecting two abutting shafts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/0847 with radial clamping due to a radial screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 417/90 Slurry pumps, e.g. concrete

Abstract

A device for pumping molten metal that eliminates rotor bearing members comprises a pump having a pump chamber including a first bearing surface, and a monolithic rotor having a second bearing surface that aligns with the first bearing surface. The second bearing surface is formed of and integral with the material forming the rotor. Preferably a rigid rotor shaft to motor shaft connection is utilized to rigidly center the rotor within the pump chamber and, hence, within the first bearing surface.

Claims

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

a) a motor;

b) a motor shaft extending from the motor having a first end and a second end;

c) a coupling having a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

d) a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second coupling member;

e) a pump casing having an inlet, a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber;

f) a first bearing surface formed in the pump casing; and

g) a monolithic graphite rotor attached to the second end of the rotor shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, the monolithic graphite rotor having a second bearing surface that aligns with the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface not including any separate bearing members.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein (a) the second coupling member has an opening for receiving the first end of the rotor shaft, the opening having two opposing curved surfaces, there being a distance between the opposing curved surfaces, and (b) the rotor shaft has two opposing curved rotor shaft surfaces, there being a length between the opposing rotor shaft curved surfaces, the distance being equal to the length.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein (a) the second coupling member has an opening, the opening having two opposing curved surfaces, there being a distance between the curved surfaces, and (b) the rotor shaft has two opposing curved rotor shaft surfaces, there being a length between the rotor shaft curved surfaces, the distance being less than the length.

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

a) a motor;

b) a motor shaft extending from the motor having a first end and a second end;

c) a coupling having a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

d) a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second coupling member;

e) a pump casing having an inlet, a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber;

f) a first bearing surface formed in the pump casing; and

g) a monolithic rotor attached to the second end of the rotor shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, the monolithic rotor having a second bearing surface that aligns with the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface not including any separate bearing members, wherein the second coupling member has a fixed portion and a door connected to the fixed portion, the door having an open position and a closed position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein, the door is connected to the fixed portion by a connecting member.

5. A device is defined in claim 3 wherein said connecting member is two chains.

4. A device for pumping or otherwise conveying molten metal, the device comprising:

a) a motor;

b) a motor shaft extending from the motor having a first end and a second end;

c) a coupling having a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

d) a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second coupling member;

e) a pump casing having an inlet, a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber;

f) a first bearing surface formed in the pump casing; and

g) a monolithic rotor attached to the second end of the rotor shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, the monolithic rotor having a second bearing surface that aligns with the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface not including any separate bearing members, wherein the pump casing is monolithic and the first bearing surface does not include any separate bearing member.

18. The device of claim 4 wherein (a) the second coupling member has an opening for receiving the first end of the rotor shaft, the opening having two opposing curved surface, there being a distance between the opposing curved surfaces, and (b) the rotor shaft has two opposing curved rotor shaft surfaces, there being a length between the opposing rotor shaft curved surfaces, the distance being equal to the length.

19. The device of claim 4 wherein (a) the second coupling member has an opening, the opening having two opposing curved surfaces, there being a distance between the curved surfaces, and (b) the rotor shaft has two opposing curved rotor shaft surfaces, there being a length between the rotor shaft curved surfaces, the distance being less than the length.

6. A monolithic graphite rotor for use in a molten metal pumping device, the device having a motor, a motor shaft, a rotor shaft and a pump casing, the pump casing having an inlet, a pump chamber and a discharge, the motor shaft connected to the rotor shaft by a rigid coupling, the monolithic graphite rotor not including any separate bearing members and being positioned in the pump chamber.

7. A monolithic rotor as defined in claim 6 which is trilobal.

8. A monolithic rotor as defined in claim 6 which is a dual-flow rotor.

9. A rigid coupling member for use in a molten metal pump the coupling member including first coupling member for connecting to a motor shaft and a second coupling member for connecting to a rotor shaft, the second coupling member including a fixed portion and a door connected to the fixed portion by a connecting member, the door having an open position and a closed position.

10. The rigid coupling member of claim 9 wherein the second coupling member defines an opening for receiving the rotor shaft when the door is in the closed position.

11. The rigid coupling member of claim 10 wherein the opening is cylindrical.

14. The coupling of claim 9 which further includes two axially-aligned holes for receiving a bolt.

15. The coupling of claim 9 wherein the connecting member is two chains.

16. A device for pumping or otherwise conveying molten metal, the device comprising:

a) a motor;

b) a motor shaft extending from the motor having a first end and a second end;

c) a coupling having a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

d) a rotor shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second coupling member;

e) a pump casing having an inlet, a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber;

f) a first bearing surface formed in the pump casing; and

g) a monolithic rotor attached to the second end of the rotor shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, the monolithic rotor having fewer than five vanes and a second bearing surface aligning with the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface not including any separate bearing members, wherein the rotor is comprised entirely of a single material, wherein the single material is graphite.

17. A monolithic rotor for use in a pump casing of molten metal pumping device having a rotor shaft operative to be connected to a surface of the monolithic rotor, the monolithic rotor having fewer than five vanes and not including any separate bearing members, wherein the monolithic rotor is comprised of a single material, wherein the single material is graphite.