Wave soldering electrical connections

Claim 2

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor defining a planar path of movement for its work supporting fixtures for movement thereof successively through a plurality of stations, means for applying flux to workpieces carried by said fixtures past a flux station, an elongated molten solder applicator trough with its major dimension aligned with said path of movement and having an inlet opening, portions of the end walls of the trough in said path being of substantially shorter height than the side walls to provide weirs over which molten solder in the trough above the level of the weirs may flow horizontally in opposite directions and overflow from the trough with a substantial depth, means connected to said inlet opening collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough through said inlet opening for reflow over both weirs, said solder being heated hot enough to burn insulation from insulated transformer wire, and means for supplying and directing a blast of air towards one of the overflows to scavenge solder from a workpiece leaving said one of the overflows.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which the weirs have approximately the same level and open in opposite directions in alignment with the path of movement.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 in which the the trough is long and narrow with the weirs at the ends thereof and said collecting means includes a tank, a heater, and pump to supply molten solder through said inlet opening at a rate to maintain the level of the solder in the trough at a level intermediate the tops of the weirs and side walls.

Claim 5

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor defining a planar path of movement for its work supporting fixtures for movement thereof successively through a plurality of stations, means for applying flux to workpieces carried by said fixtures past a flux station, an elongated molten solder applicator trough with its major dimension aligned with said path of movement and having an inlet opening, portions of the end walls of the trough being of substantially shorTer height than the side walls to provide weirs over which molten solder in the trough above the level of the weirs may overflow from the trough with a substantial depth, means connected to said inlet opening collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough through said inlet opening for reflow over both weirs, said solder being heated hot enough to burn insulation from insulated transformer wire, and means for supplying and directing a blast of air towards one of the overflows to scavenge solder from a workpiece leaving said one of the overflows, said conveyor comprising a circular wheel having work supporting holders thereon which pass over the top of said trough and workpieces carried by the fixtures clear said weirs with downwardly extending mechanically connected metal joints immersed in solder in said trough.

Claim 6

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor defining a planar path of movement for its work supporting fixtures for movement thereof successively through a plurality of stations, means for applying flux to workpieces carried by said fixtures past a flux station, an elongated molten solder applicator trough with its major dimension aligned with said path of movement and having an inlet opening, portions of the end walls of the trough being of substantially shorTer height than the side walls to provide weirs over which molten solder in the trough above the level of the weirs may overflow from the trough with a substantial depth, means connected to said inlet opening collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough through said inlet opening for reflow over both weirs, said solder being heated hot enough to burn insulation from insulated transformer wire, and means for supplying and directing a blast of air towards one of the overflows to scavenge solder from a workpiece leaving said one of the overflows, said conveyor comprising a circular wheel having work supporting holders thereon which pass over the top of said trough and workpieces carried by the fixtures clear said weirs with downwardly extending mechanically connected metal joints immersed in solder in said trough.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 in which said flux applying means comprises a flux foam producing device, the product of which extends above the level of said weirs.

Claim 8

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor means defining a planar path of movement for its workpieces for movement successively through a work station, and including a member having a track along its upper edge along which workpieces are moved, an elongated molten solder trough at said station having its major dimension aligned with said path of movement with said track extending along one side of the trough, for supporting body portions of the workpieces a spaced distance above solder in the trough throughout the length of the trough, portions of the end walls of the trough being of substantially shorter height than the side walls of the trough and the track to provide weirs over which depending connector terminals on the workpieces may contact the molten solder in the trough and pass above the level of the weirs along with the overflow of solder from the trough having a substantial depth, means collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough to a height appreciably less than that of said track for reflow over both weirs, intermittent air blower means supplying cooling air directed to the space above the solder between said body portions and solder level to scavenge and return to the overflow extra solder from connector terminals and cool body portions at said space as the connector terminals leave the solder over a weir.

Claim 9

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor means defining a planar path of movement for its workpieces for movement successively through a work station, and including a member having a track along its upper edge along which workpieces are moved, an elongated molten solder trough at said station having its major dimension aligned with said path of movement with said track extending along one side of the trough, for supporting body portions of the workpieces a spaced distance above solder in the trough throughout the length of the trough, portions of the end walls of the trough being of substantially shorter height than the side walls of the trough and the track to provide weirs over which depending connector terminals on the workpieces may contact the molten solder in the trough and pass above the level of the weirs along with the overflow of solder from the trough having a substantial depth, means collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough to a height appreciably less than that of said track for reflow over both weirs, intermittent air blower means supplying cooling air directed to the space above the solder between said body portions and solder level to scavenge and return to the overflow extra solder from connector terminals and cool body portions at said space as the connector terminals leave the solder over a weir.

Claim 10

A soldering apparatus comprising a trough of molten solder laterally moving at a predetermined level, conveyor means having a track for moving bodies of workpieces laterally above said predetermined level with depending wired connector portions thereon immersed and contacting said flowing molten solder below said level with the bodies of the work riding on said conveyor means, means for moving the molten solder vertically against depending ends of cylindrical thin wall rivets with exposed wire ends extending therethrough to assist internal application of solder thereto, said conveyor means removing said connectors from the flowing molten solder with a diminishing contact therewith to leave solder closing the lower end of said connectors embedding said wire ends in electrically conductive relation through the solder.

Claim 11

A soldering apparatus comprising a trough of molten solder laterally moving at a predetermined level, conveyor means having a track for moving bodies of workpieces laterally above said predetermined level with depending wired connector portions thereon immersed and contacting said flowing molten solder below said level with the bodies of the work riding on said conveyor means, means for moving the molten solder vertically against depending ends of cylindrical thin wall rivets with exposed wire ends extending therethrough to assist internal application of solder thereto, said conveyor means removing said connectors from the flowing molten solder with a diminishing contact therewith to leave solder closing the lower end of said connectors embedding said wire ends in electrically conductive relation through the solder.

Claim 12

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor means defining a planar path of movement for carrying through a plurality of stations workpieces having depending elements some of which are electrical connector terminals thereon with the terminals at a predetermined constant level, means for applying flux to said connector terminals at one station including a container having side walls extending above said level along said path of movement, an elongated molten solder trough means at another station with its top above said level and having its major dimension and side walls aligned with said path of movement and with portions of its end walls in said path of movement being of substantially shorter height than its side Walls to provide weirs over which said connector terminals pass and molten solder in the trough above the level of the weirs may contact said terminals and overflow from the trough at a substantial depth in opposite directions, and means collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough at its longitudinal center to a height contacting said connector terminals for repeat contact with workpieces and reflow over both weirs, and means at said stations including at least one of said side walls to shield the other of said depending elements below the level of said solder from flux fumes and solder.

Claim 13

A soldering apparatus comprising a continuously running conveyor means defining a planar path of movement for carrying through a plurality of stations workpieces having depending elements some of which are electrical connector terminals thereon with the terminals at a predetermined constant level, means for applying flux to said connector terminals at one station including a container having side walls extending above said level along said path of movement, an elongated molten solder trough means at another station with its top above said level and having its major dimension and side walls aligned with said path of movement and with portions of its end walls in said path of movement being of substantially shorter height than its side Walls to provide weirs over which said connector terminals pass and molten solder in the trough above the level of the weirs may contact said terminals and overflow from the trough at a substantial depth in opposite directions, and means collecting said overflow, heating it and forcing it back to said trough at its longitudinal center to a height contacting said connector terminals for repeat contact with workpieces and reflow over both weirs, and means at said stations including at least one of said side walls to shield the other of said depending elements below the level of said solder from flux fumes and solder.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 8 in which said shielding means has a track along its upper edge supporting said workpieces in their path of movement with respect to said predetermined level.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 8 in which said shielding means comprises a channel member extending between said weirs and having a height appreciably higher than the level of the solder flowing over the weirs to shield said other depending elements from the heat of the solder.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 8 in which said connector terminals are cylindrical thin wall rivets with their wiring extending therethrough to solidly interconnect bare wires with solder for direct conduction of current therethrough.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 10 including blower means moving air into said channel means to coal said other of said depending means while between said weirs.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 7 in which said work piece has an insulating mounting board with a perforation along its edge and said rivet is one of a pair of connected rivets, the other one of which extends through and is riveted in place in said perforation with said one depending therebelow.