Heated transfer line for capillary tubing

An apparatus for heating a length of tubing to a uniform temperature with an electric current, the apparatus comprising:

• a heater tube which is electrically conductive and has first and second ends;
• first insulating means substantially covering the length of the heater tube for electrically insulating the heater tube;
• first and second electrically conductive conduit tubes having a combined length substantially equal to the length of the heater tube, said first and second conduit tubes covering the first insulating means and each having an outer end electrically connected, respectively to the first and second heater tube ends, the opposite inner ends of the conduit tubes coming into closely spaced proximity at a common point along the heater tube;
• first and second conductor means electrically connected to the first and second conduit tube inner ends near said common point for supplying electric current to said heater tube through said first and second conduit tube;
• second insulating means surrounding and thermally insulating the first and second conduit tubes;
• first and second outer tubes substantially covering the second insulating means and having first and second outer tube ends with the opposite inner ends of the outer tubes coming into closely spaced proximity at said common point along the heater tube;
• and
• mounting means connected to the outer tube inner ends in a mounting plane which passes through said common point along the heater tube mechanically mounting the apparatus and providing an exit for the first and second conductor means.