Emergency molten metal pump out

Abstract

A molten metal pump comprised of a metal base defining a pumping chamber is provided. The pump further includes a motor mount adapted to receive a motor, at least one metal post extending between the base and the motor mount, and a metal shaft disposed between the motor and an impeller disposed in the pumping chamber. A bearing ring engages the impeller. The pumping chamber will include an inlet and an outlet. A steel riser tube in fluid communication the outlet is also provided.

1 . A molten metal pump comprised of a metal base defining a pumping chamber and a motor mount adapted to receive a motor, at least one metal post extending between said base and said motor mount, a metal shaft extending between said motor and an impeller located in said pumping chamber, at least one bearing ring engaging the impeller, the pumping chamber including an inlet and an outlet, and a metal riser tube in fluid communication with the outlet. 
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein said base is comprised of a plurality of mated steel plates. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein said impeller is comprised of a refractory material. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 2  wherein the steel plates are comprised of at least two different thicknesses. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4  comprising at least an inner most plate of a greatest thickness, two outermost plates of the thinnest thickness, and two intermediate plates of intermediate thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein the pumping chamber is defined by the inner most plate. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 2  wherein at least two plates include recesses receiving the bearing rings. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein a thicker of said steel plates defines the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein said thicker steel plate is disposed between at least two thinner steel plates. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 7 , wherein an expansion gasket is disposed between a radial edge of each bearing ring and an associated plate. 
     
     
         11 . The pump of  claim 2  wherein a gasket is disposed between adjacent plates. 
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 10  further including a sealing gasket disposed on an inboard horizontal face of each bearing ring. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 1  further including a generally U-shaped connector providing fluid communication between said riser and an outlet conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a coupling joining the shaft and the impeller, said coupling comprising a metal cup having a chamber configured to receive a portion of the impeller and a projection configured to mate with said shaft, a passage extending through a wall defining the cup and through said projection, said passage receiving a bolt such that said bolt passes through an opening in said impeller and is received in said passage through the coupling, a nut being provided on the bolt to secure the coupling to the impeller. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 14  wherein said projection includes external threads configured to receive an internally threaded end of the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a metal basket surrounding the inlet. 
     
     
         17 . A method for emergency pump out of a molten metal from a vessel, said method comprises identifying a condition precedent which requires rapid removal of the molten metal from the vessel, and then introducing a pump including at least a metal base, a metal post and a metal riser tube into the molten metal, rotating a shaft and impeller combination with a motor, said impeller disposed within said base and configured to direct molten metal into said riser tube, and introducing metal from said riser tube into a second vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said pump is introduced into said molten metal at temperature below 100°. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said shaft is comprised of metal and said impeller is comprised of a refractory material. 
     
     
         20 . A molten metal pump comprised of a metal base having a plurality of mated plates, said base defining a pumping chamber, a motor mount adapted to receive a motor, at least one metal post extending between said base and said motor mount, a metal shaft extending between said motor and a refractory impeller located in said pumping chamber, a refractory bearing ring engaging the impeller, the pumping chamber including an inlet and an outlet, a metal riser tube in fluid communication with the outlet, a gasket material disposed between each pair of adjacent metal plates, a gasket material disposed between each bearing ring and a surface of the metal base adjacent to the bearing ring, and a metallic coupling joins said impeller to the metal shaft.