Overflow vortex transfer system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a molten metal pump comprising an elongated pumping chamber tube with a base end and an open top end. A shaft extends into the tube and rotates an impeller therein, the impeller rotates proximate the base end. The tube has a diameter at least 1.1 times the diameter of the impeller. The pumping chamber tube preferably has a length at least three times the height of the impeller. The base end includes an inlet and the top end includes a tangential outlet. Rotation of the impeller draws molten metal into the pumping chamber and creates a rotating equilibrium vortex that rises up the walls of the pumping chamber. The rotating vortex adjacent the top end exists the device cia the tangential outlet.

Claims

1. A molten metal pump comprising an elongated pumping chamber having a base end and a top end, said elongated pumping chamber comprised of a refractory material including a single wall defining a single chamber, a metallic frame configured for mechanical attachment to said elongated pumping chamber and mounting the pump to a furnace, a shaft disposed within said pumping chamber and a refractory impeller rotatable by said shaft, said rotatable shaft being exposed to a bath of molten metal during operation, said impeller including a hub disposed in an axial center which receives said shaft and a plurality of independent vanes, said base end including an at least substantially circular in cross-section inlet and said top end including an outlet, said inlet formed in a wall defining said base end such that the inlet is in axial alignment with the shaft, said inlet having a diameter narrower than a width of a portion of the pumping chamber between the inlet and the outlet, at least a portion of said impeller being disposed within said inlet wherein at least a portion of said impeller and the wall defining the base are coplanar.

2. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein said inlet has a diameter of at least 1.1 times a diameter of the impeller.

3. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein a distance between said inlet and said outlet is at least three times a height of said impeller.

4. The molten metal pump of claim 3 wherein said distance is at least ten times the height of the impeller.

5. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein said pumping chamber is comprised of fused silica or silicon carbide.

6. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein said vanes extend from a hub inclusive portion of said impeller.

7. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein said top end comprises a chamber having a diameter greater than the diameter of said pumping chamber intermediate said inlet and said outlet.

8. The molten metal pump of claim 7 wherein said chamber includes a volute shape.

9. The molten metal pump of claim 7 wherein said outlet is tangential to a sidewall forming said chamber.

10. The molten metal pump of claim 7, wherein said chamber further includes a safety spillway.

11. The molten metal pump of claim 10 wherein said outlet comprises a channel in a side wall of said chamber, said channel having a depth substantially equal to a depth of said chamber.

12. The molten metal pump of claim 11 wherein said safety spillway comprises a channel having a depth less than a depth of said outlet channel.

13. The molten metal pump of claim 1 wherein a compressible material is disposed between said metal frame and said top end.

14. The pump of claim 1 wherein said vanes extend at least generally radially.

15. The pump of claim 1 further including a hanger for lifting of the pump.

16. The pump of claim 1 further including a heat break coupling.

17. The pump of claim 1 further including a filter.

18. The pump of claim 1 wherein said impeller is comprised of graphite.

19. The pump of claim 1 wherein said mechanical attachment comprises a plurality of bolts.

20. A method of transferring molten metal from a furnace to a die casting apparatus comprising operating the molten metal pump of claim 1, wherein said shaft and impeller are rotated by a motor and molten metal rises in said pumping chamber to the top end where the molten metal is axially discharged to the die casting apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following description and drawings set forth certain illustrative implementations of the disclosure in detail, which are indicative of several exemplary ways in which the various principles of the disclosure may be carried out. The illustrated examples, however, are not exhaustive of the many possible embodiments of the disclosure. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will be set forth in the following detail description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art system including a furnace, a melting bay and an adjacent bay containing a transfer pump;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a molten metal transfer system including the pump disposed in a furnace bay;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective partially in cross-section view of the system of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pumping chamber;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the pumping chamber;

(8) FIG. 7 is a view along the line A-A of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the impeller top section;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled impeller;

(11) FIG. 10 is an alternative impeller design;

(12) FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the impeller of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment with an electric motor; and

(14) FIG. 13 is a further alternative embodiment with an air motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(15) One or more embodiments or implementations are hereinafter described in conjunction with the drawings, where like reference numerals are used to refer like elements throughout, and where the various features are not necessary drawn to scale.

(16) With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the molten metal pump 30 of the present invention is depicted in association with a furnace 28. Pump 30 is suspended via metallic framing 32 which rests on the walls of the furnace bay 34. A motor 35 rotates a shaft 36 and the appended impeller 38. A refractory body 40 forms an elongated generally cylindrical pump chamber or tube 41. The refractory body can be formed, for example, from fused silica, silicon carbide or combinations thereof. Body 40 includes an inlet 43 which receives impeller 38. Preferably, bearing rings 44 are provided to facilitate even wear and rotation of the impeller 38 therein. In operation, molten metal is drawn into the impeller through the inlet (arrows) and forced upwardly within tube 41 in the shape of a forced (“equilibrium”) vortex. At a top of the tube 41 a volute shaped chamber 43 is provided to direct the molten metal vortex created by rotation of the impeller outwardly into trough 44. Trough 44 can be joined/mated with additional trough members or tubing to direct the molten metal to its desired location such as a casting apparatus, a ladle or other mechanism as known to those skilled in the art.

(17) Although depicted as a volute cavity, an alternative mechanism could be utilized to divert the rotating molten metal vortex into the trough. In fact, a tangential outlet extending from even a cylindrical cavity will achieve molten metal flow. However, a diverter such as a wing extending into the flow pattern or other element which directs the molten metal into the trough may be preferred.

(18) In addition, in certain environments, it may be desirable to form the base of the tube into a general bell shape, rather than flat. This design may produce a deeper vortex and allow the device to have improved function as a scrap submergence unit.

(19) Turning now to FIGS. 5-7, the tube 41 is shown in greater detail. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the refractory body. FIG. 6 shows a top view of the volute design and FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view of the elongated generally cylindrical pumping chamber. These views show the general design parameters where the tube 41 is at least 1.1 times greater in diameter, preferably at least about 1.5 times, and most preferably, at least about 2.0 times greater than the impeller diameter. However, for higher density metals, such as zinc, it may be desirable that the impeller diameter relative to pumping chamber diameter be at the lower range of 1.1 to 1.3. In addition, it can be seen that the tube 41 is significantly greater in length than the impeller is in height. Preferably, the tube length (height) is at least three times, more preferably at least 10 times, greater than a height of the impeller. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that these dimensions facilitate formation of a desirable forced (“equilibrium”) vortex of molten metal as shown by line 47 in FIG. 7.

(20) FIGS. 8 and 9 depict the impeller 38 which includes top section 46 having vanes 48 supplying the induced molten metal flow and a hub 50 for mating with the shaft 36. In its assembled condition, impeller 38 is mated via screws or bolts to an inlet guide section 52 having a hollow central portion 54 and bearing rings 56. The impeller can be constructed of graphite or other suitable refractory material. It is envisioned that any traditional molten metal impeller design would be functional in the present overflow vortex transfer system.

(21) Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, an alternative impeller design is depicted. In this embodiment, the impeller top section 62 includes bores 64 in the vanes 65 which receive posts 66 to facilitate proper registration of the components and increase the mating strength. In addition, the inlet guide section 68 has been extended relative to the prior design to include bearing rings 56 and added alignment element 70. Particularly, alignment element 70 is received within a the cooperatively shaped inlet 43.

(22) Referring now to FIG. 12, the pump assembly 100 has a metal frame 108 surrounding the top portion (outlet chamber) of the refractory tube 41, and includes a motor mount 102 which is secured to the pump assembly 100. The motor mount assembly 102 is secured to together via hex bolts 103, flat washers 104, lock washers 105 and hex nut 106. Motor adaptor assembly 107 joins electric motor 108 to the motor mount 102. Particularly, hex bolts 109, lock washers 110, hex nuts 111 provide the mating between electric motor adaptor assembly 107 and electric motor 108. A hanger 112 is provided to facilitate the lifting of the assembly. Hanger 112 is secured to the motor via hex bolts 113 and flat washers 114. Heat break coupling assembly 115 mates the motor drive shaft to the shaft and impeller assembly 116. A mounting support assembly 117 including hex bolts 118, bevel washer 119 and hex nut 120 is provided to secure the assembly to the furnace. A strainer 121 and a filter cap 122 are provided to protect against ingress of unwanted debris into the pump. In this embodiment, a compressible fiber blank can be disposed between the steel frame and the refractory bowl to accommodate variations in thermal expansion rates. Furthermore, in this embodiment the outlet chamber is provided with an overflow notch 123 to safely return molten metal to the furnace in the event of a downstream obstruction which blocks primary outlet trough 124. Overflow notch 123 has a shallower depth than primary outlet trough 124.

(23) Referring now to FIG. 13, an overflow pump with an air motor option is depicted. Particularly, a metal frame 201 surrounds tube 41 and is mated to a motor mount assembly 202 via hex bolts 203, flat washers 204, lock washers 205 and hex nuts 206. Motor adapter assembly 207 facilitates mounting of the air motor 208 thereto. Air motor 208 includes a muffler 209 and is secured to the air motor adapter assembly 207 via hex bolts 210, and lock washers 211. A heat break coupling 212 mates the drive shaft of the air motor 207 to shaft and impeller assembly 213. Mounting support assembly 214 is provided to secure the unit to the refractory furnace. Particularly, hex bolts 215, bevel washers 216 and hex nuts 217 provide securement thereof. In addition, strainer 218 and filter cap 219 are provided.

(24) The invention has many advantages in that its design creates an equilibrium vortex at a low impeller RPM, creating a smooth surface with lithe to no air intake. Accordingly, the vortex is non-violent and creates little or no dross. Moreover, the present pump creates a forced vortex having a constant angular velocity such that the column of rotating molten metal rotates as a solid body having very lithe turbulence.

(25) Other advantages include the elimination of the riser component in traditional molten metal pumps which can be fragile and prone to clogging and damage. In addition, the design provides a very small footprint relative to the traditional transfer pump base and has the ability to locate the impeller very close to the bay bottom, allowing for very low metal draw down. As a result of the small footprint, The device is suitable for current refractory furnace designs and will not require significant modification thereto.

(26) The pump has excellent flow tunability, its open design structure provides for simple and easily cleaning access. Advantageously, only shaft and impeller replacement parts will generally be required. In fact is generally self-cleaning wherein dross formation in the riser is eliminated because the metal level is high. Generally, a lower torque motor, such as an air motor, will be sufficient because of the low torque experienced.

(27) Optional additions to the design include the location of a filter at the base of the inlet of the pumping chamber. It is further envisioned that the pump would be suitable for use in molten zinc environments where a very long, pull (e.g. 14 ft.) is required. Such a design may preferably include the addition of a bearing mechanism at a location on the rotating shaft intermediate the motor and impeller. Furthermore, in a zinc application, the entire construction could be manufactured from metal, such as steel or stainless steel, including the pumping chamber tube, and optionally the shaft and impeller.

(28) The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.