Method and Apparatus for Fixing a Soldering Tip to a Soldering Tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237185-A1
Application number	US-201917052627-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . 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 braking the braze joint.

2 . The soldering tool of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature range is less than about 450° C.

3 . The soldering tool of claim 2 , wherein the second temperature range is greater than about 600° C.

4 . The soldering tool of claim 1 , wherein the tip is a replaceable tip such that the braze joint is broken to remove an old tip and the braze joint is formable with a new tip.

5 . The soldering tool of claim 1 , wherein the controller is disposed at a power unit operably coupled to the tool body via a cable.

6 . The soldering tool of claim 5 , wherein the power unit comprises a display,
wherein the display provides menu options including a first option for selection of a normal operation mode, and a second option for selection of a tip replacement mode, and wherein the first temperature range is employed in the normal operation mode and the second temperature range is employed in the tip replacement mode.

7 . The soldering tool of claim 6 , wherein the tip replacement mode is enabled based on a user identifier associated with an operator of the soldering tool.

8 . The soldering tool of claim 6 , wherein the tip replacement mode is enabled based on a password, key or code entered at the display responsive to selection of the tip replacement mode.

9 . The soldering tool of claim 1 , 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, and 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.

10 . The soldering tool of claim 9 , 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.

11 . The soldering tool of claim 10 , wherein, responsive to alignment of the guide line with the proximal end of the tip, a thickness of the braze joint is substantially uniform at between about 0.03 mm and 0.4 mm.

12 . The soldering tool of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide an indication to the operator regarding tip replacement based on an operational history of the soldering tool.

13 . The soldering tool of claim 12 , wherein the operational history includes data associated with a number of heating cycles of the heating element, a number of run hours of the soldering tool, or an age of the tip.

14 . A method of installing a tip at a tip portion of a soldering tool, the method comprising:
operating a heating element of the soldering tool, the heating element being configured to melt solder at a first temperature range, at a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range; providing a brazing filler material in a receiving cavity of the tip; and inserting a 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 a braze joint between the heating element and the tip, wherein the brazing filler material has a melting point above the first temperature range and below the second temperature range.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising 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 formed at a portion of the heating element.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the braze joint comprises a new braze joint and the tip comprises a new tip, and wherein the method further comprises an initial operation of operating the heating element at the second temperature range to brake an old braze joint and remove an old tip.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first temperature range is less than about 450° C.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second temperature range is greater than about 600° C.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the heating element at the second temperature range is enabled based on an identity of an operator.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the heating element at the second temperature range is enabled based on provision of an authorization password, code or key.

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Mittmann Gert
• Zerweck Ralf

Classifications

• H05B1/0227 Primary

  Applications · CPC title

• B23K3/0369

  Couplings between the heating element housing and the bit or tip · CPC title

• B23K3/033

  comprising means for controlling or selecting the temperature or power · CPC title

• B23K3/0353

  Heating elements or heating element housings · CPC title

• B23K3/026

  Removable soldering bits · CPC title