Reducing Gas Supply with Intermediate Tank to Prevent Liquid Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for supplying reducing gases, such as formic acid, during soldering often result in the liquid formic acid squirting out and scattering when pressurized, leading to waste and safety concerns during bottle replacement.
Innovation Solution
A reducing gas supplying apparatus that includes a vaporizer, an intermediate container, and a vacuum system to convert the reducing liquid into gas without scattering, using a pressure difference and air bubble removal to stabilize the supply, along with sensors for liquid level and pressure control to manage the gas flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressure is applied to deliver reducing liquid from a bottle, then the reducing liquid can be supplied into the vaporizer, but the reducing liquid may squirt out and scatter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate container as a mediator between the reducing liquid bottle and the vaporizer. The liquid is first transferred to the intermediate container under vacuum, then supplied to the vaporizer through controlled pressure. This intermediary step prevents direct high-pressure contact that causes scattering while maintaining efficient supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the problematic high-pressure delivery mechanism from the direct liquid supply path. By separating the transfer process (under vacuum) from the supply process (controlled pressure through intermediate container), it eliminates the scattering issue while preserving supply efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum is applied to transfer reducing liquid to intermediate container, then the reducing liquid can be transferred without scattering, but air bubbles may be mixed into the liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by filling the intermediate container with reducing liquid under vacuum before the actual vaporizer supply operation. This preliminary transfer under controlled vacuum conditions allows for subsequent degassing or bubble removal procedures without affecting the main supply process, ensuring both scattering prevention and liquid purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the liquid transfer process into distinct phases: vacuum-based transfer to intermediate container, followed by controlled pressure supply to vaporizer. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently - vacuum for scattering prevention, controlled pressure for bubble management.
3Ease of operation
If inert gas is supplied into pressure tank to pressurize, then the reducing liquid can be delivered, but the reducing liquid may squirt out during bottle replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate container serves as a safety intermediary that isolates the vaporizer supply system from the bottle replacement operation. The bottle can be replaced and pressurized independently without affecting the vaporizer, eliminating the scattering risk during maintenance while preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a reservoir of reducing liquid in the intermediate container. This buffer allows the vaporizer to continue receiving liquid even during bottle replacement and pressurization operations, preventing operational interruptions and safety issues while maintaining ease of use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus stably supplies reducing gas into the chamber without scattering the liquid, preventing waste and ensuring safe operation by using a vacuum system and pressure control to manage the liquid and gas flow.
Implementation Method 1
the vacuum pump 55 being installed in the vacuum tube 56 and being configured to create a negative pressure in the intermediate container 30
Implementation Method 2
the reducing liquid can be delivered into the intermediate container by a pressure difference between the inside of the intermediate container and the inside of the reducing liquid bottle
Implementation Method 3
the vaporizer 20 being configured to receive a reducing liquid FL to be converted into the reducing gas FG and vaporize the reducing liquid FL to generate the reducing gas FG
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
To provide a reducing gas supplying apparatus and a method for manufacturing a processed target object, which are capable of supplying a reducing liquid without causing it to scatter. The reducing gas supplying apparatus 1 includes a chamber 10 defining a space where soldering is performed on a target object T, a vaporizer 20 for generating a reducing gas FG to be supplied into the chamber 10 by receiving a reducing liquid FL to be converted into the reducing gas FG and vaporizing the reducing liquid FL, an intermediate container 30 for temporarily reserving the reducing liquid FL before the reducing liquid FL in a reducing liquid bottle 80 is introduced into the vaporizer 20, a transport tube 51, a supply tube 41, a transport part 58 for delivering the reducing liquid FL in the bottle 80 into the intermediate container 30, and a supply part 48 for delivering the reducing liquid FL in the intermediate container 30 into the vaporizer 20. The method includes supplying the object T into the chamber 10, performing soldering on the object T while supplying the reducing gas FG into the chamber 10, and taking the object T on which the soldering has been performed out of the chamber 10.