A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump, and one or more of a temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple), one or more of a device (such as a laser or float) to measure the depth of the molten metal, and one or more of a vibration sensor (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the temperature of the molten metal, and/or about the depth of the molten metal, and/or about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.

A scrap melting system and method includes a vessel that is configured to retain molten metal and a raised surface about the level of molten metal in the vessel. Solid metal is placed on the raised surface and molten metal from the vessel is moved upward from the vessel and across the raised surface to melt at least some of the solid metal. The molten metal is preferably raised from the vessel to the raised surface by a molten metal pumping device or system. The molten metal moves from the raised surface and into a vessel or launder.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a rotor for a molten metal pump and a molten metal pump including the rotor. The rotor has a main body and a top comprised of a material that is at least twice as hard as the main body. The top, among other things, may form a first portion of each rotor blade wherein the first portion directs molten metal into a pump chamber or other structure in which the rotor is mounted.

A scrap melting system and method includes a vessel that is configured to retain molten metal and a raised surface about the level of molten metal in the vessel. Solid metal is placed on the raised surface and molten metal from the vessel is moved upward from the vessel and across the raised surface to melt at least some of the solid metal. The molten metal is preferably raised from the vessel to the raised surface by a molten metal pumping device or system. The molten metal moves from the raised surface and into a vessel or launder.

A scrap melting system and method includes a vessel that is configured to retain molten metal and a raised surface about the level of molten metal in the vessel. Solid metal is placed on the raised surface and molten metal from the vessel is moved upward from the vessel and across the raised surface to melt at least some of the solid metal. The molten metal is preferably raised from the vessel to the raised surface by a molten metal pumping device or system. The molten metal moves from the raised surface and into a vessel or launder.

A system of obtaining an aluminium melt including SiC particles for use when moulding vehicle parts, e.g. brake disks, the system comprises a pre-processing tank (2), configured to receive SiC particles and to apply a pre-processing procedure to pre-process the SiC particles; a SiC particle transport member (4) configured to transport the pre-processed SiC particles from the pre-processing tank (2) to a crucible (6) of a melting furnace device (8), and the melting furnace device (8) is configured to receive and melt solid aluminium, e.g. aluminium slabs, and to hold an aluminium melt (10) and to receive said pre-processed SiC particles (12). The system also comprises a tube-like SiC particle mixing arrangement (14) defining and enclosing an elongated mixing chamber (16), the mixing arrangement (14) is configured to be mounted in said crucible (6) and structured to receive into said mixing chamber (16) said pre-processed SiC particles (12) via a first inlet (18) and said aluminium melt (10) via at least one second inlet (20), and to apply a mixing procedure by rotating a rotatable mixing member (22) arranged in said mixing chamber (16) about said longitudinal axis A, wherein said pre-processed SiC particles are mixed together with the aluminium melt in said mixing chamber. The mixing arrangement (14) is provided with at least one outlet (26) to feed out the mixture from said mixing chamber into said crucible.

A scrap melting system and method includes a vessel that is configured to retain molten metal and a raised surface about the level of molten metal in the vessel. Solid metal is placed on the raised surface and molten metal from the vessel is moved upward from the vessel and across the raised surface to melt at least some of the solid metal. The molten metal is preferably raised from the vessel to the raised surface by a molten metal pumping device or system. The molten metal moves from the raised surface and into a vessel or launder.

A system and method for filling a mold with molten aluminum includes a molten metal pump, a vessel configured to contain molten metal, a mold for receiving molten metal, and a conduit between the vessel and the mold. Molten metal is pumped in the vessel until it reaches a level at which it flows through the conduit and into the mold. The flow of molten metal into the mold is stabilized to maintain a level of molten metal in the mold. A skin of solid metal forms between the mold and the conduit, at which time the pumping of molten metal can cease. The mold with solid metal in it can be moved.

A smart molten metal pump system and method automatically controls the operating speed of the pump rather than requiring an operator to control the speed. The system includes a pump, a controller for controlling the speed of the pump and one or more vibration sensors (such as an accelerometer) to measure vibration. The controller receives input about the vibration of the pump or one or more pump components, and possibly other data, such as the temperature of the molten metal, and/or the depth of the molten metal, ad/or parameters related to the operation of the pump. The controller analyzes the one or more inputs to vary the speed of the pump, turn the pump off, and/or send a communication to an operator.

In a molten metal pump, which includes a pump chamber portion and a drive unit and drives molten metal in a pump chamber of the pump chamber portion by the drive unit for discharging and sucking, the pump chamber portion has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder detachably housed in the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder is configured as a bottomed cylindrical body having an outer cylinder bottom wall and an outer cylinder side wall, the inner cylinder is configured as a bottomed cylindrical body having an inner cylinder bottom wall and an inner cylinder side wall, a ring-shaped spacer, which is interposed between an inner surface of the outer cylinder bottom wall and an outer surface of the inner cylinder bottom wall in a sealed state and in a detachable manner, is further provided.