Improvements in Soldering Irons.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Soldering Irons.
I, AUGUST DITTMAR, Engineer of The Marriott Cycle Works, Hay Mills,
Birmingham, England do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a soldering bolt which is so constructed
that the alloy used for the soldering can be contained in the interior of the bolt.
For this purpose I make the copper of the bolt hollow, thus forming a reservoir for
the reception of the solder. This hollow communicates with the soldering part of
the bolt by means of a tubular passage. The reservoir may be closed by the shank
of the bolt which can be removed when the reservoir has to be filled with solder,
or the filling may be done through a soporate hole suitably placed in the bolt.
This hole is fitted with a plug, pin or cover, which can be withdrawn when the
solder is being melted into the reservoir. The supply of solder to the soldering
part of the bolt can be easily regulated by a suitable form of valve which can be
operated by the fingers of the person using the bolt, by means of a rod extending
from the valve, through the shank to the handle. The valve is kept closed by means
of a spring suitably placed inside the shank, until a supply of solder is required.
Dated this 30th day of January 1807
I, AvausT DITTMAR, Engineer, of The Marriot Cycle Co. Ltd., Hay Mills
Birmingham do hereby declaro the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
--
The object of my invention is to provide a soldering bolt which is so constructed
that the alloy used for the soldering can be contained in the interior of the bolt.
For this purpose I make the copper of the bolt hollow, thus forming a reservoir for
the reception of the solder. This hollow communicates with the soldering part of
the bolt by means of a tubular passage. The reservoir may be closed by the shank
of the bolt which can be removed when the reservoir has to be filled with solder
or the filling may be done through a separate hole suitably placed in the bolt.
This hole is fitted with a pin, plug or cover which can be withdrawn when the
solder is being melted into the reservoir. The supply of solder to the soldering
part of the bolt can he regulated by a suitable form of valve which can be
17

page_text: operated by the fingers of the person using the bolt, by means of a rod extending
from the valve through the shank to the handle. The valve is kept closed by means
of a spring suitably placed inside the shank, until a supply of solder is required.
Instead of the solder being kept in bulk in the reservoir it may be supplied in
granulated form from a receptacle controlled by the hand during soldering, for
example, the interior of the handle might be filled with granulated solder, and
the solder allowed to fall into the reservoir just as required. In this case the
valve referred to above may or may not be used.
Referring now to Fig. I which shows a longitudinal section of the soldering iron,
in which the solder is kept in bulk, A represents the copper bolt the hollow of
which B is the reservoir. The hollow may be enlarged at the end thus providing
a face against which the washers D E and F are held when the shank G is screwed
in position. Fis a metal washer exactly fitting the valve rod O thus guiding
it in its motion. E is an asbestos washer which hinders the solder from flowing out
of the reservoir when melted, the washer acting as a support for the asbestos.
The tubular passage connecting the roservoir with the soldering part of the bolt
may be formed by boring a hole of small diameter from the reservoir to the soldering
part or is preferably made as shown in the figure, where L is a metal tube of fine
bore the one end of which inside the reservoir forms the valve seat, the other ond
of the tube Lemerging at the soldering part of the bolt. One end of the valve
rod C is provided with a fine point M which fits a corresponding countersink in
the end of the tube L. The other end of the rod C is fixed to a guide piece II
which can be moved backwards and forwards in the shank G. A pin J is fixed into
the guide piece and passes through a slot N in the shank, and is covered with some
good nonconductor of heat I. The compressed spring (holds the point M in its
valve seat thus hindering the solder from flowing through the bore of the tube I..
The plug Q keeps the spring in place, and a handle is provided as usual.
Fig. II shows a valve made by fixing a small asbestos washer R in a holder S
which is fixed to the end of the valve rod C, the valve in this case being closed in
the manner already mentioned. The shank is provided with a metal cap F
through which passes the rod C as shown.
In Figs, I and II K is the opening through which the solder is melted into the
reservoir.
In operating the soldering iron the pin J is pulled against the force of the spring ()
thus opening the valve and allowing the solder to flow out through the tube L.
In order that the solder may run more easily, the channel along which it travels
may have small ruts filed on it along its length. All the metal parts on which
the solder is not intended to adhere should be well oxidised. As the constituent
metals forming solder are rather apt to separate out, it is advisable to shake the
bolt at intervals
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the details which I
have described and illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1) The method of constructing soldering irons with reservoirs in their interiors
in which the solder is melted and from which it can be caused to flow to that point
of the bolt at which the solder is to be used.
(2) A soldering iron in which the solder is contained in the interior of the bolt
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of Santamihan 1007
AUGUST DITTMAR.