Ceramic pin heating element with integrated connector contacts and method for making same

Abstract

A ceramic pin heating element having exterior heating conductors and integrated electrical connection surfaces, and method for making same. A first body is injection molded from a first injection-moldable ceramic composite compound having a first electrical resistance, and a second body is injection-molded from a second injection-moldable ceramic composite compound having a second electrical resistance about the first body so as to form a compound body. The compound body is then sintered. The resulting ceramic pin heating element is directly formed without additional steps for protecting (insulating) the element so as to prevent the exterior, complementary heating conductors from contacting the housing and/or terminal bolts. The danger of breakage of the pins at the mounting location and/or at the seal seat through variations in the thickness of contact and/or insulation coatings is minimized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.