Solid current carrying and heatable member with electric connection

Claim 1

In a solid current carrying and heatable member, said member comprising a bonded brick of discrete material including graphitic current carrying paths therethrough, said paths having a relationship to the brick so that the latter heats upon the passage of electric current through it, electrical terminal means to apply electricity to the brick and the graphitic paths therein, said means comprising an elongated, substantially cylindrical, current carrying element embedded in the brick, the element and the brick being of different coefficients of expansion under conditions of heat, and the composition of the brick presenting a relatively rough surface to the element whereby the electric contact between element and brick may be relatively poor, said current carrying element extending outwardly from said heatable brick, an electrode being connected to the current carrying element exteriorly of the heatable brick, and an inaprevement that comprises a wrapping sheet tightly wrapping the current carrying element, said wrapping sheet being flexible and composed of graphite and forming a positive electric connection between heatable brick and the current carrying element.