Transferring molten metal from one structure to another

• US 9,383,140 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/725,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 266/236, 266/235, 266/275, 222/590, 222/594
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 37/00 Controlling or regulating the pouring of molten metal from a casting melt-holding vessel B22D11/18, B22D39/00, B22D41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/00 Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 41/00 Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like B22D39/00, B22D43/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 7/00 Casting ingots, e.g. from ferrous metalsequipment for conveying molten metal B22D35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0084 melting and handling molten aluminium C22B21/02, C22B21/04 and C22B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/064 using inert or reactive gases C22B21/066 and C22B21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/0024 of metallic workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material

Abstract

A system for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a molten metal pump for transferring molten metal from a first vessel, the first vessel comprising at least a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and second chamber being separated by a dividing wall having a height H1 and the molten metal pump being positioned in the first chamber and having a pump base that is fully submerged in the molten metal, the method comprising:

the pump pumping molten metal from the first chamber through an opening in the dividing wall and into the second chamber to raise the level of molten metal in the second chamber until it flows out of an outlet juxtaposed the top of, or at the top of, the second chamber and into a second vessel, wherein the outlet has a height H2 that is less than height H1.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is not continuous.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has a height H1 and the opening is positioned entirely below H1.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is performed by a circulation pump.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is performed by a gas-release pump.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring an amount of molten metal within the second vessel.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump base has a discharge, and the discharge is aligned with the opening in the dividing wall so that at least some of the molten metal exiting the discharge passes through the opening.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the pumping according to the amount of molten metal in the second vessel, wherein the speed is increased when the amount of molten metal in the second vessel is less than a first predetermined amount and the speed is decreased when the amount of molten metal is greater than a second predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the pumping according to the amount of molten metal in the second chamber wherein the speed is increased when the amount of molten metal in the second chamber is less than a first predetermined amount and the speed is decreased when the amount of molten metal is greater than a second predetermined amount.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second vessel is one or more of a launder, a ladle, an ingot mold and a feed die cast machine.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is performed at a speed, and the speed is variable.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is performed at a speed, and the speed is constant.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the second vessel is one or more of a launder, a ladle, an ingot mold and a feed die cast machine.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of adjusting the speed is done automatically.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the speed is done automatically.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein there is no chamber between the first chamber and the second chamber.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the discharge is positioned against the opening.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the discharge is received in the opening.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump is mounted on the dividing wall.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein the pump is mounted on the dividing wall.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the pump is mounted on the dividing wall.

23. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of mounting the pump on the dividing wall.

24. The method of claim 8 that further includes the step of mounting the pump on the dividing wall such that the pump discharge is aligned with the opening.

25. The method of claim 19 that further includes the step of mounting the pump on the dividing wall such that the discharge is received in the opening.

26. The method of claim 8 wherein the pump has superstructure and support posts that connect the superstructure to the pump.

27. The method of claim 8 wherein the pump base has a pump chamber, an inlet to the pump chamber, and a rotor positioned in the pump chamber, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes molten metal to exit the pump discharge and move through the opening.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump has a pump base having a pump chamber, an inlet to the pump chamber, and a rotor positioned in the pump chamber, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes molten metal to exit the pump discharge and move through the opening.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein the pump base has an extended portion that is received in the opening and the discharge extends through the extended portion.