US5090651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas curtain additives and zoned tunnel for soldering
Assignee: KPS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND II LP
•
Filing: 1991-07-17
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Granted: 1992-02-25
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Expires: 2011-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A tunnel enclosure has a fluid barrier curtain at an entry and an exit and provides an apparatus for soldering an element. The fluid barrier curtains permit an additive, such as a soldering aid or the like to be included with the fluid at the curtain. More than one zone permits different temperatures or gas atmospheres and elements are passed from zone to zone with fluid barrier curtains between. A process for soldering comprises conveying an element into an enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain, with an additive added to fluid in the curtain, heating and soldering the element in the zone, and conveying the element from the enclosed zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier curtain.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael T. Mittag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:00
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/008; B23K1/08; B23K1/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into an enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain, with an additive added directly into fluid in the curtain so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into the zone; then heating and soldering the element in the zone, and conveying the soldered element from the enclosed zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier curtain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into an enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain, with an additive added directly into fluid in the curtain so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into the zone; then heating and soldering the element in the zone, and conveying the soldered element from the enclosed zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process for soldering according to claim 1 wherein two fluid barrier curtains are provided in line in the entry and in the exit, and wherein the additive is added at the second of the two curtains in the entry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process for soldering according to claim 2 wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of flux, reducing agents, formic acid, adipic acid, gas mixed with fluid in the second of the two curtains, and mist mixed with fluid in the second of the two curtains.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process for soldering according to claim 1 wherein two fluid barrier curtains are provided in line in the entry and in the exit, and wherein the additive is added at the first of the two curtains in the entry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process for soldering according to claim 4 wherein the additive is selected from the group comprising flux, reducing agent, gas mixed with fluid in the first of the two curtains and mist mixed with fluid in the first of the two curtains.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for soldering according to claim 1 wherein fluid in the fluid barrier curtain at the entry is a preheated gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process for soldering according to claim 1 wherein the element is conveyed in a predetermined path in the enclosed zone, a solder wave is formed above a solder pot beneath the path so that at least a portion of the element conveyed in the path passes through the solder wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process for soldering according to claim 1 wherein the soldering is reflow soldering within the enclosed zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into a first enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain; heating the element in the first zone; conveying the element from the first zone through an aperture containing at least one fluid barrier curtain into a second enclosed zone; soldering the element in the second zone, and conveying the element from the second zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier curtain, wherein an additive is added directly into fluid in at least one of the curtains so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into at least one of the first and second enclosed zones.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into a first enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain; heating the element in the first zone; conveying the element from the first zone through an aperture containing at least one fluid barrier curtain into a second enclosed zone; soldering the element in the second zone, and conveying the element from the second zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier curtain, wherein an additive is added directly into fluid in at least one of the curtains so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into at least one of the first and second enclosed zones.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process for soldering according to claim 9 wherein the first zone and the second zone are at different temperatures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process for soldering according to claim 9 including additional enclosed zones with apertures containing fluid barrier curtains therein, and wherein the element is conveyed through all the zones and fluid barrier curtains.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process for soldering according to claim 9 wherein two fluid barrier curtains in line are provided in the entry and in the exit, and wherein an additive is added to fluid at the second of the two curtains in the entry to at least one of the zones.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into a first enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain; heating the element in the first zone; conveying the element from the first zone through an aperture containing at least one fluid barrier curtain into a second enclosed zone; soldering the element in the second zone; conveying the element from the second zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier, wherein the first zone and the second zone have different gas atmospheres therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for soldering an element comprising the steps of: conveying the element into a first enclosed zone through an entry containing at least one fluid barrier curtain; heating the element in the first zone; conveying the element from the first zone through an aperture containing at least one fluid barrier curtain into a second enclosed zone; soldering the element in the second zone; conveying the element from the second zone through an exit containing at least one fluid barrier, wherein the first zone and the second zone have different gas atmospheres therein.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: an enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry with means for adding an additive directly into fluid in the curtain so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into the enclosed zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the exit; conveyor means for conveying an element through the fluid barrier curtain at the entry, the enclosed zone and the fluid barrier curtain at the exit, and means for heating and soldering the element within the enclosed zone.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: an enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry with means for adding an additive directly into fluid in the curtain so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into the enclosed zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the exit; conveyor means for conveying an element through the fluid barrier curtain at the entry, the enclosed zone and the fluid barrier curtain at the exit, and means for heating and soldering the element within the enclosed zone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14, wherein two fluid barrier curtains in line are provided at the entry, and wherein the means for adding adds additive directly into the second curtain.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14, wherein two fluid barrier curtains in line are provided at the entry, and wherein the means for adding adds additive directly into the first curtain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14 including at least one heater means in the zone to heat the element conveyed on the conveyor means, means for forming at least one solder wave in the zone after the heater means, the conveyor means conveying the element in a predetermined path through the enclosed zone, ensuring at least a portion of the element passes through the solder wave.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 17 including at least one fluid barrier curtain positioned on each side of the means for forming the solder wave to divide up the enclosed zone into isolated portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14 wherein the means to solder includes reflow soldering.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14 wherein the enclosed zone comprises a linear tunnel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 17 wherein the enclosed zone is an apex shaped tunnel and wherein the solder wave is formed adjacent an apex of the tunnel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 14 wherein the conveyor means are selected from the group consisting of belt conveyors, finger type conveyors and pallet type conveyors.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: a first enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the first enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; a second enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the second enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry of the first zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain between the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone: at least one fluid barrier curtain at the exit of the second zone; conveyor means for conveying the element through the fluid barrier curtains and the first and second zones; means to heat and solder the element within the first and second zone, and wherein the first zone and the second zone have different gas atmospheres therein.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: a first enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the first enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; a second enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the second enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry of the first zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain between the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone: at least one fluid barrier curtain at the exit of the second zone; conveyor means for conveying the element through the fluid barrier curtains and the first and second zones; means to heat and solder the element within the first and second zone, and wherein the first zone and the second zone have different gas atmospheres therein.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: a first enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the first enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; a second enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the second enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry of the first zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain between the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone; means for adding an additive directly into fluid in at least one of the curtains so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into at least one of the first and second zones; conveyor means for conveying the element through the fluid barrier curtains and the first and second zones, and means for heating and soldering to heat and solder the element within the first and second zones.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for soldering an element comprising: a first enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the first enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; a second enclosed zone for containing a gas atmosphere, the second enclosed zone having an entry and an exit; at least one fluid barrier curtain at the entry of the first zone; at least one fluid barrier curtain between the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone; means for adding an additive directly into fluid in at least one of the curtains so that the element is treated with the additive upon entry into at least one of the first and second zones; conveyor means for conveying the element through the fluid barrier curtains and the first and second zones, and means for heating and soldering to heat and solder the element within the first and second zones.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 24 including at least one additional zone through which the conveyor means conveys the element, the additional zone having at least one fluid barrier curtain at an entry and an exit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 24 wherein the element is heated in the first zone and soldered in the second zone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 24 wherein the first zone and the second zone are at different temperatures.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 24 wherein two fluid barrier curtains are provided in line at the entry of the first zone and between the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone, and wherein the additive is added to fluid at least one of the second curtains.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for soldering an element according to claim 24 wherein two fluid barrier curtains in line are provided at the exit of the first zone and the entry of the second zone, and wherein the additive is added to fluid at at least one of the first curtains.
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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) | 1995-02-24 | 1995-08-26 | 1996-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-24 | 1999-08-26 | 2000-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-24 | 2003-08-26 | 2004-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |