Small footprint molten metal pump

Abstract

A device includes a molten metal pump and a metal-transfer conduit. A clamp may be used to attach the metal-transfer conduit to the pump. The pump has a pump base including an indentation configured to receive the metal-transfer conduit and align the pump outlet with the transfer inlet. The pump outlet may be formed in the indentation and preferably near the center of the indentation in order to better align with the transfer inlet. As the pump operates it moves molten metal through a pump outlet that is in communication with a transfer inlet in the metal-transfer conduit. The molten metal enters the transfer inlet, moves upwards in a passage in the metal-transfer conduit, and out of a transfer outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molten metal pump comprising:
 (a) a motor positioned on a platform, wherein the platform has a top surface and a bottom surface;   (b) a pump base that comprises an inlet leading to a pump chamber and an outlet in communication with the pump chamber;   (c) a drive shaft comprising a first end connected to the motor and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned at least partially in the pump chamber; and   (d) a plurality of support posts, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a body, a body first end, a body second end, and a rod positioned at least partially in the body and having a first rod end that extends outward from the body first end, and the first rod end is connected to the platform.   
     
     
         2 . The molten metal pump of  claim 1  that further comprises a plurality of openings in the platform and each of the plurality of openings is configured to have one first rod end positioned therein and having a portion that extends therethrough and above the top surface of the platform, and a fastener is connected to each first rod end at the top surface of the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The molten metal pump of  claim 2 , wherein each first rod end is threaded and each fastener is a nut and threads onto the first rod end. 
     
     
         4 . The molten metal pump of  claim 2  that does not include support post clamps. 
     
     
         5 . The molten metal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the rod has a second rod end that extends outward from the body second end and that connects to the pump base. 
     
     
         6 . The molten metal pump of  claim 5 , wherein the second rod end is threaded and is threadingly connected to the pump base. 
     
     
         7 . The molten metal pump of  claim 6 , wherein the pump base comprises a screw boss and the second rod end is threaded into the screw boss. 
     
     
         8 . The molten metal pump of  claim 7 , wherein the screw boss is inside of the pump base. 
     
     
         9 . The molten metal pump of  claim 5 , wherein the pump base has a top surface and a recess at the position of each rotor shaft and the second body end of each rotor shaft is positioned in the recess when the support post is connected to the pump base. 
     
     
         10 . The molten metal pump of  claim 5  that further comprises a one or more brackets configured to position it in a vessel configured to retain molten metal. 
     
     
         11 . The molten metal pump of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more brackets are connected to the platform and to the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The molten metal pump of  claim 10  that further comprises a frame on the vessel and the one or more brackets are connected to the one or more brackets. 
     
     
         13 . The molten metal pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the body plurality of each of the plurality of support posts comprises ceramic sheath. 
     
     
         14 . The molten metal pump of  claim 1 , wherein the rod of each of the plurality of support posts extends through the center of the support post. 
     
     
         15 . The molten metal pump of  claim 13 , wherein the transfer pipe has a second end that is positioned outside of the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . A support post for use in a molten metal pump that comprises:
 (a) a motor positioned on a platform, wherein the platform has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;   (b) a pump base that comprises an inlet leading to a pump chamber and an outlet in communication with the pump chamber; and   (c) a drive shaft comprising a first end connected to a motor and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned at least partially in the pump chamber;   wherein the support post has a body, a first body end, a second body end, and a rod positioned at least partially in the body, and the rod has a first rod end configured to be received in one of the apertures and be fastened above the top surface the platform.   
     
     
         17 . The support post of  claim 16 , wherein the rod has a second rod end that extends from the second body end and is configured to connect to the pump base. 
     
     
         18 . A molten metal pump base that comprises an inlet leading to a pump chamber and an outlet in communication with the pump chamber, and that is configured to be used in a molten metal pump that comprises:
 (a) a motor positioned on a platform, wherein the platform has a top surface and a bottom surface;   (b) a drive shaft comprising a first end connected to a motor and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned at least partially in the pump chamber; and   (c) a plurality of support posts, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a body, a body first end, a body second end, a rod positioned at least partially in the body, a first rod end extending from the body first end, and the first rod end is connected to the platform, and a second rod end extending from the second body end and received in a bore in the molten metal pump base and connected to a fastener in the molten metal pump base.   
     
     
         19 . The molten metal pump base of  claim 18 , wherein the second rod end is threaded and threads into the molten metal pump base. 
     
     
         20 . The molten metal pump base of  claim 18 , wherein no cement is injected into the base to retain the second rod end or the support post.