Electrically heated tool for soldering pipe connector sleeves

A tool for heating a pipe connector sleeve in order to melt solder provided therein or applied thereto to secure said pipe connector sleeve to a pipe, said tool comprising:

• a pair of arms, each of said arms of said pair of arms having a first end and a second end, each of said pair of arms further being hingedly connected to one another between said first end and said second end of each said pair of arms, the first end of the first of said pair of arms being disposed adjacent the first end of the second of said pair of arms, the second end of the first of said pair of arms being disposed adjacent the second end of the second of said pair of arms;
• first electric heating element means having a first shaft portion, said first shaft portion enclosing an electric heating element and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said first shaft portion being secured to said first end of one of said pair of arms with said first shaft portion extending therefrom, a first metallic head part, said first metallic head part having a part-circular recess that is adapted to contact said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat thereto, said first metallic head part having a tubular shank by which it is detachably and slidably attached to said second end of said first shaft portion to permit the rapid changing of said first metallic head part;
• and
• second electric heating element means having a second shaft portion, said second shaft portion enclosing an electric heating element and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said second shaft portion being secured to said first end of the other of said pair of arms with said second shaft portion extending therefrom, a second metallic head part having a part-circular recess that is adapted to contact said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat thereto, said second metallic head part having a tubular shank by which it is detachably and slidably attached to said second end of said second shaft portion to permit the rapid changing of said second metallic head part;
• said first electric heating element means and said second electric heating element means, respectively, being adapted to heat said first metallic head part and said second metallic head part to a soldering temperature;
• the arms of said pair of arms being pivotable with respect to one another about said hinged connection therebetween so that the part-circular recess of said first metallic head part and the part-circular recess of said second metallic head part can be closed together in juxtaposed relationship around said pipe connector sleeve to apply heat to the pipe connector sleeve.