Electric soldering iron

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric soldering iron (10) comprising a tip (11). According to the invention, this tip (11) comprises a main tip body defining an internal housing for at least partially housing a heating element (18), said main tip body being configured such that said heating element (18) is removable from its housing to allow for its replacement, and placed in direct contact with the walls of the main tip body defining said housing when it is received in this housing, to ensure direct heat transfer to said tip, said heating element (18) being a heating cartridge. [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: Electric soldering iron technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric soldering iron. Previous technique

[0002] Electric soldering irons are known to comprise a body defining a gripping element, a tip, a heating element and an electric power cord to supply current to the element.

[0003] This heating resistance is typically arranged concentrically to the cylindrical tip, covering the latter which is arranged in the center of the iron, with an external layer of thermal insulating material covering the heating resistance.

[0004] However, it is observed that with such a soldering iron configuration, some of the heat produced by the heating element is lost, despite the presence of the insulating layer. The electric soldering iron thus exhibits low energy efficiency.

[0005] Moreover, such a soldering iron is generally a single piece, so that it is not possible to change the heating element when it is worn out.

[0006] This electric soldering iron is therefore considered a disposable product and consequently, not very durable over time.

[0007] Such a product therefore does not fit into a circular economy approach.

[0008] Electric soldering irons are also known to be repairable, but by a professional, or even proprietaryally by the manufacturer.

[0009] This results in additional costs for the user and long periods of unavailability.

[0010] There is therefore an urgent need for an electric soldering iron, the original design of which makes it possible to remedy the disadvantages stated above. Object of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing an electric soldering iron, simple in its design and in its operating method, allowing easy replacement of its heating element by another, when this heating element is worn.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is such a soldering iron whose energy efficiency is greatly improved. Description of the invention

[0013] For this purpose, the invention relates to an electric soldering iron comprising a tip. According to the invention, this failure comprises a main failure body delimiting an internal housing to house at least part of a heating element, said main failure body being configured so that this heating element is removable from its housing to allow its replacement while being placed directly in contact with the walls of the main failure body delimiting said housing, when received in the latter, to ensure direct heat transmission to said failure, said heating element being a heating cartridge.

[0014] This breakdown thus includes an internal housing, or empty space, to receive an industrial heating cartridge.

[0015] This housing inside the purlin is dimensioned so that the heating cartridge and the main body of the purlin are in direct contact when this cartridge is placed in its housing so as to ensure direct and efficient heat transmission.

[0016] Therefore, there is no space, or virtually no space, between the walls of the main body of the purlin delimiting the housing and the heating cartridge to maximize heat transfer. In fact, it is observed that 100% of the energy produced by the heating element is directed to the purlin

[0017] In addition, since the heating cartridge is removable from its housing, the user can easily change it when it is worn out.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this electric soldering iron, said main tip body comprises a first body part and a second body part and at least one removable assembly element of said body parts for assembling said main tip body.

[0019] The main body of the breakdown thus comprises two assemblable parts such as two half-shells.

[0020] This main body of the tip may also have at its distal end, or front end, a thread for the assembly of an engraving block or an added tip head.

[0021] Alternatively, this front end of the tip may have a pointed shape, allowing direct use of the soldering iron, i.e. without assembly of a tip head.

[0022] Preferably, at least the first body part includes at least one orifice for the passage of the rod of a fastener, the second body part also having at least one orifice for the passage of a fastener such as a bolt, or said second part having for each orifice of the first body part, a threaded rod.

[0023] Alternatively, with these first and second body parts being articulated together, the main body of the breakdown unit includes at least one locking / unlocking element, such as a clasp, to hold said body parts together. By way of illustration only, this consists of two body halves articulated around hinged elements and including locking / unlocking elements to hold them together or to allow the heating cartridge to be changed.

[0024] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, said main tip body comprising a distal end and a proximal end, it includes at its distal end, an assembly device such as a thread for mounting a heating element such as an engraving block or a tip head, or point.

[0025] These distal and proximal extremities are located with respect to the user's hand.

[0026] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, said main tip body is configured to cover the lateral surface of said heating element and to bring the distal end of this heating element into contact with said heating body.

[0027] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, the main tip body includes at its proximal end an opening for the passage of an electric power cord to said heating element, or said heating body includes a multi-contact, or multi-pin, connector, said proximal end includes a multi-pin, or multi-contact connector, equipped with a power cord, said main tip body being configured to align said connectors when said heating element is inserted into the housing delimited by the main tip body in order to ensure good electrical contact.

[0028] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, the heating element having an elongated cylindrical shape, the main body of the tip is a cylindrical body that is at least partially hollow.

[0029] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, the outer surface of the main tip body is covered at least in part with a thermal insulating material.

[0030] By way of example, this thermal insulation material may be ceramic-based or ceramic fiber-based. By way of example, it may be a ceramic material with a density greater than 2.5, and even better, greater than 3.5.

[0031] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, the proximal end of said main tip body is further configured to receive a means for gripping said iron.

[0032] It includes a handle having an anatomical shape over at least part of its extent.

[0033] According to yet another embodiment of this electric soldering iron, it includes a temperature sensor associated with the main body of the tip. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] Other advantages, purposes and special features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given for explanatory purposes and in no way as a limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1

[0035] [Fig.1] is a schematic and cross-sectional representation of an electric soldering iron according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2

[0036] [Fig.2] is a perspective and exploded view of the electric soldering iron of [Fig.1], the removable assembly elements of the half-shells of the main tip body not being shown; Description of the implementation methods

[0037] The drawings and description below contain, essentially, elements of a definite nature. They may therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

[0038] First of all, it should be noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0039] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an electric soldering iron 10 according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] This electric soldering iron 10 comprises an elongated tubular body having a tip 11 whose main tip body is cylindrical and formed of two half-shells 12, 13 assembled together by removable assembly elements.

[0041] These removable assembly elements are, for example, bolt / nut assemblies.

[0042] Each of these half-shells has openings 14 for the passage of the rod of the assembly elements.

[0043] This main body of the breakdown is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, here stainless steel.

[0044] This main body of the tip has at its distal end, or front end, a thread 15 for the assembly of an added heating body 16, here an engraving block.

[0045] This main body of the failure is covered with a thermal insulating material 17.

[0046] The two half-shells define an internal housing in the main body of the failure in which a heating element 18 is received.

[0047] The two half-shells are shaped so that this heating element 18 is placed directly in contact with them when placed in this housing to ensure direct and efficient heat transmission.

[0048] In addition, the heating body comprising an elongated bridge having on its outer surface a thread complementary to that of the main body of the purlin to ensure their assembly, the two half-shells ensure contact of the distal end of this heating element 18 with said heating body 16.

[0049] This heating element 18 is here an industrial heating cartridge allowing for example to concentrate a thermal flux of up to fifty (50) W / cm2 and provide a heating temperature of eight hundred degrees Celsius (800°C).

[0050] The elongated heating cartridge 18 is supplied with electric current via a power cable 19. This cable enters the main body of the tip through its rear end and is axially immobilized by pinching between the upper and lower shells, optionally by ribs carried by at least one of these shells.

[0051] Advantageously, dismantling the main body of the breakdown allows the heating cartridge 18 to be released from its housing to allow its replacement when the latter is worn.

[0052] A non-specialist user can therefore easily replace this heating cartridge 18 or change the heating element 16 in a very short time.

[0053] It is observed that the present electric soldering iron 10 is advantageously simple to use, while offering optimal energy efficiency.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric soldering iron comprising a tip (11), characterized in that said tip (11) comprises a main tip body delimiting an internal housing to accommodate at least part of a heating element (18), said main tip body being configured so that this heating element (18) is removable from its housing to allow its replacement while being placed directly in contact with the walls of the main tip body delimiting said housing, when received in the latter, to ensure direct heat transmission to said tip, said heating element (18) being a heating cartridge.

2. Electric soldering iron according to claim 1, characterized in that said main tip body comprises a first body part (12) and a second body part (13) and at least one removable assembly element of said body parts for assembling said main tip body.

3. Electric soldering iron according to claim 2, characterized in that at least said first body part comprises at least one orifice (14) for the passage of the shank of a fastener, said second body part also comprising at least one orifice (14) for the passage of a fastener such as a bolt, or said second part carrying for each orifice (14) of the first body part, a threaded shank.

4. Electric soldering iron according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second body parts (12, 13) being articulated with each other, the main tip body comprises at least one locking / unlocking element such as a clasp, to hold said body parts assembled.

5. Electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main tip body comprises at a distal end an assembly device such as a thread (15) for mounting a heating element (16) such as an engraving block or a tip head, or point.

6. An electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main tip body is configured to cover the lateral surface of said heating element (18) and bring the distal end of this heating element (18) into contact with said heating body (16).

7. Electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main tip body comprises at its proximal end an opening for the passage of an electric power cord to said heating element (18), or said heating body comprising a multi-contact, or multi-pin, connector, said proximal end comprising a multi-pin, or multi-contact connector, equipped with a power cord, said main tip body being configured to align said connectors when said heating element (18) is inserted into the housing delimited by the main tip body in order to ensure good electrical contact.

8. Electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said heating element (18) has an elongated cylindrical shape, the main body of tip is a cylindrical body at least partially hollow.

9. Electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer surface of the main tip body is covered at least in part with a thermal insulating material (17).

10. Electric soldering iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proximal end of said main tip body is further configured to receive a means for gripping said iron.