Patent ID: 8361379

Claim:
A molten metal pump including: (a) a motor; (b) a rotor; (c) a shaft connecting the motor to the rotor; (d) a base having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a bottom and comprising: a pump chamber; a discharge in fluid communication with the pump chamber; and a gas-release opening in the bottom of the base, the gas-release opening in communication with the discharge; (e) a gas-transfer foot comprising: a first end and a second end; a gas-inlet port in the second end through which gas enters the gas-transfer foot; and a gas-outlet port in communication with the gas-release opening so that gas can be transferred from the gas-outlet port through the gas-release opening and into the discharge; and (f) a notch constructed in the first side and bottom of the base to form a channel in the base, the notch having a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, and a terminating wall in the bottom, wherein the terminating wall connects the first side wall and the second side wall, and there is no opening in the second side of the base that communicates with the notch, the notch configured to receive at least part of the gas-transfer foot so that when the first end of the gas-transfer foot contacts the terminating wall, the gas-outlet port is aligned with the gas-release opening.