Filtration of flux contaminants
AssigneeSpeedline Technologies, Inc.
InventorJon M. Dautenhahn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two-stage filtration system is coupled with an oven, such as a solder reflow oven, to remove a vapor stream from the oven and to remove organic compounds that have volatilized from a solder flux and other contaminants from the vapor stream. The filtration system includes a first stage for trapping larger particles and a second stage including a packed bed of wettable media, such as steel balls, for trapping smaller particles and serving as a nucleation site for condensed organic compounds. The first stage can be a centrifugal self-cleaning element in the form of a mesh strainer coupled with a rotary motor for spinning the mesh strainer.
Claims28
A reflow apparatus for solder joining electronic components to circuit boards, the apparatus comprising:
- a reflow chamber;
- a conveyor for conveying a circuit board within the chamber;
- at least one heating element for providing heat to reflow solder on the circuit board;
- and
- at least one two-stage filtration system for removing contaminants, the filtration system coupled with the chamber for passage of a vapor stream from the chamber through the filtration system, the filtration system including:
- a first stage designed to trap larger particles;
- and
- a second stage including a packed bed of wettable media designed to trap smaller particles and to serve as a nucleation site for condensed organic compounds.
A method for removing vaporized contaminants from inside a reflow oven, the method comprising:
- extracting a vapor stream including vaporized flux components from a reflow oven;
- passing the vapor stream through a first-stage filter that traps larger particles in the vapor stream;
- and then
- passing the vapor stream through a second-stage filter including a packed bed of wettable media that traps smaller particles and serves as a nucleation site for condensed organic compounds in the vapor stream.
A soldering apparatus for joining electronic components to circuit boards, the apparatus comprising:
- an oven;
- a support structure for supporting a circuit board within the oven;
- at least one heating element for heating a circuit board within the oven;
- and
- at least one two-stage filtration system for removing contaminants, the filtration system configured to extract a vapor stream from the oven, and the filtration system including:
- a first stage designed to trap larger particles;
- and
- a second stage including a packed bed of wettable media designed to trap smaller particles and to serve as a nucleation site for condensed organic compounds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.