APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INERTING GAS DURING SOLDERING

摘要

Described herein is an apparatus and method for providing an inerting gas during the application of soldering to a work piece. In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus that is placed atop of a solder reservoir and comprises a plurality of porous diffuser tubes that are in fluid communication with an inerting gas. In another aspect, there is provided a method for providing an inerting gas to a wave soldering apparatus comprising the steps of, among other things, placing an apparatus atop at least one edge of the solder reservoir wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of tubes comprising one or more openings in fluid communication with an inerting gas source. In a further aspect, at least one of the diffuser tubes comprises a porous protective sheath surrounding at least part of the length of the tube.

主权项

1. An apparatus for providing an inerting gas during soldering of a work piece, the apparatus comprising:
at least one groove on a bottom of the apparatus for placing onto at least one edge of a solder reservoir having molten solder contained therein; at least one opening on the top surface of the apparatus through which at least one solder wave emitting from the solder reservoir passes through and contacts the work piece; and one or more diffuser tubes comprising one or more openings in fluid communication with an inerting gas source and one or more porous sheaths surrounding at least a portion of the length of at least one of the one or more diffuser tubes, wherein each diffuser tube and surrounding porous sheath together comprise a diffuser assembly; wherein the apparatus is positioned above the solder reservoir and underneath the work piece to be soldered thereby forming an atmosphere and wherein there is substantially no gap between the work piece to be soldered and the apex of the at least one solder wave.