Patent ID: 8901462

Claim:
A heating unit, comprising: a tube; a heating member positioned in the tube, wherein the heating member has a substantially cylindrical shape with a passage extending at least partially therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof; a rod having a first end thereof that receives power from an external power source; and a cylindrical connector having a first end thereof inserted into the passage formed in the heating member such that the heating member surrounds the first end of the connector, with an outer circumferential surface of the first end of the connector contacting a corresponding inner circumferential surface of the passage to couple the first end of the connector to a corresponding end of the heating member, and a second end thereof coupled to a second end of the rod, wherein external power is applied to the heating member through the rod and the connector, wherein the second end of the rod is received within the second end of the connector such that an outer circumferential surface of the rod contacts a corresponding inner circumferential surface of the second end of the connector.