IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLDERING TOOLS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Toope at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1881. A communication
from abroad by William Braidwood, of New York City, in the United States
of America.
CHARLES TOOPE, of Stepney, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SOLDERING TOOLS." [A communication from abroad by William Braidwood, of
New York City, in the United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to provide a reversible soldering tool, the tip of
which may be brought into any position desired by any variety of work, and
which by the convenience with which it may be manipulated when in use, will
effect a material economy in time and labor, as well as a material improvement in
the character of the work turned out.
The frame of the tool is composed of two parallel parts held together by a sliding
sleeve, which may be fixed at any part along the length of the frame by means of
& set screw.
The outer end of the frame passes into a suitable handle with its extremity
projecting beyond the handle and having a nut screwed thereon. The two parts
of the frame are therefore held in proper relation with each other by the handle at
one end and the sleeve near the opposite end. The parts are so shaped that when
fixed together as just described, the forward end of the frane is forked and pivoted
on suitable pivots. On this forked outer portion of the frame is an elastic annular
socket which is divided, so that when the forked parts of the frame are pressed
closer together, the diameter of the said socket will be contracted, the division
being of sufficient width to permit of such adjustment of the socket.
The soldering head is cirumferentially grooved at its central portion, so that
when slipped into the socket it will be held against longitudinal movement by the
said socket, and when the socket is loosened it will be permitted to have an axial
rotary adjustment. This soldering head is double ended, one end being constructed
for one variety of soldering work, the opposite end for another variety of such
work. The sleeve is so constructed that when pressed up against the sloping or
inclined outer edges of the innermost portions of the forked parts, it will tend to
bring the said parts nearer together to compress the annular socket, as hereinbefore

page_text: described. The sleeve is moreover provided with a fork, which, when the sleeve is
pushed outward to a sufficient degree toward the soldering head, passes astrido of
the adjacent end of the soldering head to effectually hold the same against any
tendency to lateral displacement, even when the annular socket is expanded or
loose upon the head.
In the use of the apparatus the head may be turned either end outward,
according as one or the other is required for any special variety of work. Preferably
the conical end is brought inward between the prongs of the fork with the annular
socket loosened. As already set forth the head will be permitted axial movement
even when held against lateral movement by the action of the said fork.
When desired, the head may be turned to any desired angle with regard to the
width of the frame, and it remains at such angle by gripping the sleeve upward
against the sloping outer surfaces of the forked parts and retaining the sleeve by
the thumb screw, this action serving to press the annular socket upon the central
portion of the head with sufficient power to hold the said head rigidly in the
requisite position, so that by this means the head may be placed in any situation
preferred for any of the exigencies of practical plumbing.