Method and apparatus for fixing a soldering tip to a soldering tool
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorsGert Mittmann, Ralf Zerweck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A soldering tool may include a power unit including a controller, a tool body configured to interface with the power unit, and a tip portion operably coupled to the tool body. The tip portion may include a tip that is heated to melt solder by a heating element controlled by the controller. The tip is operably coupled to the heating element via a braze joint. The heating element may be operable at a first temperature range for melting the solder and a second temperature range, higher than the first temperature range, to facilitate forming or braking the braze joint.
Claims17
A soldering tool comprising:
- a power unit comprising a controller;
- a tool body configured to interface with the power unit;
- and
- a tip portion operably coupled to the tool body and including a tip that is heated to melt solder by a heating element under control of the controller,
- wherein the tip is operably coupled to the heating element via a braze joint, and
- wherein the heating element is operable at a first temperature range for melting the solder and a second temperature range, higher than the first temperature range, to facilitate forming or breaking the braze joint;
- wherein the tip comprises a receiving cavity shaped complementary to a shape of a distal end of the heating element;
- wherein a brazing filler material is provided in the receiving cavity, the brazing filler material having a melting point above the first temperature range and below the second temperature range;
- wherein, responsive to the heating element being at the second temperature range, the distal end of the heating element is insertable into the receiving cavity to melt the brazing filler material into a space defined between the receiving cavity and the heating element;
- wherein the heating element is provided with a guide line, and wherein pressure is applied to the tip or the heating element during insertion of the heating element into the receiving cavity to align the guide line with a proximal end of the tip.
A method of installing or removing a tip at a tip portion of a soldering tool;
- wherein the soldering tool comprises:
- a power unit comprising a controller,
- a tool body configured to interface with the power unit;
- and
- a tip portion operably coupled to the tool body and including a tip that is heated to melt solder by a heating element under control of the controller, the tip being operably coupled to the heating element via a braze joint;
- wherein the method comprises:
- operating the heating element of the soldering tool, the heating element being configured to melt solder at a first temperature range and at a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range to facilitate forming a braze joint;
- providing a brazing filler material in a receiving cavity of the tip, the receiving cavity being shaped complementary to a shape of a distal end of the heating element, the brazing filler material having a melting point above the first temperature range and below the second temperature range;
- while the heating element heated to a temperature within the second temperature range, inserting the distal end of the heating element into the receiving cavity to melt the brazing filler material into a space defined between the heating element and the receiving cavity to form the braze joint between the heating element and the tip;
- and
- applying pressure to the tip or the heating element to insert the distal end of the heating element into the receiving cavity until a proximal end of the receiving cavity aligns with a guide line of the heating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.