Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1887
Complete Left, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 14th June, 1888
I, FRANK WRIGHT, of 55, Millbank Street, in the City of Westminster, Gas Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of gas-heated soldering iron and
to means for supplying the solder for use therewith.
With soldering irons of the type most commonly in use, much time is lost in
reheating the tool and the work when finished is irregular in consequence of the
temperature of the copper bit being either above or below that best adapted to the
work. From various causes the consumption of solder is also of a wasteful character.
With gas-heated soldering irons as hitherto constructed, the flame does not play upon
the copper bit whilst the tool is in use in consequence of the latter being temporarily
reversed; the result being that the bit is not maintained at a constant temperature.
A soldering iron constructed according to this invention consists of a copper bit which
may be shorter than that usually employed and which is mounted in the extremity of
a tubular holder. Within the tubular holder is arranged an atmospheric gas-burnor,
the latter being in communication with air and gas-pipes which lead through the
handle and are connected by means of flexible tubes or otherwise with mains for
supplying air and gas respectively at a moderate pressure. The pipes are preferably
furnished with a cock or cocks whereby the supply of the air and gas may be
regulated; and the burner is so disposed that the flame plays upon the extremity of
the copper bit enclosed within the tubular holder. Suitable orifices are formed in the
holder for the inlet of air and for the escape of the products of combustion
respectively. A deflector may be provided for protecting the work from the escaping
products of combustion.
In a gas-heated soldering iron constructed in the improved manner above described,
the copper bit is exposed and subjected to the action of a flame of appropriate and
constant power, whether the tool be in use or be temporarily laid out of hand, the
bit being thus maintained at a practically constant and suitable temperature.
For supplying solder to a gas-heated soldering iron, I form the handle of the tool
with a chamber or attach a receptacle thereto, the same being charged with pellets of
-

page_text: solder, which may resemble small shot. The chamber or receptacle communicates by
means of a duct with the interior of the copper bit; a passage leading therefrom to
the upper surface or to the extremity of the same. The outlet from the chamber or
receptacle or the duct itself is furnished with a slide or equivalent means capable of
being operated by the thumb or finger of the user and serving to control the supply
of the shot-like pellets of solder to the copper bit. In using the apparatus, each
pellet of solder upon arriving at the heated copper bit becomes melted, and flows in a
liquid state to the point of the soldering iron. By these means, a regular supply of
solder, which may be varied according to the requirements of the work, is secured;
and a long joint may be soldered in one continuous operation.
Instead of forming the chamber for the solder pellets in the handle of the soldering
iron or attaching the same thereto, the duct communicating with the copper bit may
be connected by means of a flexible or other tubo with a conveniently placed
receptacle arranged at such a level relatively to the work that the pellets roll
automatically to the copper bit as the work proceeds.
This 10th 1
L T1007
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Floet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Soldering and Apparatus therefor.
I, FRANK WRIGHT, of 55, Millbank Street, in the City of Westminster, Gas
Engineer, 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 tho
following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved construction of gas-heated soldering iron, as
also to means for supplying the solder for use therewith.
With soldering irons of the type most commonly in use, much time is lost in
reheating the tool, and the work when finished is irregular in consequence of the
temperature of the copper bit being either above or below that best adapted to the
work. From various causes, the consumption of solder is also of a wasteful character.
With gas-heated soldering irons as hitherto constructed, the flame does not play
upon the copper bit whilst the tool is in use in consequence of the latter being
temporarily reversed; the result being that the bit is not maintained at a constant
temperature.
A soldering iron constructed according to this invention is represented in tho
accompanying drawings, whereof Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a
plan view. The instrument consists of a copper or nickel bit a, which may be shorter
than that usually employed and which is mounted in the extremity of a tubular
holder b. Within the tubular holder b is arranged an atmospheric gas burner c;
the latter being in communication with air and gas pipes de which lead through the
handle, and are connected by means of flexible tubes d'e', or otherwise, with mains
for supplying air and gas respectively at a moderate pressure. The pipes or tubes are
preferably furnished with a cock or cocks whereby the supply of the air and gas may
be regulated; and the burner e is so disposed that the flame plays upon the inner
extremity of the copper or nickel bit a. The holder is formed with a combustion
chamber 6, provided with openings 62 for the inlet of air and orifices for the escape
of the products of combustion. A deflector may be added for protecting the work
from the heated products of combustion escaping from the holes or the outlet
orifices may be confined to the top and sides of the holder, as shewn in the present
illustration.
In a gas-heated soldering iron constructed in the improved manner above described,
the copper bit is exposed and subjected to the action of a flame of appropriate and
constant power, whether the tool be in use or be temporarily laid out of hand; the bit
being thus maintained at a practically constant and suitable temperature.
For supplying solder to a gas-heated soldering iron, I form the handle of the tool
with a chamber or attach a receptacle thereto, the same being charged with pellets of
solder which may resemble what are known es swan shot; or, the receptacle for
the pellets may be independently mounted and connected by means of a flexible tube
r
"3

page_text: with the soldering iron, the receptacle being placed at such a level relatively to the
work under execution that the pellets roll automatically to the tool as the work
proceeds, the feed being however under control. In the accompanying illustration,
the receptacle for the solder pellets is separate from the soldering iron, as last
described the pellets being conveyed to the latter by the flexible tube gl and pipe g,
through which they pass to the copper bit a, arriving at a point in the upper surface
of the latter. The extremity of the pipe is somewhat contracted, as shown at y³,
to prevent the pellets escaping in a solid form; but, owing to the copper bit a being in
a highly heated state, each pellet upon arriving at 2 is rapidly melted, the solder
flowing in a molten state to the point of the tool and to the work.
One
For regulating the supply of the solder, various means may be devised.
method consists in arranging transversely to the pellet-conduit g a slide or plunger
formed with a perforation or pocket adapted for the reception of a pellet. The plunger
slides in a casing with which the pipe y communicates at points somewhat out of line
with one another; so that the slide, after receiving a pellet from one portion of the
tube, requires to be traversed until the perforation or pocket therein arrives opposite
the other portion of the tube g. The pellet is theroupon released from the slide and is
free to continue its journey to the copper bit. The slide or plunger is provided with a
thumb-knob whereby it may be moved in one direction, its return movement being
effected by the action of a spiral spring. 1 prefer, however, to employ a hollow plunger or
duplex slide h, such as shown in the present illustration and constructed of sheet metal ;
the distance between the sides of this hollow plunger corresponding with or slightly
exceeding the diameter of the pellets of solder employed. Openings are formed in
the sides of the plunger for the admission and exit of the pellets of solder, these
openings being arranged somewhat out of line with one another instead of the adjacent
extremities of the pipe 9 being placed out of line.
Between the two sides of the
plunger projects a fixed rib formed with a perforation arranged in line with the tube
and adapted for the reception of one pellet. The action of this controlling device is
such that, in one position of the plunger, the perforation in the fixed rib is open to
one portion of the tube g and closed to the other portion. Upon operating the
plunger, the communication previously referred to is closed whilst that between the
perforation in the fixed rib and the other portion of the tube g is opened.
g
Instead of the chambered plunger being operated with a reciprocating movement,
it may after receiving a pellet from one side be caused to rotate and to deliver the
pellet upon the other side.
Another construction of regulating device consists of a pivotted plate or bar
mounted above the tube g and formed with pendent projections which work in cross
cuts in the supply pipe g. By means of a spring thumb-plate, the plate or bar is
caused to vibrate about its pivot; the pendent projections alternately intercepting
and releasing the pellets as they pass successively through the tube J.
The pipe e may be supported centrally in the pipe d by wings, as shewn at e² ².
The former may also be adjusted longitudinally and secured by a set-screw e³. The
pipes and e are jointly adjustable in a longitudinal direction for the purpose of
regulating the distance between the burner c and the extremity of the bit a to which
tlie heating flame is applied. This pair of tubes is then secured in position by means
of the lock-nuts nn. The portion of the pipe g between the regulator and the bit a
is preferably of nickel; this metal being well adapted to withstand the heat to which
this portion of the pipe is exposed. The pipe g may with advantage be slit longi-
tudinally for the purpose of affording access to and releasing any pellet which may
become jammed. The tubo g', for conveying the pellets, may be combined with the
duplex tubo de', for conducting the air and gas, by the application of a wrapping;
or three tubes may be arranged side by side and enveloped in a similar manner so as
to form a single connection in proximity to the workman's hand; the means for
attaching the same to the handle of the tool being suitably modified.
By the use of this invention, a regular supply of solder, which may, however, be
varied according to the requirements of il:c work, is secured; and a long joint may
be soldered in one continuous operation.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
-
First The improved soldering tool constructed substantially as herein described
and provided internally with an atmospheric gas burner, the heat from which is
applied to the inner or enclosed end of the copper, nickel or other soldering bit.
Second-In the process of soldering, feeding the solder in pellets to a bit main-
tained at a working temperature, upon reaching which the pellets are successively
melted and whonce the metal flows to the work under execution, substantially as
herein described.
Third In the process of soldering, regulating the supply of solder to the require-
ments of the work by controllably feeding the same in the form of pellets to the
heated bit, substantially as herein described.
Fourth For use with a soldering tool to which the solder is supplied in the form
of pellets, a regulating device for controlling the supply of the metal to the heated
bit, constructed or operating substantially as herein described.
Fifth In a soldering tool, the combination with an atmospheric gas burnor for
maintaining the bit at a constant temperature of automatic means for conveying the
solder to the point of the bit, substantially as heroin described, and whereby the process
of soldering may be conducted as a continuous operation.
Batch Muay or
1000.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.