Auger pump for handling magnesium and magnesium alloys

A pump for transferring a molten metal from a melt furnace, comprising:

• a variable speed motor;
• a transfer tube, comprising an elbow shaped connector and a vertical portion for maintaining a predetermined head level of the molten metal;
• a frame housing with means for attaching the pump to the melt furnace;
• a means for mounting the motor in the frame housing;
• a cylindrical casing, vertically aligned with the frame housing and at least partially immersible in the molten metal, a first opening in the casing at a bottom thereof, connecting an interior of the casing to the elbow shaped connector of the transfer tube, and at least one second opening for admitting the molten metal to the interior of the casing;
• and
• a shaft, rotatingly coupled to the motor at a first end thereof and having flutes formed on a portion adjacent a second end thereof to define an auger portion, the flutes being located above the first opening in the casing, the motor coupling positioned in the frame housing and the auger portion positioned in the cylindrical casing;
• wherein the variable speed motor operates at a first speed to rotate the auger, pushing molten metal downwardly into the transfer tube in order to maintain the predetermined head level and operates at a second speed to transfer a quantity of molten metal from the tube.

A pump for transferring a molten metal from a melt furnace, comprising:

• a means for providing drive torque;
• a transfer tube with a vertical portion for maintaining a predetermined head level of the molten metal;
• a frame housing with means for mounting the drive torque means;
• an auger housing, vertically aligned with the frame housing and at least partially immersible in the molten metal, a first opening in the casing at a bottom thereof communicating an interior of the auger housing to the transfer tube, and at least one second opening for admitting the molten metal to the interior of the auger housing;
• and
• an auger shaft, rotatingly coupled to the drive torque means at a first end thereof and having flutes formed on a portion adjacent a second end thereof to define an auger portion, the flutes being located above the first opening in the casing, the coupling positioned in the frame housing and the auger portion positioned in the auger housing;
• wherein the drive torque means operates at a first speed to rotate the auger shaft, pushing molten metal downwardly into the transfer tube in order to maintain the predetermined head level and operates at a second speed to transfer a quantity of molten metal from the tube.