Granted Patent B2

US 12,560,169 · App. 16/533,383 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventor: Paul V. Cooper (Chesterland, OH)

Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC

F04D7/065C22B7/003C22B9/00F04D29/20F16D1/02F16D1/10F27D3/14F27D3/16F27D17/302F27D27/005F27D99/00F16C3/02F16D2001/102F27D2099/0083Y02P10/20

Abstract

Claims (34)

1 . A coupling for use in processing molten metal, the coupling comprising:

(a) a collar including (i) a cavity configured to receive an end of a rotor shaft, the cavity having a top surface, and (ii) an opening to the cavity; and

(b) a projection extending through the cavity and outside of the opening, the projection being threaded only outside of the opening, and the projection configured to be retained in a bore of the rotor shaft.

2 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the collar and the projection are comprised of steel.

3 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is chamfered so that it has a smaller diameter at the top surface than at the opening.

4 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the cavity has a wall that is not threaded.

5 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection extends through the center of the cavity.

6 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection extends 2″ or more beyond the opening.

7 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection extends 3″ or more beyond the opening.

8 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection has a first portion inside of the cavity and a second portion outside of the opening, wherein the first portion does not have threads and the second portion has threads.

9 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection has threads that are square, 1″ ACME threads.

10 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection has an exterior end positioned outside of the cavity, and the exterior end is chamfered.

11 . The coupling of claim 10 , wherein the exterior end is ¼″ long and has a 45° chamfer.

12 . The coupling of claim 1 wherein the distance from the top surface to the opening is between 1″ and 1.5″.

13 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the projection includes an interior passage for transferring gas.

14 . A molten metal pump comprising:

(a) a motor having a motor shaft with a first end connected to the motor and a second end;

(b) the coupling of claim 1 , wherein the coupling has a first end connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

(c) a rotor shaft having (i) a first end positioned at least partly in the cavity of the collar, (ii) a bore that is threadingly connected to the projection, and (iii) a second end; and

(d) a rotor connected to the second end of the rotor shaft.

15 . A rotary degasser comprising:

(a) a motor having a motor shaft with a first end connected to the motor and a second end;

(b) the coupling of claim 1 , which has a first end connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

(c) a rotor shaft having (i) a first end positioned at least partly in the opening of the collar, (ii) a bore that is threadingly connected to the projection, and (iii) a second end; and

(d) a rotor connected to the second end of the rotor shaft.

16 . A molten metal pump comprising:

(a) a motor having a motor shaft with a first end connected to the motor and a second end;

(b) the coupling of claim 1 , which has a first end connected to the second end of the motor shaft;

(c) a rotor shaft having (i) a first end positioned at least partly in the cavity of the collar, (ii) a bore that is threadingly connected to the projection, and (iii) a second end; and

(d) a rotor connected to the second end of the rotor shaft.

17 . The molten metal pump of claim 16 , wherein there are no threads in the cavity.

18 . The molten metal pump of claim 16 , wherein the projection extends 2″ or more beyond the opening.

19 . The molten metal pump of claim 16 , wherein the projection includes an interior passage for transferring gas.

20 . The molten metal pump of claim 16 , wherein the cavity is chamfered so that it has a smaller diameter at the top surface than at the opening.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)