Gas-transfer foot

• US 9,435,343 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/715,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20150252807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 266/217, 266/239
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/708 specially for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 31/00 Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time
• 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: F17D 1/04 for distribution of gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

The present invention includes a molten metal pump and associated components that enable gas to be released into a stream of molten metal. The gas may be released into the molten metal stream (preferably into the bottom of the stream) flowing through a passage. Such a stream may be within the pump discharge and/or within a metal-transfer conduit extending from the pump discharge. The gas is released by using a gas-transfer foot that is positioned next to and is preferably attachable to the pump base or to the metal-transfer conduit. Preferably, the conduit (and/or discharge) in which the gas is released comprises two sections: a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section downstream of the first section and having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross sectional area is larger than the first cross-sectional area. Preferably, the gas is released into or near the second section so that the gas is released into an area of relatively lower pressure.

Claims

1. A gas-transfer foot for a molten metal pump having a pump base with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a notch in the bottom surface, the gas-transfer foot configured to be received in the notch and comprising:

(a) a top surface and a gas inlet port through which gas passes into the foot, the gas-inlet port in the top surface and configured to attach to a gas-transfer conduit; and

(b) a first end having a first outer cross-sectional area, and a second section that narrows from the first outer cross-sectional area to a second outer cross-sectional area, the first outer cross-sectional area being larger than the second outer cross-sectional area, and the gas-release port being formed at an end of the second section;

wherein when the gas-transfer foot is received in the notch the gas-release port can transfer gas into a flow of molten metal moving through the pump base.

2. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1, wherein the notch is formed in the molten metal pump such that when the gas-transfer foot is inserted into the notch it is in communication with a gas-release opening in communication with the flow of molten metal.

3. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-transfer foot is comprised of graphite.

4. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the opening is threaded.

5. The-gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the opening has a surface area at least half as large as the surface area of the top surface.

6. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second section has a side surface and the gas outlet port is in the side surface.

7. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 that further includes a gas-transfer conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is received in the gas-inlet port.

8. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port includes grooves for receiving an end of the gas-transfer conduit.

9. The gas-transfer foot of claim 7 wherein the inlet port includes grooves for receiving the second end of the gas-transfer conduit, and the second end of the gas-transfer tube is threaded;

the second end of the gas-transfer tube being threadingly received in the gas-inlet port.

10. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port is in the first section.

11. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second outer cross-sectional area is 50% or less of the first outer cross-sectional area.

12. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second end has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, and the gas-release port is formed in the side surface.

13. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port has a diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the gas-release port.

14. The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 that includes a passageway between the gas-inlet port and the gas-release port.