US5024856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for applying a flux
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-12-29
•
Granted: 1991-06-18
•
Expires: 2009-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus enable the application of a flux material onto a geometrically defined joint to be soldered. The flux material is first ultrasonically atomized in a pressureless or almost pressureless manner. Thereafter, the flux material mist is transported and applied to the joint to be soldered by a directed air stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernst Hohnerlein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:39
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K3/00; B23K3/08; B23K3/082; B05; B05B; B05B17/00; B05B17/04; B05B17/06; B05B17/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In a soldering method requiring applying a flux material to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, the improvement comprising the following steps: (a) transporting said electrical component in a given transport direction, (b) ultrasonically atomizing said flux material in an ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) in a substantially pressureless manner to provide a pressureless flux mist substantially without air turbulence, (c) separately generating around said flux mist an airstream of hollow constant cross-section by an air nozzle (18) independently of said atomizing of said flux materials, (d) moving said ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) and said air nozzle (18) in a direction substantially perpendicular to said given transport direction, and (e) entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist inside said hollow constant cross-section airstream for supplying said pressureless flux mist to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered on said electrical component by directing said hollow constant cross-section airstream onto said small area point forming a joint to be soldered without substantial mixing between said flux mist and said airstream to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a soldering method requiring applying a flux material to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, the improvement comprising the following steps: (a) transporting said electrical component in a given transport direction, (b) ultrasonically atomizing said flux material in an ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) in a substantially pressureless manner to provide a pressureless flux mist substantially without air turbulence, (c) separately generating around said flux mist an airstream of hollow constant cross-section by an air nozzle (18) independently of said atomizing of said flux materials, (d) moving said ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) and said air nozzle (18) in a direction substantially perpendicular to said given transport direction, and (e) entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist inside said hollow constant cross-section airstream for supplying said pressureless flux mist to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered on said electrical component by directing said hollow constant cross-section airstream onto said small area point forming a joint to be soldered without substantial mixing between said flux mist and said airstream to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step (e) is performed by directing said flux material mist in an upward direction to said joint to be soldered by means of pressurized air.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for applying flux to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, comprising means (15) for transporting said electrical component in a given transport direction (19), ultrasonic atomizer means (3, 5) including an atomizing element (5) for producing a pressureless flux mist in a substantially pressureless manner and substantially without air turbulence, means (8, 9, 10) for delivering flux material in a pressureless manner to said ultrasonic atomizer means, ring nozzle means (18) surrounding said atomizing element (5), said ring nozzle means (18) including a blower device for separately generating a hollow cross-section airstream of uniform diameter independtly of said atomizer means to surround said flux mist with said hollow cross-section airstream for entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist from said atomizer means to said small area point, and means for moving said atomizer means and said ring nozzle means in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said given transport direction for locating said ring nozzle means (18) into a position for carrying said flux mist with said hollow cross-section airstream to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered, to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
201 words
An apparatus for applying flux to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, comprising means (15) for transporting said electrical component in a given transport direction (19), ultrasonic atomizer means (3, 5) including an atomizing element (5) for producing a pressureless flux mist in a substantially pressureless manner and substantially without air turbulence, means (8, 9, 10) for delivering flux material in a pressureless manner to said ultrasonic atomizer means, ring nozzle means (18) surrounding said atomizing element (5), said ring nozzle means (18) including a blower device for separately generating a hollow cross-section airstream of uniform diameter independtly of said atomizer means to surround said flux mist with said hollow cross-section airstream for entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist from said atomizer means to said small area point, and means for moving said atomizer means and said ring nozzle means in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said given transport direction for locating said ring nozzle means (18) into a position for carrying said flux mist with said hollow cross-section airstream to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered, to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for moving comprise a carrier (20), and wherein said ultrasonic atomizer means, said nozzle means and said blower device (17, 18) are arranged on said carrier (20), and drive means (26, 28) connect to said carrier for moving said carrier substantially perpendicularly to said transport direction (19) of said electrical component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a floor plate (22), said carrier (20) with said ultrasonic atomizer means means and with said blower device (17, 18) being arranged below said floor plate (22), said floor plate (22) comprising an elongated hole (21) extending perpendicularly to said work piece transport directing (19), said apparatus further comprising a movable sealing band (23) covering said elongated hole (21), and wherein said carrier (20) with said ultrasonic atomizer means (2) and with said blower device is connected to said sealing band (23).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a droplet collecting tub (30) arranged for receiving flux droplets from said atomizing element (5) of said ultrasonic atomizer means (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for delivering flux comprise a supply container (9) for said flux, said supply container having an overflow (10) with an elevation substantially at a level of said atomizing element (5) and a flux delivery conduit (8) connecting said supply container (9) to said atomizing element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said atomizing element (5) forms substantially a column cloud of flux mist and wherein said annular ring nozzle (18) concentrically surrounds said atomizing element (5) to form a tubular hollow airstream around said flux mist column cloud for carrying flux mist produced by said atomizing element (5) to said joint to be soldered.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a soldering method requiring applying a flux material to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, the improvement comprising the following steps: (a) ultrasonically atomizing said flux material in an ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) in a substantially pressureless manner to produce a pressureless flux mist substantially without air turbulence; (b) separately generating around said flux mist an airstream of hollow constant cross-section by an air nozzle (18) independently of said atomizing of said flux material, and (c) entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist in and with said hollow constant cross-section airstream to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered on said electrical component by directing said hollow constant cross-section airstream onto said small area point forming a joint to be soldered without substantial mixing between said pressureless flux mist and said airstream, to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a soldering method requiring applying a flux material to a small area point forming a joint to be soldered on an electrical component, the improvement comprising the following steps: (a) ultrasonically atomizing said flux material in an ultrasonic atomizer (3, 5) in a substantially pressureless manner to produce a pressureless flux mist substantially without air turbulence; (b) separately generating around said flux mist an airstream of hollow constant cross-section by an air nozzle (18) independently of said atomizing of said flux material, and (c) entraining and carrying said pressureless flux mist in and with said hollow constant cross-section airstream to any small area point forming a joint to be soldered on said electrical component by directing said hollow constant cross-section airstream onto said small area point forming a joint to be soldered without substantial mixing between said pressureless flux mist and said airstream, to avoid fouling said electrical component with flux even without masking.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1861475A
Cited
US2763575A
Cited
US3195501A
Cited
US3365326A
Cited
US3605682A
Cited
US4218533A
Cited
DE2916977A1
Cited
EP0118091A1
Cited
US4564410A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-17 | 1994-12-17 | 1995-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-17 | 1998-12-17 | 1999-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-17 | 2002-12-17 | 2003-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |