Inventors:
David B. Schurman - Hingham MA
Jon Leask - Squantum MA
International Classification:
B23K 302
B23K 306
Abstract:
Soldering method and apparatus comprising a soldering device having a hand grip portion and an electrically heated soldering element extending from said hand grip portion and terminating in a soldering tip, a housing structure adapted to be supported in a position disposed in spaced relation from the solder device, the housing structure supporting a solder wire supply spool to be unwound therefrom, a tubing structure extending from the housing structure and connected with the soldering device for closely peripherally confining a leading portion of solder wire of substantial longitudinal extent extending from the spool with the free end thereof adjacent the soldering tip and for maintaining such confinement during longitudinal movement thereof in a direction wherein the free end engages the soldering tip while enabling the soldering device to be substantially freely manually moved in spaced relation relative to the housing structure by an operator grasping the hand grip portion thereof, the tubing structure including an elongated flexible tubing section extending from the housing structure and a relatively short rigid tubing section extending from the flexible tubing section, a mounting structure detachably mounting the rigid tubing section on the soldering device for disposition in an operative position wherein the free end thereof is disposed adjacent the tip, a knurled drive wheel carried by the housing structure for engaging the periphery of the leading portion of the solder wire at a position forwardly of the spool and effecting longitudinal movement of the leading portion of the solder wire, an electric gear motor carried by the housing structure in operative association with drive wheel, and an operator controlled foot switch for energizing the motor.