Rotary degassers and components therefor

Abstract

Disclosed are degassers, couplings, impeller shafts and impellers for use in molten metal. One such coupling transfers gas into an impeller shaft, the coupling having a smooth, tapered internal surface to align with a corresponding surface on the impeller shaft and help prevent gas leakage and to assist in preventing damage to the impeller shaft. Improved impellers for shearing and mixing gas are also disclosed, as is a degasser including one or more of these components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shaft that cannot be threadingly connected to a corresponding coupling for use in a rotary degasser, the shaft comprising:
 a first end, a second end, an outer sidewall, and an inner passage for transferring gas, wherein the first end is tapered and not threaded, and one or more grooves that are not threads formed adjacent the tapered first end; wherein the shaft is configured to be received in the corresponding coupling so that the tapered first end mates with an inner tapered portion in the coupling, and one or more retainers are received in the coupling such that each is positioned to be pressed against one of the one or more grooves, in order to apply driving force from the coupling to the shaft; wherein the shaft has a outer portion between the first end and the second end and the one or more grooves is between the center portion and the tapered part of the first end.   
     
     
         2 . The shaft of  claim 1  that has a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The shaft of  claim 2  wherein the grooves are not vertically aligned. 
     
     
         4 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the at least one groove is vertical. 
     
     
         5 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the at least one groove is circular. 
     
     
         6 . The shaft of  claim 2  wherein at least two of the plurality of grooves are each configured to align with an opening on the coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the shaft is threaded. 
     
     
         8 . The shaft of  claim 6  wherein the second end of the shaft is configured to threadingly connect to a rotor. 
     
     
         9 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the taper is at an angle between 20° and 45°. 
     
     
         10 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the one or more grooves are not vertically aligned. 
     
     
         11 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein the one or more grooves is a helical groove.