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.