US3713876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of metal coating articles
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Selected areas of articles to be joined by the application of solder to the areas is accomplished by moving the articles in a selected path over a wave of molten solder. Portions of the molten solder adheres to and solidifies subsequently around the selected areas so that the areas of the articles are joined thereby. As the selected areas are moved away from the wave of molten solder, portions of the solder, which adhere to the selected areas of the articles, tend to flow downwardly from the selected areas by gravity and would normally solidify and thereby form solder icicles. However, the articles being joined are passed over a heated solder bath immediately after passing over the wave of molten solder in such proximity that as the solder icicles tend to form, the lowermost portions of the icicles engage the heated solder bath and remain in a flowable state whereby the excess solder which is tending to form the icicles is drawn by adhesion into the heated solder bath.
Inventors
- 👤 D Lavric
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:00
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/08; B23K1/085; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3465; H05K3/3468; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/03; H05K2201/0302; H05K2201/0305; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/11; H05K2203/1105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A method of coating an article with a metal, which comprises the steps of: moving selected areas of an article to be coated through a first bath of molten metal so that at least portions of the molten metal engage and cling to at least portions of the selected areas; maintaining in a flowable state the portions of the metal clinging to the selected areas, including any excessive amounts of the metal which may be clinging to the selected areas, for a predetermined distance of travel away from the first bath of molten metal, and moving the article over a second bath of metal along a path wherein the article moves obliquely away from the second bath as the article passes over the second bath with the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of the metal clinging to the selected areas of the article being moved into the second bath of the metal while the article is moved obliquely away from the second bath, the metal of the second bath being maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the molten metal contained in the first bath while the excessive amounts of metal are maintained in the flowable state so that physical forces, resulting from the oblique movement of the article away from the second bath and from the engagement of the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of metal with the second bath at the lower temperature, draw any excessive amounts of the metal which may be clinging to the selected areas of the article away from clinging engagement with the selected areas during a period when the selected areas are over the second bath and when the metal which is clinging to the selected areas is maintained in the flowable state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
294 words
A method of coating an article with a metal, which comprises the steps of: moving selected areas of an article to be coated through a first bath of molten metal so that at least portions of the molten metal engage and cling to at least portions of the selected areas; maintaining in a flowable state the portions of the metal clinging to the selected areas, including any excessive amounts of the metal which may be clinging to the selected areas, for a predetermined distance of travel away from the first bath of molten metal, and moving the article over a second bath of metal along a path wherein the article moves obliquely away from the second bath as the article passes over the second bath with the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of the metal clinging to the selected areas of the article being moved into the second bath of the metal while the article is moved obliquely away from the second bath, the metal of the second bath being maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the molten metal contained in the first bath while the excessive amounts of metal are maintained in the flowable state so that physical forces, resulting from the oblique movement of the article away from the second bath and from the engagement of the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of metal with the second bath at the lower temperature, draw any excessive amounts of the metal which may be clinging to the selected areas of the article away from clinging engagement with the selected areas during a period when the selected areas are over the second bath and when the metal which is clinging to the selected areas is maintained in the flowable state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first bath of molten metal through which the selected areas of the article are moved is a wave of molten metal being directed into the path of movement of at least the selected areas of the article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the metal of the first and second baths is solder.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of coating an article with a metal, which comprises the steps of: moving selected areas of an article to be coated through a first bath of molten metal so that at least portions of the molten metal engage and cling to at least portions of the selected areas; immediately thereafter moving the selected areas of the article with the metal clinging thereto, including any excessive amounts of metal which may be clinging to the selected areas through an area which is maintained at a temperature sufficient to keep the metal which is clinging to the selected areas in a flowable state, and moving the article over a second bath of metal along a path wherein the article moves obliquely away from the second bath as the article passes over the second bath with the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of metal clinging to the selected areas of the article being moved into the second bath of the metal while the article is moved obliquely away from the second bath of metal so that forces of gravity and surface tension of the metal in the second bath will cooperate with forces exerted on the excessive amounts of metal passing through the second bath of metal to wipe and remove the excessive amounts of metal from the selected areas of the article during a period when the selected areas are over the second bath.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of coating an article with a metal, which comprises the steps of: moving selected areas of an article to be coated through a first bath of molten metal so that at least portions of the molten metal engage and cling to at least portions of the selected areas; immediately thereafter moving the selected areas of the article with the metal clinging thereto, including any excessive amounts of metal which may be clinging to the selected areas through an area which is maintained at a temperature sufficient to keep the metal which is clinging to the selected areas in a flowable state, and moving the article over a second bath of metal along a path wherein the article moves obliquely away from the second bath as the article passes over the second bath with the lower extremities of the excessive amounts of metal clinging to the selected areas of the article being moved into the second bath of the metal while the article is moved obliquely away from the second bath of metal so that forces of gravity and surface tension of the metal in the second bath will cooperate with forces exerted on the excessive amounts of metal passing through the second bath of metal to wipe and remove the excessive amounts of metal from the selected areas of the article during a period when the selected areas are over the second bath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first bath of molten metal through which the selected areas of the article are moved is a wave of molten metal being directed into a path of movement of at least the selected areas of the article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |