AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCE FOR HEATING SOLDERING TOOLS to be as follows:-
Year: 1885

page_text: Soldering Tools.
We, GUSTAV PFEIFER, Mechanic, and MAX SCHÜTZ, Merchant, both of 43 Chats-
worth Road, Clapton Park, in the County of Essex, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR APPLIANCE FOR HEATING
SOLDERING TOOLS to be as follows:-
"
This invention has for its object the construction of an improved apparatus
or appliance for heating soldering tools. It is designed to provide a self heating
apparatus capable of being carried about and used especially in places or situations
where fires, gas, or lamps cannot be had or used for such purposes.
The apparatus consists of a reservoir or container, preferably of metal, having
attached to the same a handle or bandles, advantageously of wood or other non-
conductor of heat, for the purpose of manipulating the apparatus.
Access to the interior of the reservoir or container, which is filled with sponge,
cotton, or like fibrous or absorbent material, is had through a screw cap or like
connection.
Attached to the reservoir or container and in communication with the interior of
the same is a short metal tube packed preferably with fine metallic gauze or
asbestos and having its outer end closed by a metallic, fire-clay, or other heat-
resisting plug having a fine hole or holes made in the same. In practice a hole of,
say, 0.01 millimetre in diameter is found successful for heating a small "bit"
or "iron." Another and longer tube having slots or orifices for the admission
of air is fitted over the small tube communicating with the reservoir or container.
This perforated or slotted tube carries a metal cup or dished flange at its lower
end, and its upper end carries a flange or clip to attach thereto the copper bit
or soldering tool the end or point of which projects over the end of the tube.
To work the apparatus the reservoir or container is filled with benzine or like
spirituous liquid capable of generating gaseous or hydrocarbon vapour. This is
absorbed by the sponge, cotton, or like fibrous or porous packing, which packing
when the apparatus is alight also prevents the too rapid dissipation of the gaseous
vapour and prevents the overheating of the reservoir or container and consequent
liability to explosion.

page_text: The metal cup or dished flange on the before mentioned tube is filled with spirit,
benzoline, or the like and the same ignited. This heats the tube which causes the
benzine vapour to rise through the tubes, escaping through the small hole or holes
aforesaid in the closed inner tube into the outer tube where it mingles with air
entering through the slots or perforations in the outer tube.
The resultant mixture ignited by the burning spirit in the cup or flange takes
fire, and impinges at the end of the outer tube on the soldering tool, so heating and
keeping the same hot so long as vapour continues to be given off by the apparatus.
The hot tool can thus be carried about in the hand, thus obviating the necessity
for heating the tool in fire, lamp, or gas before use.
Separate tools can be heated in the flame, but I prefer to mount the tool on the
apparatus, and so make the tool and its heater self contained.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus or Appliance for Heating
Soldering Tools.
We, GUSTAV PFEIFER, Mechanic, and MAX SCHÜTZ, Merchant, both of 43 Chats-
worth Road, Clapton Park, in the County of Essex, do hereby declare 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 and accompanying
drawing (that is to say) :-
:-
This invention relates to ordinary soldering irons or tools used for the purpose
of uniting metal by melted solder, and it has for its object an improved method of
constructing such soldering tools and appliances connected with them, so that the
apparatus by which the tool or "bitt" is heated forms a part of the instrument,
and the latter can be carried about and used effectively and without difficulty,
more especially in places or under circumstances where fires, gas, or lamps, cannot
be obtained or conveniently made use of.
The improved apparatus consists of a cylindrical or other reservoir or vessel,
preferably of metal, having fixed to it a handle or handles preferably of wood or
other material not conducting heat, by which the apparatus can be held and used.
On the upper side of the reservoir is an opening, closed when necessary by a screw
or other cap or stopper, by means of which sponge, cotton wick, or other sufficiently
absorbent material can be introduced into the reservoir.
Upon the side of the reservoir, preferably opposite to the handle, is fixed a short
metal tube communicating with the interior of the reservoir; and filled with fine
metallic gauze, asbestos, or material similar to that introduced into the reservoir as
already described, the outer end of the tube being closed by a plug of metal, fire-
clay, or other material sufficiently capable of resisting heat, one or more extremely
fine holes being made through this plug.
Upon the tube is fitted another and longer metallic tube having openings at its
side for the admission of air, just outside the end of the inner tube when the outer
one is in its place. At or near the outer end of this outer tube is arranged an
adjustable ring, fixed by a screw and carrying an arm to the outer end of which
the copper soldering " bitt" is rivetted or otherwise fastened.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, Figure 1 being a
longitudinal vertical section, and figure 2 a view from above, of the apparatus. a is
the reservoir or vessel having an opening closed by a screw cap at b, and provided
with a wooden handle c. The reservoir is shewn containing cotton wick d, which
is also packed into the short tube e the outer end of which is closed by a plug f
perforated by a very fine opening g, the size of which may be varied but is prefer-
ably about, say, 0.01 millemêtre in diameter for a small soldering iron.
his an outer tube having air openings i, and carrying at its outer end the
adjustable ring k, which has an arm to which the copper soldering bitt m is fixed.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Benzoline or other light hydrocarbon liquid capable of giving out inflammable
vapour at a moderate temperature is introduced into the reservoir a the opening
into which at b is then closed.

page_text: The porous wick or other material & absorbs the liquid, and tends to prevent the
too rapid generation of vapour and the overheating of the reservoir when the
apparatus is at work. The tube c being then gently warmed, the liquid is partly
vaporized and the vapour escapes through the small aperture g and passing along
the outer tube h takes in with it an induced current of air through the holes i, and
being ignited burns with a strong and hot flame which impinges upon and heats
the copper soldering "bitt" m, as shewn in figure 3, keeping it hot so long as
vapour continues to be given off from the reservoir a, by the conduction of heat to
the reservoir.
The tool thus heated can be carried about in the hand, and used whenever
desired, whilst still continuing hot, and the necessity for heating it at intervals in a
fire, or by a lamp or gas, is thus obviated.
In order to commence the vaporization of the liquid, the apparatus may be
warmed as described in any convenient way, or a small cup may be formed upon
or attached to it, as shewn in dotted lines at n in figure 1, in which a few drops of
spirit are placed which being ignited heat the tube above sufficiently to generate
the inflaminable vapour.
Separate soldering tools may be heated in the flame produced as described but it
is preferred to fix the tool or "bitt" to the apparatus as described and shewn,
so that the whole is self contained.
The back of the soldering bitt m may be hollowed where the flame impinges
upon it, as shewn in figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The reservoir a, with opening and cover b, tube e with fine discharge opening
or openings g, and the external tube and air openings i, substantially as described
and shewn in the drawing.
2. In combination with the reservoir a, and tubes e and , the handle c by which
the apparatus can be carried about and used.
3. In combination with the reservoir a and tubes e and h, the adjustable bar
carrying the soldering bitt m substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
4. In combination with the reservoir u, and tubes c and h, the cup n, to receive
spirit substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
Dated this 28th day of December 1885.