Pump system for transferring molten metal

Abstract

A pump system for transferring molten metal includes a pump for pumping molten metal. The pump includes a motor. The pump also includes a base adapted to be submerged in molten metal contained in a vessel including at least one inlet opening, an outlet opening and an impeller chamber fluidly communicating with the at least one inlet opening and the outlet opening. A shaft sleeve is part of the pump and is adapted to fasten to the base and extends outside the molten metal. An impeller is part of the pump and is adapted for rotation inside the impeller chamber. The pump includes a shaft driven by the motor and extends in the shaft sleeve. The impeller is fastened to the shaft. The pump system also includes a transfer block that is adapted to be submerged in the molten metal and to extend outside the molten metal. The transfer block includes an interior wall extending along its height, an inlet opening that receives molten metal from the base, and an outlet. The transfer block includes an obstruction member disposed in an interior thereof that disrupts an initial flow path of molten metal inlet into the transfer block from the base. The transfer block includes a diffuser plate inside the interior thereof. The diffuser plate includes through holes formed therein. Another aspect is a refractory transfer block with an obstruction member and a diffuser plate, which, for example, can be used with a pump for pumping molten metal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.