Injection molding nozzle with removable forward member

In an injection molding nozzle to be mounted in a mold, the nozzle having a rear end, a forward end, and a melt channel extending therethrough to convey melt from an inlet at the rear end towards at least one gate extending through the mold to a cavity, the nozzle having an integral electrical heating element, the heating element having a terminal adjacent the rear end of the nozzle and a spiral portion extending in the nozzle around at least a portion of the melt channel, the improvement wherein the nozzle comprises;

• (a) a rear member having a rear end which forms the rear end of the nozzle, a forward end, and a tapered well, the tapered well extending rearwardly and tapering inwardly from the forward end, the melt channel having a rear portion extending in alignment with the tapered well through the rear member from the inlet at the rear end to the tapered well, and
• (b) a heat conductive forward member having a forward portion and a tapered rear portion, the forward member having a rear end and a forward end which forms the forward end of the nozzle, the melt channel having a forward portion extending through the forward member from the rear end of the forward member, the tapered rear portion of the forward member extending rearwardly and inwardly from the forward portion of the forward member to the rear end of the forward member to substantially match the shape of the tapered well of the rear member, the tapered rear portion of the forward member being received in the tapered well in the rear member with the rear portion and the forward portion of the melt channel meeting in alignment, the tapered well in the rear portion and the matching tapered rear portion of the forward member being tapered sufficiently to frictionally retain the tapered rear portion in the tapered well whereby the forward member is removably mounted to the rear member.