GB2095149A

GB2095149A - Improved electric soldering iron

Info

Publication number: GB2095149A
Application number: GB8108570A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Antex Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Antex Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 1981-03-19
Filing date: 1981-03-19
Publication date: 1982-09-29

Abstract

An improved soldering iron comprises a tubular handle (1) having a soldering head (2) mounted from one of its ends. The handle (1) contains a core piece (10) externally formed with longitudinal grooves (10a) each of depth and cross-section such as to accommodate between itself and the inside surface of the handle (1) a particular one of the insulated conductors (7) of a power supply cable (8) which enters the handle end remote from the soldering head (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved electric soldering iron This invention relates to electric soldering irons and more particularly to so-called miniature soldering irons having small diameter soldering heads which are supported from tubular handles made of electrical and thermal insulating material which receive an electrical supply cable, the conductors of the latter being connected inside the handle to the soldering head.

A safety regulation for such soldering irons requires that soldered welded crimped and similar connections may be used for the connection of external (power supply cable) conductors, provided that for soldered or welded termination the conductor is retained in position independently of the termination before welding or soldering so that it cannot move should the soldering or welding break.

This regulation specifically inhibits the design of miniature soldering irons where it is desirable for the diameter of the handle to be small because a small diameter handle prevents the use of termination pins with holes large enough to contain the .75 sq. mm conductor which is required.

The present invention has been devised with the object of providing a soldering iron which whilst having a small diameter handle nevertheless complies with the aforesaid safety regulation.

Thus a soldering iron in accordance with the present invention comprises a tubular handle from one end of which there extends a soldering head and which contains at that end a core piece having its exterior surface formed with longitudinally extending grooves each of depth and crosssection such as to accommodate itself and the inside surface of the handle a particular one of the insulated conductors of a power supply cable which enters the handle end remote from the soldering head. Means such as a screw inserted through the handle and into the core piece is preferably provided for preventing movement of the core piece along the handle. Also means such as for instance a screw made of electrical insulating material may be provided at the said handle remote end for clamping the electricity supply cable to the handle.Also the handle may have a hook slidably and detachably mounted upon it for purposes hereinafter mentioned in the following description of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a miniature soldering iron; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same soldering iron; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the soldering iron; and Fig. 5 is a section on line V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a core piece; and Fig. 7 is a section on line VI-VI of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a miniature soldering iron having a tubular handle 1 with a finger grip 1 a at one end. From this end of the handle, which is made of synthetic plastics material, there is mounted the soldering head 2 which comprises a hollow metal stem 3, a split tubular metal tip 4 retained on the stem 3 by a circlip 5, and a coupling element 6 made of synthetic plastics material. This element 6 has an hexagonal profile part which fits into an hexagonal sided recess in the end of the handle 1 and supports the three pins to which the three usual electrical conductors 7 of a power supply cable 8 are soldered or otherwise permanently connected.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the power supply cable 8 extends through the handle 1 and is prevented from rearward withdrawal by a grab screw 9 in the handle 1.

In accordance with the invention there is contained in the front part of the handle 1 a core piece 10 which in conjunction with the inside surface of the handle serves independently of any soldered or welded connections to retain the individual conductors 7 in position within the handle.

To this end the core piece 10, which is shown separately in Fig. 6, has three longitudinally extending parallel grooves 10a which are of sufficient diameter and depth to accommodate the respective three insulated conductors 7 of the power supply cable 8.

The grooves 1 Oa do not extend to the front end of the core piece 10 because this front end is hollow and constituted as a series of three jaws 1 Ob each having on its radially inward side a lip 1 Oc which locks into a circumferential groove 6a formed around the coupling element 6 as shown in Fig. 3. The sequence of assembly is that after the bared ends of the conductors 7 have been electrically connected to the pins in the coupling element 6, the core piece 10 is attached to the latter with the insulated and separate conductor parts accommodated in the grooves 1 Oa.

Thereafter the cable 8 and the core 10 element are inserted into the front end of the handle 2 and are drawn or pushed rearwards until the hexagonal profile part of the coupling element 6 is located in the equivalent recess at the front of the handle 1. When the whole has thus been positioned, the core piece 10 is fixed in the handle by means of a grub screw 11 inserted through a hole in the handle 1 and entering a screwthreaded radial hole 1 Odin the core piece 10. The grub screw 9 would then be turned into clamping engagement with the cable 8.

Slidably received on the handle 1 is a hook 12 by which the soldering iron can be suspended when not required to be used. The hook also serves to give added protection against heat for the user's index finger when the hook is used as an extension of the handle to achieve greater precision during the soldering of small components. The hook can also serve as a temporary stand in between operations by keeping the hot soldering iron tip from touching the working surface.

Claims

1. A soldering iron comprising a tubular handle having a soldering head mounted from one of its ends and which contains at that end a core piece externally formed with longitudinal grooves each of depth and cross-section such as to accommodate between itself and the inside surface of the handle a particular one of the insulated conductors of a power supply cable which enters the handle end remote from the soldering head.

2. A soldering iron in accordance with claim 1 wherein the core piece has three such grooves at 900 intervals around its axis.

3. A soldering iron in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the front end of the core piece has jaws which lock onto a coupling element of the soldering head.

4. A soldering iron in accordance with any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the core piece is fixed within the handle by a screw which passes through a hole in the handle and enters a screw threaded radial bore in the core piece.

5. A soldering iron in accordance with any of the preceding claims wherein a hook is slidably mounted on the handle.

6. A soldering iron in accordance with any of the preceding claims and comprising a screw in a radial threaded bore in the handle for applying clamping pressure to an electric supply cable therein.

7. A soldering iron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.