Rotary degassers and components therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10570745-B2
Application number	US-201615371086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2016
Priority date	Aug 7, 2009
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotor shaft configured for use in a molten metal environment, the rotor shaft comprising one or more of graphite and ceramic, and the rotor shaft being configured so that it cannot be threadingly connected to a corresponding coupling, and is configured to be received and retained in the corresponding coupling, which has no internal threads, the rotor shaft comprising:
(a) a first end that is tapered and not threaded;
(b) a non-tapered center portion that that includes at least one helical groove that is not threads, and that is configured to receive an end of a retainer, wherein the non-tapered center portion has a first side connected to the first end, and a second side;
(c) an outer surface connected to the second end side of the center portion, wherein the outer surface has no threads or grooves; and
(d) a second end that is threaded and configured to connect to a rotor;
wherein the first end of the shaft is configured to be received in the corresponding coupling so that the first end of the shaft mates with an inner tapered portion of the corresponding coupling, and one or more retainers are received in openings in the corresponding coupling such that each of the one or more retainers is positioned to be pressed against the at least one helical groove, in order to apply driving force from the corresponding coupling to the shaft.

2. The rotor shaft of claim 1 , wherein the second end is connected to a rotor.

3. The rotor shaft of claim 1 wherein the taper is at an angle between 20° and 45°.

4. The rotor shaft of claim 1 that has a single helical groove.

5. The rotor shaft of claim 2 , wherein the taper is at an angle between 20° and 45°.

6. The rotor shaft of claim 2 that has a single helical groove.

7. The rotor shaft of claim 1 that is a unitary structure.

8. The rotor shaft of claim 1 that further comprises an inner passage for transferring gas.

Assignees

• Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Llc

Inventors

• Cooper Paul V

Classifications

• F27B3/22

  Arrangements of air or gas supply devices · CPC title

• F27D3/16

  Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge (F27D3/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F27D2027/002

  Gas stirring · CPC title

• F27D27/00

  Stirring devices for molten material (charging or discharging liquid or molten material F27D3/14) · CPC title

• F01D5/18 Primary

  Hollow blades, {i.e. blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities (structure of hollow blades in general F01D5/147)}; Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades · CPC title