Advanced motor driven impeller pump for moving metal in a bath of molten metal
AssigneeAlphatech, Inc.
InventorJorge A. Morando
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal in a bath of molten metal having a housing and steel alloy legs to prevent the housing from rising in the molten metal. The steel legs are protected by tubular shields made of a heat resistant material. The shields each has a lower end attached to the housing and has an inner diameter that is larger than the leg's outer diameter to accommodate the thermoexpansion of the leg. Inert gas is introduced in the space between the steel leg and the shield to form an oxygen-free environment around the leg.
Claims8
Apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal in a bath of the molten metal beneath overhead structure, comprising:
- a pump housing adapted to be disposed in a bath of molten metal below the metal level;
- leg means disposed between the pump housing and the overhead support structure, comprising:
- a steel alloy leg having an upper end and a lower end, the leg having a sufficient compressive strength to prevent the pump housing from rising in the molten metal;
- means for connecting the leg to the overhead support structure;
- a tubular shield means enclosing at least a portion of the leg, and being formed of a material resistant to the heat of the molten metal;
- and
- the tubular shield means having a lower end attached to the pump housing, and an internal bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the leg to accommodate the leg's thermal expansion caused by the heat in the molten metal bath.
An apparatus for moving a stream of molten metal comprising:
- a pumping member;
- a pump housing at least partially enclosing the pumping member;
- a power device;
- a shaft connecting the power device and the pumping member, said shaft having an elongated drive element and an elongated shield assembly, the shield assembly surrounding and forming a space between the drive element and the shield assembly sufficient to permit thermal expansion of the drive element;
- an overhead support structure;
- leg means disposed between the pump housing and the overhead support structure, comprising:
- a steel alloy leg having an upper end and a lower end, the leg having a sufficient compressive strength to prevent the pump housing from rising in the molten metal;
- means for connecting the leg to the overhead support structure;
- a tubular shield means enclosing at least a portion of the leg, and being formed of a material resistant to the heat of molten metal;
- and
- the tubular shield means having a lower end attached to the pump housing, and an internal bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the leg to accommodate the leg's thermal expansion caused by the heat in the molten metal;
- said pumping member having an inlet opening and including vanes for moving molten metal, the vanes creating passages therebetween;
- a strainer means mounted on said inlet opening, said strainer means having openings of a diameter narrower than the vane passages, and
- whereby debris larger than the strainer openings are removed from the molten metal before the metal passes through the vane passages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.