Patent ID: 8690040

Claim:
A method of forming a solder joint in a pipe connection comprising: providing a heat shield, the heat shield comprising a) a clamp having a resiliently-biased jaw b) a heat shield member comprising an arcuate shell formed from a material having high infrared reflectivity and low affinity for tin-lead and lead-free soldering alloys, the heat shield member having a concave surface, the concave surface having a radius of curvature of at least 1 inch, and c) an obedient shaft, said obedient shaft comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said obedient shaft including a first termination rigidly attached to the clamp, the distal end of said obedient shaft including a second termination rigidly attached to said heat shield member; clamping the clamp to a structure adjacent the pipe connection; moving the heat shield member by bending the obedient shaft so that the heat shield member is positioned in a location spaced-apart from the pipe connection with the concave surface of the heat shield member facing the pipe connection; and forming the solder joint by applying heat from a torch to the pipe connection from a side of the pipe connection substantially opposite the heat shield.