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US4747218A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Limiting of corrosion in machine for reflow soldering in vapor phase

Assignee: D'INFORMATIQUE MILITAIRE SPATIALE ET AERONAUTIQUE Cie
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Filing: 1986-04-02
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2006-04-02
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Abstract

Abstract The main object of the invention is the limiting of corrosion in vapor-phase reflow soldering machines. Liquid chlorine and fluorine are used in the device for soldering in vapor phase. The decomposition of these elements by heat releases ions which, when brought in the presence of water, form hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric acid. These acids corrode the tank through which the soldering method is used as well as the metallic elements of the soldered components. The device which is the object of the present invention eliminates water from the secondary liquid by isolating the vapors of these liquids from the atmosphere, preventing water from penetrating into the water-removal cartridge and providing for the water-removal process before fresh secondary liquid is brought into use. The invention applies mainly to reflow soldering in vapor phase.

Inventors

  • 👤 Xavier Saint Martin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 10:41
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/012; B23K1/015

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
A machine for reflow soldering in vapor phase comprising a tank containing a primary liquid at boiling point and a vaporized secondary liquid, designed to limit losses of primary liquid, said machine further including washing means for washing said secondary liquid, water-removal means for removing water from the secondary liquid, a storage vessel for secondary liquid fed from the water-removal means, a fluid coupling between said washing means and said water-removal means, valve means for hermetic sealing of the fluid coupling for sealing said washing means from said water-removal means, and a water level detector associated with said washing means and means for controlling said valve means coupled to said water level detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
A machine for reflow soldering in vapor phase comprising a tank containing a primary liquid at boiling point and a vaporized secondary liquid, designed to limit losses of primary liquid, said machine further including washing means for washing said secondary liquid, water-removal means for removing water from the secondary liquid, a storage vessel for secondary liquid fed from the water-removal means, a fluid coupling between said washing means and said water-removal means, valve means for hermetic sealing of the fluid coupling for sealing said washing means from said water-removal means, and a water level detector associated with said washing means and means for controlling said valve means coupled to said water level detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A machine according to claim 1 comprising means for filling secondary liquid, located upstream of the water-removal means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A machine according to claim 2, wherein the secondary liquid filling means is placed to communicate with a conduit which links the washing means to the water-removal means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the secondary liquid storage vessel contains the water-removal means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
A machine as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for the introduction of a gas which does not react with the secondary liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
A machine according to claim 5, wherein the gas introduced is nitrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
A machine according to claim 5, wherein the gas introduced is dried air.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 151 words
A method of limiting losses of a primary liquid in a vapor reflow soldering machine, said method comprising the steps of: providing a source of a secondary liquid to be injected into a solder reflow region to protect against evaporative losses of said primary liquid, said secondary liquid having a density different from water, collecting secondary liquid condensed on a periphery of a said solder reflow region, conducting said collected secondary liquid to a first tank to separate said secondary liquid from water contained therein, extracting secondary liquid from said first tank and passing said extracted secondary liquid through a valved conduit, receiving said secondary liquid from said valved conduit in a water removal region, removing water from said secondary liquid in said water removal region, detecting a water level in said first tank at or below a predetermined level, and closing said valved conduit in response to said detecting step.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 151 words
A method of limiting losses of a primary liquid in a vapor reflow soldering machine, said method comprising the steps of: providing a source of a secondary liquid to be injected into a solder reflow region to protect against evaporative losses of said primary liquid, said secondary liquid having a density different from water, collecting secondary liquid condensed on a periphery of a said solder reflow region, conducting said collected secondary liquid to a first tank to separate said secondary liquid from water contained therein, extracting secondary liquid from said first tank and passing said extracted secondary liquid through a valved conduit, receiving said secondary liquid from said valved conduit in a water removal region, removing water from said secondary liquid in said water removal region, detecting a water level in said first tank at or below a predetermined level, and closing said valved conduit in response to said detecting step.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3947240A Cited
US4090843A Cited
US4135803A Cited
US4261111A Cited
US4453916A Cited
US4466198A Cited
US4628616A Cited
US4642904A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-05-31 1991-11-30 1992-05-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-05-31 1995-11-30 1996-05-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-05-31 1999-11-30 2000-05-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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