Molten metal pump with a flexible coupling and cement-free metal-transfer conduit connection

A transfer pump including:

• a) a superstructure;
• b) a motor positioned on said superstructure, sad motor connected to a first end of a drive shaft;
• c) a pump base, said base having a top surface, an input port, a pump chamber, and a discharge leading from said pump chamber to an output port;
• d) a vaned rotor connected to a second end of said drive shaft for pumping molten metal, said vaned rotor positioned in said pump chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;
• e) a button attached to said top surface of said pump base and extending from said output port, said button defining a passage for the transfer of molten metal, said button for connecting to a metal-transfer conduit to facilitate a connection for the transfer of molten metal therebetween;
• f) a support post connecting said pump base to said superstructure;
• and
• g) a metal-transfer conduit connected to said button, said metal-transfer conduit resting upon said button.

A device for pumping molten metal, said device comprising:

• a) a motor;
• b) a pump base having an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port, wherein molten metal enters said base through said input port;
• (c) a drive shaft having a first end drivingly connected to said motor, and a second end;
• and
• d) a vaned rotor within said pump chamber, said vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and having a vaned portion extending through said input port beyond said pump base in the direction of the drive shaft, said vaned portion of said rotor extending through said input port beyond said pump base including one or more projections that deflect solid particles in the molten metal and prevents the solid particles from entering the input port when said rotor is in operation.

A molten metal pumping device including a metal-transfer conduit comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections, said device comprising:

• a) a superstructure;
• b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;
• c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being drivingly connected to said motor;
• d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;
• e) a support post connecting said base to said superstructure;
• f) a vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;
• and
• g) a metal-transfer conduit extending from said output port to said superstructure, said metal-transfer conduit defining a passage therein for the transfer of molten metal and being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of said sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

A molten metal pumping device including a support post comprised of a plurality of sections, said device comprising:

• a) a superstructure;
• b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;
• c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being drivingly connected to said motor;
• d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;
• e) a vaned rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;
• and
• f) a support post extending from said base to said superstructure, said support post having a first end connected to said base and a second end connected to said superstructure, said support post comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of sad sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

A molten metal pumping device including a rotor drive shaft comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections, said device comprising:

• a) a superstructure;
• b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;
• c) a drive shaft comprised of a motor shaft and a rotor drive shaft, said motor shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end drivingly connected to said motor, said second end connected to said rotor drive shaft;
• d) a pump base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an output port;
• c) a vaned rotor connected to said rotor drive shaft opposite said motor drive shaft, said rotor being positioned in said chamber said rotor having a vaned portion extending through and beyond the input port of the pump base toward the drive shaft for deflecting solid particles in the molten metal away from the input port;
• wherein said rotor drive shaft extends from said rotor to said motor shaft, said rotor drive shaft being comprised of a plurality of interconnected, vertically-aligned sections, each of said sections having a connecting end, said sections being connected by bringing the connecting end of one section into physical contact with the connecting end of another section, each of said sections being comprised of refractory material.

A molten metal pumping device including:

• a) a superstructure;
• b) a motor positioned on said superstructure;
• c) a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end drivingly connected to said motor;
• d) a base, said base including an input port, a chamber and a discharge leading from said chamber to an outlet;
• e) a support post connecting said superstructure to said base;
• f) a rotor connected to said second end of said drive shaft and being positioned in said chamber;
• g) a cavity formed within said molten metal pumping device;
• and
• h) a thermocouple, said thermocouple extending through said support post and being positioned within said cavity and being positioned beneath the surface of a molten metal bath when said pumping device is in use, said thermocouple measuring the temperature of the molten metal bath.