Temperature controlled electric hand soldering iron

Claim 1

An electric hand soldering iron, comprising a handle, an elongated tubular member joined to said handle at an end thereof and in substantially coaxial relation thereto, said tubular member being open at least at the end thereof that is remote from said handle, a soldering tip having a concentric bore formed therein, said bore extending for a substantial portion of the soldering tip and having a diameter that is dimensioned for receiving the tubular member in friction fitting relation therein, wherein said tubular member is secured within the bore of the soldering tip and is spaced from the end wall thereof and projects outwardly from the rearmost end thereof, a thermostat having a sealed-heat sensor chamber located in said bore at the innermost end thereof, said heat-sensor chamber being partially enclosed within said tubular member and extending forwardly beyond the open end thereof for contact with the soldering tip at the end of the bore, a tubular heating element positioned within said tubular member in concentric relation directly behind said heat-sensor chamber and being wholly enclosed in said tubular member within the soldering tip, a capillary tube projecting into said sealed heat-sensor chamber and extending therefrom through said heating element and tubular member into said handle, and switch means located in said handle and interconnected to said capillary tube and to a source of electrical energy, said switch means being responsive to the temperature within said heat-sensor chamber as reflected thereto by said capillary tube for controlling flow of electrical energy to said heating element, wherein the heat directed to said soldering tip is effectively controlled.