Injection molding nozzle having grounded heating element brazed into pointed tip

In an elongated integral injection molding nozzle having a forward end and a rear end with a central portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface extending between a steel collar portion adjacent the rear end and a nose portion adjacent the forward end, the nose portion having a tapered outer surface leading to the forward end, the nozzle having a melt bore with first and second portions, the first portion extending centrally from the rear end through the central portion and joining the second portion which extends diagonally to the tapered surface of the nose portion, the nozzle having an electrically insulated heating element with a rear end and a forward end, the heating element having one portion extending diagonally into the nose portion to a forward end of the heating element and another portion integrally brazed in a spiral channel in the cylindrical outer surface of the central portion, the rear end of the heating element extending out through a radial opening in the collar portion to a cold terminal, the heating element having a resistance wire extending centrally through an electrical insulating material in an outer casing, the outer surface of the central portion and the heating element brazed in the spiral channel therein being covered with a protective coating, the improvement wherein:

• the central resistance wire at the forward end of the heating element is exposed and integrally brazed in an electrically conductive brazing material to ground the heating element adjacent the forward end of the nozzle, whereby the forward end of the nozzle can be heated to a predetermined temperature.