# US 9,435,343 B2 · Gas-transfer foot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,343 B2 - Document ID: US9435343B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/715,435 - Filed: 2015-05-18 - Published: 2015-09-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2002-07-12 - Assignees: Molten Meal Equipment Innovations, LLC - Applicants: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC - Inventors: Paul V. Cooper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435343B2 ## CPC - F04D 7/065: {for liquid metal} - F04D 7/00: Pumps adapted for handling specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts (F04D11/005, F04D29/22 take precedence) - F04D 29/708: {specially for liquid pumps} - F04D 31/00: Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time - F17D 1/04: for distribution of gas - Y10T 137/85978: With pump - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention includes a molten metal pump and associated components that enable gas to be released into a stream of molten metal. The gas may be released into the molten metal stream (preferably into the bottom of the stream) flowing through a passage. Such a stream may be within the pump discharge and/or within a metal-transfer conduit extending from the pump discharge. The gas is released by using a gas-transfer foot that is positioned next to and is preferably attachable to the pump base or to the metal-transfer conduit. Preferably, the conduit (and/or discharge) in which the gas is released comprises two sections: a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section downstream of the first section and having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross sectional area is larger than the first cross-sectional area. Preferably, the gas is released into or near the second section so that the gas is released into an area of relatively lower pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas-transfer foot for a molten metal pump having a pump base with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a notch in the bottom surface, the gas-transfer foot configured to be received in the notch and comprising: (a) a top surface and a gas inlet port through which gas passes into the foot, the gas-inlet port in the top surface and configured to attach to a gas-transfer conduit; and (b) a first end having a first outer cross-sectional area, and a second section that narrows from the first outer cross-sectional area to a second outer cross-sectional area, the first outer cross-sectional area being larger than the second outer cross-sectional area, and the gas-release port being formed at an end of the second section; wherein when the gas-transfer foot is received in the notch the gas-release port can transfer gas into a flow of molten metal moving through the pump base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1, wherein the notch is formed in the molten metal pump such that when the gas-transfer foot is inserted into the notch it is in communication with a gas-release opening in communication with the flow of molten metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-transfer foot is comprised of graphite. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the opening is threaded. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The-gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the opening has a surface area at least half as large as the surface area of the top surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second section has a side surface and the gas outlet port is in the side surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 that further includes a gas-transfer conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is received in the gas-inlet port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port includes grooves for receiving an end of the gas-transfer conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The gas-transfer foot of claim 7 wherein the inlet port includes grooves for receiving the second end of the gas-transfer conduit, and the second end of the gas-transfer tube is threaded; the second end of the gas-transfer tube being threadingly received in the gas-inlet port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port is in the first section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second outer cross-sectional area is 50% or less of the first outer cross-sectional area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the second end has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, and the gas-release port is formed in the side surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 wherein the gas-inlet port has a diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the gas-release port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The gas-transfer foot of claim 1 that includes a passageway between the gas-inlet port and the gas-release port.