Patent ID: 7300258

Claim:
An apparatus for pumping an electrically conductive material, the apparatus comprising: an open outer tube having a closed bottom; an open mid tube disposed within the outer tube to form an annular volume between the inner wall of the outer tube and outer wall of the mid tube, the top of the annular volume in communication with an outlet for exit of the electrically conductive material from the apparatus; an open inner tube disposed within the mid tube; a magnetic material disposed between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the mid tube; an inlet for entry of the electrically conductive material into the open inner tube, the inlet disposed near the top of the open inner tube and in communication with the opening in the inner tube; a plurality of induction coils disposed around the exterior height of the outer tube; and a means for supplying an ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and the outlet by the magnetic forces applied to the electrically conductive material by the magnetic fields created by the supply of the ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils.