Molten metal pump system

• US 6,869,271 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Palmer, Mark, Gilbert, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, F. Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kershteyn, Igor
• Application Number:
  US10/284,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20040081555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 415/200, 415/214.1, 416/204.R, 416/244.R
• US Class Current: 416/204.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal

Abstract

A molten metal pump system which generally provides a refractory connection joint for connecting a refractory pump post to a pump base, the pump post including a refractory post with a first end, the first end including an internally threaded joint screw aperture; a refractory base with a post aperture configured to receive the first end of the refractory post, and with a screw aperture contiguous with the post aperture; and a joint screw with a first end and a second end, the joint screw including a threaded external surface and a retention shoulder, the joint screw configured to insert through the screw aperture in the refractory base with the threaded external surface engaging the internally threaded joint screw aperture of the refractory post, and the retention shoulder engaging the refractory base.

Claims

1. A molten metal pump refractory connection joint, comprising:

a refractory post with a first end, the first end including an internally threaded joint screw aperture;

a refractory base with a post aperture configured to receive the first end of the refractory post, and with a screw aperture contiguous with the post aperture; and

a joint screw with a first end and a second end, the joint screw including a threaded external surface and a retention shoulder, the joint screw configured to insert through the screw aperture in the refractory base with the threaded external surface engaging the internally threaded joint screw aperture of the refractory post, and the retention shoulder engaging the refractory base.

2. A molten metal pump refractory connection joint as recited in claim 1, and further wherein the first end of the refractory post includes a seal groove around an outer surface;

and a refractory post seal seated within the seal groove around the first end of the refractory post, such that the post seal provides a molten metal seal between the outer surface of the post and an inner surface of the post aperture.

3. A molten metal pump refractory connection joint as recited in claim 1, and further wherein the refractory post is an impeller shaft and the refractory base is a molten metal pump impeller.

4. A molten metal pump refractory connection joint as recited in claim 1, and further wherein the refractory post is a molten metal pump post and the refractory base is a molten metal pump base.

5. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint screw combination for use in a refractory connection joint which includes a refractory base with a post aperture on a first side and a screw aperture on a second side of the refractory base, the screw aperture being contiguous with the post aperture, the replacement post and joint screw comprising:

a refractory replacement post with a first end, the first end including an internally threaded joint screw aperture and an outer surface configured to insert into the post aperture in the refractory base; and

a replacement joint screw with a first end and a second end, the joint screw including a threaded external surface and a retention shoulder, the joint screw configured to insert through the screw aperture in the refractory base with the threaded external surface configured to threadingly engage the internally threaded joint screw aperture of the replacement post, and the retention shoulder configured to engage the base.

6. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint screw combination as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the first end of the refractory post includes a seal groove around an outer surface configured to receive and a refractory post seal.

7. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint screw combination as recited in claim 6, and further comprising a post seal lodged in the seal groove around the outer surface of the refractory post.

8. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint screw combination as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the refractory post is an impeller shaft and the refractory base is a molten metal pump impeller.

9. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint screw combination as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the refractory post is a molten metal pump post and the refractory base is a molten metal pump base.

10. A molten metal pump system comprising:

a pump motor mounted to a mount structure, the mount structure including a shaft aperture;

an impeller shaft with a first end operatively attached to the pump motor and a second end mounted to a pump impeller, the impeller shaft being positioned within the shaft aperture of the mount structure;

a pump base;

a plurality of pump posts each with a first end attached to the mount structure and each with a second end attached to the pump base via a refractory connection joint, the refractory connection joint comprising;

the first end of the pump post with an internally threaded aperture;

a post aperture in the pump base, the post aperture configured to receive the first end of the pump post, the pump base further including a screw aperture contiguous with the post aperture; and

a joint screw with a first end and a second end, the joint screw including a threaded external surface and a retention shoulder, the joint screw configured to insert through the screw aperture in the pump base, and with the threaded external surface of the joint screw engaging the internally threaded joint screw aperture of the pump post, and the retention shoulder engaging the pump base.

11. A method for assembling a molten metal pump refractory connection joint comprising the following:

providing a refractory post with a first end, the first end including an internally threaded joint screw aperture;

providing a refractory base with a post aperture configured to receive the first end of the refractory post, and with a screw aperture contiguous with the post aperture;

providing a joint screw with a first end and a second end, the joint screw including a threaded external surface and a retention shoulder;

inserting the joint screw through the screw aperture in the refractory base;

axially rotating the joint screw such that the threaded external surface engages the internally threaded joint screw aperture of the refractory post, and further such that the retention shoulder engages the refractory base; and

continuing to rotate the joint screw until the post is securely drawn into the post aperture.