Submersible molten metal pump

• US 5,330,328 A
• Filed: 02/03/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Paul V. Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/013,097
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 417/424.1, 285/419, 285/373, 285/368, 285/412, 464/182, 464/185, 464/901
• US Class Current: 417/424.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/044 Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/2216 Shape, geometry F04D29/2211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/445 especially adapted for liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal

Abstract

A coupling device vertically couples one shaft which is substantially axially aligned to a second shaft. The device includes a flexible coupling unit attached to an end of one shaft, with a coaxial flange thereupon. The end of the second shaft has a concentric locating bore and a diameter. A split coupling is provided to the second shaft and includes two half flanges. Each half flange has a depending half cylindrical member attached thereto. A bolt extends through a diametrical through bolt hole provided in the end of the second shaft, and through a pair of bolt holes in the depending half cylindrical members, positioned such that the upper faces of the half flanges of the split coupling are substantially aligned with the upper end of the second shaft. Pilot flange is provided between the coaxial flange and the half flanges. The pilot flange has a center cylinder which is sized to match and to be received in the concentric locating bore of the second shaft. The flange portion of the pilot flange has tapped holes therein. Appropriately sized shoulder bolts are engaged in the tapped holes, and join the half flanges of the split coupling and the coaxial flange of the flexible coupling unit to the pilot flange. Pins are fitted into matching bores in the pilot flange.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling adaptor for connecting between a graphite discharge pipe and a standard pipe flange connected to a standard, refractory-lined pipe elbow, said adaptor comprising two symmetrical half units having lower flange members for connecting to a superstructure of a pump, each half unit having one half of a standard pipe flange at its top, a pair of plate flanges along its vertical edges, and bolts in said plate flange;

whereby said adaptor provides the necessary transition from the graphite discharge pipe necessary in the environment of the metal bath and also supports the weight of the discharge pipe without needing additional cementing when assembled.

2. A pipe coupling adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each half unit further comprises an inwardly protruding triangular ridge which engages a corresponding groove in the graphite discharge pipe at the approximate middle of the inner surface of each of the halves.

3. A pipe coupling system for connecting between a discharge pipe and a standard pipe flange, said system comprising:

the discharge pipe formed of a refractory material, said discharge pipe for carrying molten metal;

the standard pipe flange connected to a standard, refractorylined pipe elbow; and

an adaptor for connecting between said discharge pipe and said standard pipe flange, said adaptor comprising two symmetrical half units having lower flange members for connecting to a superstructure of a pump, each half unit having one half of a standard pipe flange at a top thereof, and a pair of plate flanges along vertical edges thereof, with bolts in said plate flanges,

wherein said adaptor provides a transition from the refractory discharge pipe to the refractory-lined pipe elbow in an environment of a metal bath, said adaptor also supporting said discharge pipe without needing additional cementing when assembled.

4. A pipe coupling adaptor for connecting between a discharge pipe formed of a refractory material and a standard pipe flange connected to a standard, refractory-lined pipe elbow, said adaptor comprising two symmetrical half units having lower flange members for connecting to a superstructure of a pump, each half unit having one half of a standard pipe flange at its top, a pair of plate flanges along its vertical edges, and bolts in said plate flanges;

whereby said adaptor provides a necessary transition from the discharge pipe necessary in the environment of the metal bath and also supports the weight of the discharge pipe without needing additional cementing when assembled, said adaptor including annular support means for supporting said discharge pipe.

5. A graphite pump shaft comprising a cylindrical main body having at one end a concentric counterbore, a diametral through bolt hole, and a shoulder, and the other end of the shaft being concentrically slightly tapered at an acute angle and having the most distal portion threaded.

6. A graphite pump shaft as claimed in claim 5, wherein said other end of said shaft is tapered at an angle of approximately three degrees.

7. A coupling device for vertically coupling one shaft substantially axially aligned to a second shaft comprising:

a flexible coupling unit attached to an end of one shaft and having a coaxial flange, the end of the second shaft having a concentric locating bore and a diameter,

a split coupling provided to the second shaft and including two half flanges each having a depending half cylindrical member attached thereto,

a bolt extending through a diametrical through bolt hole provided in the end of the second shaft and a pair of bolt holes in said depending half cylindrical members positioned such that the upper faces of the half flanges of the split coupling are substantially aligned with the upper end of the second shaft,

a pilot flange provided between the co-axial flange of the flexible coupling unit and said half flanges of the split coupling, said pilot flange having a center cylinder extending co-axially from it sized to match and be received in the concentric locating bore of the second shaft, said flange portion of the pilot flange having tapped holes for each half flange of the split coupling to be mounted to the pilot flange and for the co-axial flange of the flexible coupling unit to be matched from the other side to the pilot flange,

appropriately sized shoulder bolts threadingly engaged in said tapped holes and joining said half flanges of said split coupling and said co-axial flange of the flexible coupling unit to said pilot flange, and

pins fitted into matching bores in the pilot flange, said half flanges and said co-axial flange complementing the shear strength of the bolts.

8. A coupling device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a clip-type nut holder provided on an outside surface of one of the depending flanges adjacent one of said bolt holes to hold a nut attached to the bolt without use of a separate tool, whereby simple assembly of the coupling to the shaft is enabled even with the coupling being inside of a superstructure assembly.