Patent Application
20080073332
The above, as well as other advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The soldering device 10 has a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws 12 and 14. The jaws 12, 14 have a first gripping surface 16, 16′ and a spaced apart second gripping surface 18, 18′ for securely gripping the work piece between the jaws 12, 14. The first gripping surface 16, 16′ and the spaced apart second gripping surface 18, 18′ form an annular channel 30 therebetween when the jaws 12, 14 are in a closed or a work piece gripping position. The jaws 12, 14 may be formed from a metallic material or other material with thermal properties capable of withstanding the heat energy necessary to solder work pieces together.
When the jaws 12, 14 are in a closed position, the general shape of the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ match the shape of the outer periphery of the work pieces being joined. The first gripping surface 16, 16′ and the second gripping surface 18, 18′ each form a substantially circular shape to retain a cylindrical work piece such as a pipe or pipe coupling, for example. The diameter of the circular shape formed by the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ is selected to substantially match the outside diameter of the work pieces to be gripped. Different sized jaws 12, 14 may be used for soldering work pieces of different outside diameters. It should be understood that the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ can be adapted to form other shapes such as an oval or a rectangle, for example.
The gripping surface 16, 16′, more clearly shown in
The gripping surfaces 18, 18′, more clearly shown in
The jaw 14 includes a pair of spaced apart hinge members 32, 32′ extending from the jaw 14. The hinge members 32, 32′ include an aperture 34, 34′ formed therein. The hinge members 32, 32′ are adapted to receive a portion of the jaw 12 therebetween. The jaw 12 includes a recessed area 36, more clearly shown in
A spring 42 is disposed between the jaws 12, 14 adjacent the location where the jaws 12, 14 are pivotally interconnected. Apertures 44, 46 are formed in the jaws 12, 14, respectively. One end of the spring 42 is inserted into the aperture 44 and an opposite end of the spring is inserted into the aperture 46. The spring 42 normally biases the jaws 12, 14 to a closed or work piece gripping position as illustrated in
A handle 48 extends from the jaw 12. In the embodiment shown, the handle is integrally formed with the jaw 12. The handle 48 includes a cushioning member 50 typically formed from a compliant material such as a sponge rubber or an elastomeric material
A rigid conduit 52, as clearly shown in
The conduit 52 and the bore 54 cooperate to provide a fluid communication path from a remote source of fluid to the annular channel 30. An internally threaded hole 56 is formed in the jaw 14 that extends into the bore 54. A cooperating threaded fastener 58 is provided that is received by the threaded hole 56 and adapted to retain the conduit 52 within the bore 54. It should be understood that a valve and a pressure regulator can be included in the communication path to facilitate controlling the flow rate of the fluid into the annular channel 30. Additionally, it should be understood that the conduit 52 can include a gas line quick connect coupling or other coupling means to connect the conduit 52 to the source of fluid.
In operation, the soldering device 10 is employed to form a fluid tight joint between a male end of one work piece that is inserted into a female end of another work piece. A user of the soldering device initially causes the jaws 12, 14 to open by squeezing together the handle 48 and conduit 52. Once the jaws 12, 14 are opened, the female end of one work piece is received between the jaws 12, 14 having the male end of the other work piece inserted therein. The user then releases the handle 48 and conduit 52 causing the jaws 12, 14 to return to the normally closed position and causing the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ of the jaws 12, 14 to contact the outer surface of the female end of the one work piece and secure the soldering device 10 thereto. Once the soldering device 10 is secured to the work piece, the user is relieved from the tiresome task of holding the soldering device 10 and providing relative motion between the soldering device 10 and the work piece. The user also has both hands free to apply the necessary solder to the joint between work pieces.
A fluid is caused to flow from the remote source of the fluid, through the conduit 52 and the bore 54, and into the annular channel 30. In the embodiment shown, the fluid is a gas which is caused to burn within the annular channel 30 adjacent the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ to supply the heat energy to the work pieces. It should be understood that the soldering device 10 can include an igniter to initially ignite the gas flowing into the annular channel 30. Other sources of heat energy may be employed such as electrical heating elements disposed adjacent to or directly on the gripping surfaces 16, 16′ and 18, 18′ for example.
The atmospheric oxygen required for the gas to burn flows into the annular channel 30 through the gaps formed between the spaced apart fingers 28. Additionally, the byproducts of the combusted gas exhaust from the annular channel 30 through the gaps formed between the spaced apart fingers 28.
Once sufficient heat energy has been applied to the work pieces, the user applies a solder to the male end of the work piece adjacent the female end being gripped by the soldering device 10. The heat energy causes the applied solder to melt and causes the molten solder to be drawn into the joint between the work pieces by capillary action. The jaws 12, 14 of the soldering device 10 are then opened to remove the soldering device from the work pieces. The user can repeat the process to solder together additional work pieces or stop the flow of gas to the annular channel 30, which will cause the flame therein to extinguish.
The flame from the burning gas is contained within the annular channel 30 which circumscribes the work pieces for the uniform delivery of heat energy to the work pieces and facilitates the formation of a leak free joint. Additionally, because the flame is contained within the annular channel 30, the risk of burning and melting items adjacent to the work pieces is reduced.
From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/846,299 filed on Sep. 21, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60846299 | Sep 2006 | US |
