Patent ID: 6116491
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
An apparatus for soldering an article, comprising:means for contacting the article with a molten solder in a soldering zone, andinert gas feeding means for supplying an inert gas to said soldering zone,said inert gas feeding means including at least one gas flow controlling device comprising:a housing member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet and including a pair of opposing first and second plates, each of said first and second plates extending from a short edge adjacent said gas inlet to a long edge, longer than said short edge and adjacent said gas outlet, each of said first and second plates having opposing and diverging side edges joining said long and short edges, and a pair of opposing third and fourth plates joining the diverging side edges of said first and second plates to define within said housing a gas flow passage of a cross-sectional area which increases from said gas inlet to said gas outlet, anda plurality of spaced apart baffle plates alternately depending from said first and second plates,whereby the article is contacted with said molten solder in said soldering zone in an atmosphere of said inert gas supplied by said inert gas feeding means through said gas outlet.