Controlled molten metal flow from transfer vessel

Abstract

A method for transporting molten metal from one location to another. A transportable vessel that is not part of a reverbatory furnace, and that can be moved to different locations, has molten metal placed therein. The transportable vessel is then moved to a different location. A pump inside of the transportable vessel is then operated to move molten metal out of the transportable vessel.

Claims

1. A method of transporting molten metal from one location to another utilizing a transportable vessel for retaining molten metal, the transportable vessel not being part of a reverbatory furnace and including a cavity with a transfer conduit in which a molten metal pump is positioned, the vessel for retaining molten metal, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing molten metal into the transportable vessel; (b) moving the transportable vessel from a first location to a second location; and (c) operating the molten metal pump to move molten metal through at least part of the transfer conduit and out of the transportable vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of moving the molten metal into another vessel when the molten metal is moved out of the transportable vessel.

3. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of keeping the transportable vessel level while the molten metal pump is operating.

4. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of keeping the transportable vessel level while moving it.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportable vessel has an uppermost portion and an outlet beneath the uppermost portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the molten metal pump includes a rotor that has a plurality of blades.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each blade is a dual-flow blade, with a first, angled portion that moves molten metal upward, and a second portion that moves molten metal outward.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer conduit has a bottom that includes an opening in communication with the cavity and an outlet.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the molten metal pump includes a rotor and the opening is beneath the rotor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportable vessel is comprised of refractory material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportable vessel is a ladle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein there are one or more walls that separate the cavity from the transfer conduit, and the opening is formed in at least one of the one or more walls, wherein the opening allows molten metal to pass from the cavity into the interior of the transfer conduit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the pump includes a motor, a rotor, and a shaft, wherein the shaft has a first end connected to the motor and a second end connected to the rotor, wherein at least part of the shaft is positioned in the transfer conduit and the rotor is positioned in the transfer conduit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump has a platform for supporting the motor, the vessel has an upper perimeter, and the transfer conduit has an upper perimeter, and the platform of the molten metal pump is at least partially supported by the upper perimeter of the transfer conduit in order to at least partially support the molten metal pump.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the platform of the molten metal pump is also supported by at least an upper perimeter of the transportable vessel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the molten metal pump has a shaft and a rotor, and the transfer conduit includes a first wall having a first outer surface and a second wall having a second outer surface, and the platform has a first side that includes a first centering bracket and a second side that includes a second centering bracket; the first centering bracket being juxtaposed the first outer surface and the second centering bracket being juxtaposed the second outer surface to help center the shaft and rotor in the transfer conduit.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the cavity has an uppermost portion and the outlet has a bottom surface, the bottom surface being lower than the uppermost portion.

18. A method of building a molten metal pump for use in a transportable vessel for transferring molten metal from one place to another, the transportable vessel not being part of a reverbatory furnace, the vessel including a cavity for retaining molten metal, and a transfer conduit having a bottom that includes an opening in communication with the cavity, and an outlet above the opening, the outlet leading out of the transfer conduit; wherein the transfer conduit is configured to receive a shaft and a rotor of a molten metal pump; the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a height the transfer conduit; (b) determining the diameter of a part of the transfer conduit in which the rotor will be positioned; and (c) constructing a molten metal pump having a motor, a rotor, and a shaft having a first end connected to the rotor and a second end connected to the motor; the rotor having a diameter of or less than the diameter of the part of the transfer conduit in which the rotor will be positioned, and the shaft having a length such that the motor is outside of the transfer conduit when the rotor is positioned in the first section of the transfer conduit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a frame is positioned on an upper perimeter of the transfer conduit and is configured for receiving a platform of the molten metal pump.

20. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of constructing a frame for attaching the molten metal pump to the transportable vessel.

21. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of providing a frame for the transportable vessel, wherein the frame attaches to the transportable vessel and to a molten metal pump.

22. The method of claim 21 that further includes the step of attaching the frame to the transportable vessel.

23. The method of claim 1 that further includes the step of positioning the molten metal pump partially in the transfer conduit.

24. The method of claim 22 that further includes the step of attaching the pump to the frame.

25. The method of claim 18 that further includes the step of constructing a platform having a first side with a first centering bracket, and a second side with a second centering bracket, wherein the first centering bracket is configured to be juxtaposed a first center surface of the transfer conduit and the second centering bracket is configured to be juxtaposed the second outer surface of the transfer conduit.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein the transfer conduit has a first section having a first inner cross-sectional area and a second section above the first section, the second section having a second inner cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first section is cylindrical and the second section is cylindrical.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer conduit has a first section having a diameter and a first inner cross-sectional area and a second section above the first section, the second section having a second inner cross-sectional area, the opening being in the first section and the outlet being in the second section.

29. The method of claim 18 that further includes the step of positioning the molten metal pump partially in the transfer conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a transportable vessel according to aspects of the invention with the pump removed.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the transportable vessel of claim 1 with the pump positioned in the transfer conduit.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the transportable vessel of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along lines A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) Turning now to the Figures, where the purpose is to describe preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit same, FIGS. 1-3 show one preferred embodiment according to an aspect of the invention. A transportable vessel assembly 10 includes a transportable vessel 100 and a pump 200.

(5) Vessel 100 is preferably made of any suitable refractory material wherein such materials are known to those skilled in the art. Vessel 100 has a holding portion 101 with a wall 102 that includes an outer surface 104 and an inner surface 106. As shown, wall 102 is cylindrical although it could be of any suitable shape. Holding portion 101 also has an opening 108 at its top that leads to an inner cavity 110, which retains molten metal placed therein. A bottom 112 is solid and has an inner surface 114 and an outer surface 116.

(6) Vessel 100 also includes a transfer chamber 120, which is preferably comprised of the same material as holding portion 101. The material may be a high temperature, castable cement, with a high silicon carbide content, such as ones manufactured by AP Green or Harbison Walker, each of which are part of ANH Refractory, based at 400 Fairway Drive, Moon Township, Pa. 15108, or Allied Materials. Such a cement is of a type know by those skilled in the art, and is cast in a conventional manner known to those skilled in the art.

(7) Transfer chamber 120 includes walls 122, 124, 126 and 128, which define an enclosed, cylindrical (in this embodiment) uptake cavity 130 that is sometimes referred to herein as an uptake section. Uptake section 130 has a first section 132, and a wider second section 134 above first section 132. In this embodiment sections 130, 132 and 134 are all preferably cylindrical. A channel 136 leads from the bottom of cavity 110 to an opening 138 in uptake section 130. With this structure molten metal flows (preferably due to gravitational force) through channel 136 and to opening 138.

(8) An outlet 140 is in fluid communication with second section 134 above first section 132. It is preferred that the outlet 140 be a short launder structure preferably between about 6 and 6 in length, although it can be of any suitable length. Further, it is preferred that, if a launder structure is used as the outlet, it is either formed at a 0 horizontal angle, or tilts backward towards the uptake section 130 at an angle of between 1-3, or 1-5, or 1-10, or at a slope of about for every 10 of launder length.

(9) Pump 200 includes a motor 210 that is positioned on a platform or superstructure 212. A drive shaft 214 connects motor 210 to rotor 300. In this embodiment, drive shaft 214 includes a motor shaft (not shown) connected to a coupling 216 that is also connected to a rotor drive shaft 218. Rotor drive shaft 218 is connected to rotor 300, preferably by being threaded into a bore at the top of rotor 300.

(10) Pump 200 is supported in this embodiment by a brackets, or support legs 250. Preferably, each support leg 250 is attached by any suitable fastener to superstructure 112 and its flanges rest against the upper surfaces of walls 124 and 126, respectively, preferably by using fasteners that attach to flange 252. It is preferred that if brackets or metal structures of any type are attached to a piece of refractory material used in any embodiment of the invention, that bosses be placed at the proper positions in the refractory when the refractory piece is cast. Fasteners, such as bolts, are then received in the bosses. This method of attachment is known in the art.

(11) When pump 200 is assembled with vessel 100, rotor 300 is positioned in uptake section 130 so that it is received in the narrower first section 132, wherein narrow first section 132 essentially acts as a pump chamber. There is preferably a space of or less between the outer perimeter of rotor 300 and the wall of first section 132 in order to create enough pressure to pump molten metal upward into uptake section 130. As shown, rotor 300 is positioned in the lowermost part of first section 132 of uptake section 130 and the bottom surface of rotor 300 is approximately flush with opening 138. Rotor 300 could, however, be located at any suitable location where it would push molten metal upward into uptake section 130 with enough pressure for the molten metal to reach and pass through outlet 140, thereby exiting vessel 100. For example, rotor 300 could only partially located in section 132 (with part of rotor 300 in opening 138, or rotor 300 could be positioned higher in uptake section 130, as long as it fits sufficiently to generate adequate pressure to move molten metal upward and into outlet 140.

(12) Once the pump 200 is attached to vessel 100 to create system 10, in use molten metal is placed in cavity 110, where it fills channel 136 and opening 138 (and may rise to the same level in uptake section 130 as the level in cavity 110). System 10 is then moved to another portion of the factory, such as by using a forklift. Molten metal is removed from vessel 100 preferably not by tipping or tilting it, but by keeping system 10 level and operating pump 200. The operation of pump 200 pushes molten metal upward through section 130, out of outlet 140 and into another vessel or structure.

(13) Having thus described different embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written description or claims, the steps of any method recited in the claims may be performed in any order capable of yielding the desired product or result.