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 pump for pumping molten aluminum, said pump comprised of a metal base defining a pumping chamber, an impeller comprised of a first refractory material resistant to molten aluminum located in said pumping chamber, a motor mount adapted to receive a motor, at least two metal posts extending between said base and said motor mount, a metal shaft extending between said motor and said impeller at least two bearing rings comprised of a refractory material disposed adjacent a radial edge of the impeller and engaging the impeller, the pumping chamber including an inlet and an outlet, and a metal riser tube in fluid communication with the outlet receiving the molten aluminum, wherein said base is comprised of at least three mated steel plates having a sealing gasket disposed between adjacent steel plates. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the steel plates are comprised of at least two different thicknesses. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of mated steel plates comprise 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 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of mated steel 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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 adjustment 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 joining said impeller to the metal shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising a radial and an axial gasket associated with each bearing ring. 
     
     
         22 . The pump of  claim 1  further comprising at least 5 mated steel plates with a gasket between each pair of adjacent plates. 
     
     
         23 . The pump of  claim 1  including at least one cross member extending between said posts, said cross member including a bearing ring through which said metal shaft passes.