Molten metal pump system

• US 6,869,564 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: Gilbert, Ronald E., Palmer, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US10/284,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 266/239, 266/45, 415/200, 417/360
• US Class Current: 266/239
• 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 internal joint peg aperture; a refractory base with a post aperture configured to receive the first end of the refractory post, and with a peg aperture contiguous with the post aperture; and a joint peg with a first end and a second end, the joint peg including a retention shoulder, the joint peg configured to insert through the peg aperture in the refractory base with a retention bar or bolt inserted through an aperture in the joint peg of 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 peg aperture;

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

a joint peg with a first end and a second end, the joint peg including a retention shoulder, the joint peg configured to insert through the peg aperture in the refractory base with a retention bar inserted into the joint peg and inserted into at least part 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 replacement post and joint peg combination for use in a refractory connection joint which includes a refractory base with a post aperture on a first side and a peg aperture on a second side of the refractory base, the peg aperture being contiguous with the post aperture, the replacement post and joint peg comprising:

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

a replacement joint peg with a first end and a second end, the joint peg including a retention shoulder, the joint peg configured to insert through the peg aperture in the refractory base and the retention shoulder configured to engage the base;

and further wherein each of the refractory replacement post and the replacement joint peg have a retention bar aperture which when the replacement joint peg is within the refractory replacement post provides a continuous aperture for receiving a retention bar.

5. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint peg combination as recited in claim 4, and further comprising a retention bar configured for insertion through both the refractory replacement post and the replacement joint peg, to secure them together.

6. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint peg combination as recited in claim 5, and further wherein the retention bar is a refractory bolt.

7. A molten metal pump replacement post and joint peg combination as recited in claim 4, and further wherein the refractory post is an impeller shaft and the refractory base is a molten metal pump impeller.

8. 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 internal 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 peg aperture contiguous with the post aperture; and

a joint peg with a first end and a second end, the joint peg including a retention shoulder, the joint peg configured to insert through the peg aperture in the pump base, and with a retention bar inserted through the pump post and the joint peg, with the retention shoulder engaging the pump base.

9. 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 internal joint peg aperture and a retention bar aperture;

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

providing a joint peg with a first end and a second end, the joint peg including a retention shoulder and with a retention bar aperture corresponding to the retention bar aperture in the refractory post;

inserting the joint peg through the peg aperture in the refractory base such that the retention shoulder engages the refractory base;

aligning the retention bar aperture in the refractory post with the retention bar aperture in the joint peg;

inserting a retention bar through the retention bar aperture in the refractory post and through the retention bar aperture in the joint peg, thereby securing the joint peg within the refractory post and the refractory post to the refractory base.