Axial pump and riser
View Patent ↗A device for pumping molten metal includes a pump configured to pump molten metal, wherein the pump comprises (i) a motor, (ii) a shaft having a first end connected to the motor, and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to push molten metal upwards as it rotates. At least part of the shaft and the rotor are positioned in a conduit of a riser. The riser has an outer surface, a front, a bottom, a two-stage conduit, an inlet and an outlet above the inlet and below the motor. The two-stage conduit has a lower stage and a an upper stage, wherein the lower stage is generally cylindrical and the upper stage has a circular cross-sectional portion and one or more lobes extending from and in communication with the circular cross-sectional portion.
1 . A device for pumping molten metal, the device comprising:
(a) a pump configured for pumping molten metal, wherein the pump comprises (i) a motor, (ii) a shaft having a first end connected to the motor, and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to push molten metal upwards; and
(b) a riser having an inlet, an outlet above the inlet, and a conduit, wherein the conduit comprises a cross-section comprising a circular center and a plurality of lobes extending from and connected to the circular center.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cross-section comprises four lobes.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each lobe shares a connecting point with an adjacent lobe.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the conduit comprises a lower stage conduit and an upper stage conduit, wherein the upper stage conduit comprises the cross-section comprising the circular center and the plurality of lobes, and wherein a cross-sectional width between the connecting points of diametrically opposite lobes is less than a cross-section width of the lower stage conduit.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the cross-sectional width between the connecting points of diametrically opposite lobes is about 10% to 20% less than the cross-section width of the lower stage conduit.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes has the same size and shape as the other of the plurality of lobes.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises at least two lobes on opposing sides of a center portion and a width between the lobes.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lobes help prevent the formation of a vortex.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes is spaced equidistantly about the center portion.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the pump further comprises a platform on which the motor is positioned, and the platform is attached to a clamp, and the clamp is further attached to the top of the riser.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises a bottom portion comprised of graphite and a top portion comprised of ceramic.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises a lower stage, an upper stage, and a transition between the upper stage and the lower stage.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the transition expands from the first cross-sectional area where it connects to the upper stage to the second cross-sectional area where it connects to the lower stage.
14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the transition has a height that is less than a height of the lower stage.
15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the transition has a height that is less than a height of the upper stage.
16 . A device for pumping molten metal, the device comprising:
(a) a pump configured for pumping molten metal, wherein the pump comprises (i) a motor, (ii) a shaft having a first end connected to the motor, and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to push molten metal upwards; and
(b) a riser comprising an inlet, an outlet above the inlet, and a two-stage inner conduit comprising an upper stage conduit and a lower stage conduit beneath the upper stage conduit, wherein the upper stage conduit comprises a upper stage conduit cross-sectional area of a channel of the upper stage conduit, wherein the lower stage conduit comprises a lower stage conduit cross-sectional area of a channel of the lower stage conduit, wherein the upper stage conduit cross-sectional area is larger than the lower stage conduit cross-sectional area, wherein the two-stage inner conduit comprises a cross-section comprising a circular center and a plurality of lobes extending from and connected to the circular center.