Soldering apparatus

Claim 2

A tool for the controlled application of molten solder to a workpiece and for the controlled removal of excess molten solder from such workpiece so that only a relatively thin film remains on the workpiece said tool including: a plurality of separate elongate members of heat conductive material; a common support embracing such members in heat conductive relationship said support also retaining said members in a fixed relative relationship; said members and said support being coterminous at a work contacting portion; said members defining elongate passages extending from a position adjacent the work contacting portion of said tool into a portion of said tool remote from said work contacting portion; and means acting through the common support for raising the temperature of the tool in the passage area and adjacent the work contacting portion sufficiently to render solder fluid, so that solder stored in said passage may flow therefrom onto an unsoldered work surface and excess solder may flow back from said work contacting portion and be stored in the remote portion.

Claim 3

In a hand tool useful in performing soldering and desoldering operations on a workpiece, said tool being of elongate styluslike configuration and incorporating an electrically-energizable heat-generating member remotely located with respect to the workpiece-engaging end of said tool, such end lying along the longitudinal axis of said tool, the improvement which comprises: a heat-conducting chuck extending axially from said electrically-energizable member; a tip removably receivable in said chuck; said tip having at least one solder-conducting passageway parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tool, the cross-sectional dimension of such passageway being chosen to bring about the conduction of molten solder therethrough by capillary action; the said solder-conducting passageway having one terminus at the workpiece-engaging end of said tool as defined by that extremity of said tip remote from said electrically-energizable member, at which point said passageway terminates in a solder-receiving or solder-dispensing orifice; said tip including a heat conducting member closely associated with said passageway and continuing to the work engaging extremity thereof; said heat conducting member also serving to prevent deformation of said passageway during applicatIon of the tip to a workpiece; and the workpiece-engaging end of said tool being physically isolated from said electrically-energizable member by said chuck, so that the workpiece-engaging end of said tool, and hence the workpiece engaged thereby, is substantially protected from the deleterious effects of any flux field which may result from the electrical energization of said heat-generating member.

Claim 4

In a hand tool useful in performing soldering and desoldering operations on a workpiece, said tool being of elongate styluslike configuration and incorporating an electrically-energizable heat-generating member remotely located with respect to the workpiece-engaging end of said tool, such end lying along the longitudinal axis of said tool, the improvement which comprises: a heat-conducting chuck extending axially from said electrically-energizable member; a tip removably receivable in said chuck; said tip having at least one solder-conducting passageway parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tool, the cross-sectional dimension of such passageway being chosen to bring about the conduction of molten solder therethrough by capillary action; the said solder-conducting passageway having one terminus at the workpiece-engaging end of said tool as defined by that extremity of said tip remote from said electrically-energizable member, at which point said passageway terminates in a solder-receiving or solder-dispensing orifice; said tip including a heat conducting member closely associated with said passageway and continuing to the work engaging extremity thereof; said heat conducting member also serving to prevent deformation of said passageway during applicatIon of the tip to a workpiece; and the workpiece-engaging end of said tool being physically isolated from said electrically-energizable member by said chuck, so that the workpiece-engaging end of said tool, and hence the workpiece engaged thereby, is substantially protected from the deleterious effects of any flux field which may result from the electrical energization of said heat-generating member.

Claim 5

The hand tool of claim 2 wherein the passageway terminates in a slot located in the workpiece-engaging end of said tool.

Claim 6

The hand tool of claim 2 in which said tip has a plurality of solder-conducting passageways parallel both to one another and to the longitudinal axis of said tool, said passageways respectively terminating at the workpiece-engaging end of said tool in a plurality of solder-receiving or solder-dispensing orifices.

Claim 7

The hand tool of claim 4 in which said tip comprises a tubular sleeve containing a bundle of juxtapositioned rodlike members and the solder-conducting passageways comprise the interstices that are present within said bundle.

Claim 8

The hand tool of claim 4 wherein the workpiece-engaging end of the tool is formed of spaced fins.

Claim 9

A tool for use in connection with molten solder which comprises: a sleeve having an end; said sleeve being formed of a metal capable of conducting heat; a core located within said sleeve; said core having an end which is coplanar with said end of said sleeve; said core being formed of a metal capable of conducting heat and capable of being wetted by molten solder; said core having a plurality of capillary passages located therein adjacent to one another; and said passages extending away from said end of said core towards the interior of said sleeve.

Claim 10

A tool for use in connection with molten solder which comprises: a sleeve having an end; said sleeve being formed of a metal capable of conducting heat; a core located within said sleeve; said core having an end which is coplanar with said end of said sleeve; said core being formed of a metal capable of conducting heat and capable of being wetted by molten solder; said core having a plurality of capillary passages located therein adjacent to one another; and said passages extending away from said end of said core towards the interior of said sleeve.

Claim 11

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said core extends into said sleeve and terminates between the ends of said sleeve; and said capillary passages extend from said end into the interior of said sleeve at the end of said core within said sleeve.

Claim 12

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said sleeve has two ends and said core has two ends; each end of said core is adjacent to an end of said sleeve; one end of said sleeve and one end of said core are shaped so as to conform to the configuration of a workpiece adapted to be located with respect to said tool; and said capillary passages extend between both ends of said core.

Claim 13

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said core comprises a plurality of parallel rods located in contact with one another, the spaces between said rods defining said capillary passages.

Claim 14

A tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein: said rods decrease in diameter from said end of said core towards the interior of said core.

Claim 15

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said core comprises a coil of metal, said coil having spaces between the turns thereof defining said capillary passages.

Claim 16

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said core comprises a coil of a corrugated metal sheet, the spaces between the turns of said coil defining said capillary passages.

Claim 17

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said core comprises a plurality of parallel rods located in contact with one another, the spaces between said rods defining said capillary passages; and the exterior rods of said plurality of rods are secured together so as to serve as such sleeve.

Claim 18

A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said sleeve is a coiled wire located around said core.

Claim 19

In a hand tool for the carefully controlled application of molten solder to and removal of molten solder from a workpiece including heat and shock vulnerable components, the improvement which comprises: a casing formed of heat-conducting material and having a workpiece-engaging tip; elongate rods within said casing defining a plurality of passageways; each passageway opening at the workpiece-engaging tip of said casing; and said casing serviNg to structurally retain said rods and passageways formed thereby in substantially parallel alignment while simultaneously providing a heat path to transmit heat to the workpiece-engaging tip portions of said passageways.

Claim 20

In a hand tool for the carefully controlled application of molten solder to and removal of molten solder from a workpiece including heat and shock vulnerable components, the improvement which comprises: a casing formed of heat-conducting material and having a workpiece-engaging tip; elongate rods within said casing defining a plurality of passageways; each passageway opening at the workpiece-engaging tip of said casing; and said casing serviNg to structurally retain said rods and passageways formed thereby in substantially parallel alignment while simultaneously providing a heat path to transmit heat to the workpiece-engaging tip portions of said passageways.