US 2026/0309143 A1 · BELLOWS PUMP FOR LIQUID METALS

Abstract

According to various aspects, the present disclosure provides pumps for pumping a liquid metal, systems for filling a container with a liquid metal, and methods for filling a container with a liquid metal. According to at least one aspect, a pump can include an actuator including a drive rod, a first plate, a second plate, guide rods extending between the first plate and the second plate, a traveling stage, and a bellows. The traveling stage can be operatively coupled to the drive rod and can be slidable along the guide rods intermediate the first plate and the second plate. The bellows can extend between the second plate and the traveling stage to define a bellows chamber. The actuator can be configured to slide the traveling stage to expand and contract the bellows to pump the liquid.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for filling a container with a metal using a filling system, the filling system comprising a supply tank at least partially filled with the metal, a pump, a filling chamber, a first line for fluid communication between the supply tank and the pump, and a second line for fluid communication between the pump and the filling chamber, the method comprising:

loading the container into the filling chamber;
applying a vacuum to the filling chamber;
heating the filling chamber to a liquid-phase temperature of the metal;
heating the supply tank to the liquid-phase temperature of the metal to liquefy the metal;
heating the pump, the first line, and the second line to the liquid-phase temperature of the metal;
pressurizing the supply tank to cause the metal to flow from the supply tank and fill the pump, the first line, and the second line;
and
cycling the pump for a predetermined number of cycles to fill the container with the metal.

5 more elements

A system for filling a container with a metal, the system comprising:

a supply tank at least partially fillable with the metal;
a bellows pump configured to pump a predetermined volume of the metal from the supply tank to the container;
a filling chamber to at least partially enclose the container;
a first line for fluid communication between the supply tank and the bellows pump;
a second line for fluid communication between the bellows pump and the filling chamber;
and
an oven to heat at least one of the supply tank, the bellows pump, the first line, the second line, or a combination thereof to a liquid-phase temperature of the metal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bellows pump for liquid metals

Life of this patent

Bellows pump for liquid metals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12