System for releasing gas into molten metal

• US 8,440,135 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US12/120,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 222/603, 222/591, 266/235, 266/239, 266/287
• US Class Current: 266/235
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 1/06 Constructional features of mixers for pig-iron
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/30 Regulating or controlling the blowing
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 7/072 Treatment with gases C21C7/06, C21C7/064, C21C7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/426 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/00 Pumps adapted for handling specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts F04D11/005, F04D29/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/52 Outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12 All metal or with adjacent metals

Abstract

A device for releasing gas into molten metal includes a base having a discharge. The discharge has a first section including a first cross-sectional area and a second section including a second cross-sectional area, wherein the first section is upstream of the second section and the first cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area. A gas-release opening is positioned so that it can release gas into one or more of the first section or the second section. As the molten metal moves from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area gas is released into the molten metal and the molten metal flow helps to draw the gas into the flow, thereby lowering the pressure required to release gas into the molten metal. Metal-transfer conduits other than a discharge incorporated in a pump base are also disclosed, as are pumps including either a discharge or other metal-transfer conduit according to the invention.

Claims

1. A metal-transfer conduit extending from an outlet of a molten metal pump base and comprising:

(a) a first end configured for connecting to the outlet of the molten metal pump base, the molten metal pump base comprising a pump chamber;

(b) a second end opposite the first end;

(c) a passage defined between the first end and the second end, the passage tangential to, and in fluid communication with, the pump chamber when the metal-transfer conduit is attached to the pump base, the passage comprising;

(i) a first section including a first cross-sectional area;

(ii) a second section downstream of the first section and including a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area; and

(iii) a gas-release opening in one or more of the group consisting of;

the first cross-sectional area of the first section and the second cross-sectional area of the second section.

2. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned in the second section.

3. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned within 3″

of the first section.

4. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the second section has a side wall and the gas-release opening is positioned near the side wall.

5. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 that is made of graphite.

6. The metal transfer conduit of claim 2 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned within 12″

of the first section.

7. The metal transfer conduit of claim 2 wherein the gas-release opening is positioned near a top wall of the second section.

8. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the gas-release opening is formed in the first section.

9. The metal transfer conduit of claim 8 wherein the gas-release opening is formed in a top wall of the first section.

10. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the second cross-sectional area is between 110% and 350% larger than the first cross-sectional area.

11. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein the metal-transfer conduit further includes a third section having a third cross-sectional area, the third section being downstream of the second section and the third cross-sectional area being larger than the first cross-sectional area but smaller than the second cross-sectional area.

12. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1 wherein there is a gas-release opening in communication with the first section and a gas-release opening in communication with the second section.

13. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1, wherein the first cross-sectional area of the first section is substantially uniform.

14. The metal transfer conduit of claim 1, wherein the second cross-sectional area of the second section is substantially uniform.

15. The metal transfer conduit of claim 11, wherein the third cross-sectional area of the third section is substantially uniform.