Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic-coated heater in which the outer surface of a heater rod is coated with ceramic to improve the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like, thereby enabling the heater to be used in water or air. The outer surface of the heater rod is coated with a ceramic composition to which an acrylic corrosion resistant wax is added, thereby strengthening the bonding force of the coating layer film, and thus improving the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like to enable the heater to be used in water. Therefore, the ceramic-coated heater of the present invention enables high thermal conductivity using less current and reduces energy consumption so that it can be utilized in a wide variety of industrial fields.

Abstract: A heater system is provided that includes a hybrid insulation cover that has a first cover disposed around hinged carrier members and heat trace sections, and a second cover operatively engaged with the first cover and adapted for detachable placement around a heating target and its varying geometries. A flexible insulation jacket having a similar construction as the second cover is also provided for use with connector assemblies. Furthermore, a heater system is provided that includes at least one heat trace section encapsulated within adjacent insulating members for use with heating gaslines and pumplines of semiconductor processing systems.

Abstract: A heater includes at least one heating element having a resistance that varies non-linearly with respect to a temperature of the heating element. The heating element includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface extending between the first and second surfaces, opposite the third surface. The heating element has a height defined between the first and second surfaces, and a width defined between the third and fourth surfaces, and wherein the width is less than the height. The heater also includes at least one electrode coupled to the first surface and configured to generate an electric field across the heating element and cause a current to flow through the heating element.

Abstract: An aircraft sink water heater includes an electric heater with coils engaging water tube coils. The system quickly heats a small volume of water in the tube coils, sufficient to wash a user's hands.

Abstract: An improved solid heat transfer element composed of an elongate member having a generally cylindrical surface with male vortex generating protrusions is provided. The vortex generating protrusions, which may be referred to as “turbulators,” provide improved heat transfer by convection to a flow of air transverse to the elongate members without substantially increasing the pressure drop in the flow of air passing over the members. Advantageously, a plurality of the heat transfer elements, or of straight portions of a single serpentine heat transfer element, may be arranged in an aligned or staggered array of elements or straight portions. Many advantageous profile shapes of the element and vortex generators are provided, including aerodynamic profile shapes that are symmetrical with respect to a fluid flow to provide low drag and pressure drop. Heat in the element may be generated by means of electrical resistance or absorption of radiation.

Abstract: A finned ceramic heater includes a ceramic heating assembly, a pair of electrode plates, a plurality of insulating pieces, an insulating adhesive, and a pair of fins. The pair of electrode plates is adhered to both side surfaces of the ceramic heating assembly respectively. The insulating pieces are connected in series and adhered to an outer surface of each electrode plate respectively. A seam is formed between two adjacent insulating pieces. The width of the insulating piece is larger than that of the electrode plate. The insulating adhesive is filled in the seam. Each of the fins is disposed on the insulating pieces and the insulating adhesive. With this arrangement, a larger tolerance in the thickness of each insulating piece can be obtained, thereby preventing the insulating pieces from cracking due to their inconsistent flatness and enhancing the insulating property of the heater.

Abstract: A self-regulating heater assembly comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element and a pair of spaced electrodes. Each electrode includes a first surface. The first surfaces of the pair of electrodes are spaced from one another. The PTC element is located between and supported by the first surfaces of the pair of electrodes and is energized by the pair of electrodes. Means for limiting a compressive force on the PTC element is provided. The means includes an electrically insulative spacer member positioned between the first surfaces of the pair of electrodes. A first pair of power leads, one power lead being connected to each of the pair of electrodes, energizes the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A ceramic heat conductor support disc for supporting an electrical heating element for electrically heated furnace installations. The support disc has a center aperture lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heating element, and one or more apertures located between the center aperture and the periphery of the disc. The disc is provided with one or more elongated openings running from the periphery to one of the apertures or to the center aperture, wherein each elongated opening penetrates the entire thickness of the disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides an infrared ray lamp being small in size and high in efficiency and having high versatility so at to be easily adaptable to various applications, and also provides a heating apparatus that uses the infrared ray lamp; in the infrared ray lamp according to the present invention, plural heating elements made of a carbonaceous substance having high emissivity and large radiation energy are disposed accurately at desired positions and desired angles, and sealed inside a glass tube; a heating apparatus is configured by using this infrared ray lamp as a heat source.

Abstract: An electric heating element with radiant tube comprising a radiation pipe (1) and an electric heating element (2, 3) contained in said pipe, wherein the heating element has legs that run to and fro in the pipe, and wherein the heating element is connected at one end of the pipe close to a furnace wall with electric power outlets through which electric current is fed to the element, wherein the element is supported in the pipe by ceramic discs (9) that are provided with through-penetrating holes through which the legs of the elements extend, and wherein two elements (2, 3) are disposed sequentially in said radiation pipe along its long axis.

Abstract: A heated O-ring that has particular application for providing sealing in the connector region of a compressed hydrogen storage tank in a fuel cell system. In one embodiment, an electrical heating wire is wound through the O-ring so that resistive heating is provide by applying an electrical potential to the wire so that the temperature of the O-ring does not decrease below a predetermined temperature. In another embodiment, electrical heating elements are provided adjacent to and in contact with the O-ring, where an electrical potential applied to the heating elements causes the heating elements to maintain the temperature of the O-ring.

Abstract: An electrical sleeve heater for an element having a generally cylindrical outer surface. The heater has a generally helical coil centered on an axis and having a pair of opposite coil ends, a pair of generally coaxial, axially aligned, and similar tubes each fixed to a respective one of the coil ends and surrounding the coil so that relative rotation of the coil can radially increase or decrease an inside diameter of the coil. The tubes having axially adjacent inner ends and outer ends, and means for releasably fixing together the coil inner ends.

Abstract: A ceramic fiber band that can fulfill a plurality of functions in connection with the injection and/or extrusion process of an injection molding or extrusion apparatus (i.e. heat, cool, and insulate), thereby reducing overall energy costs and creating a safer working environment. The ceramic band, being an insulator and having heating and/or cooling elements with a faster response contained therein, exert the desired heating/cooling effect upon the barrel portion of the injection/extrusion machine thereby raising, lowering, or maintaining the temperature of the fluid plastic compound passing through the barrel.

Abstract: A manufacture or cell (20) formed by a closed case (21) of fabric material (23) in which a multiple number of meltable plastic pellets (24) are disposed and with which an electrical line (25), here in the form of lines (25-1, 25-2), combine in an interwoven assembly. Heat is applied to the pellets (24) via the electrical line (25) to melt them into a mass of substance that solidifies into a solid wall or thickness while concurrently adhering to the fabric material (23) so that the resulting structure is in a cast condition, transformed from its flexible state prior to application of the heat to pellets (24) into a wall-like member. The cell (20) is useful in application of constructing a habitable temporary living housing or shelter for victims arising out of a catastrophe.

Abstract: An ignition device of an electronic lighter comprises a ceramic seat, electric heating wires, conductive wires, and a circuit board; the ceramic seat having a pair of through holes. The conductive wires pass through the through holes. A lower end of each conductive wire is connected to a bottom of a circuit board. An upper end of each conductive wire is bent to be connected to the electric heating wires. A top of the ceramic seat is formed with a hemispherical groove so that the electric heating wires do not contact the ceramic seat. Thus, it is avoided that ash seals the groove, and thus, the joint of the circuit board is directly connected to wires of power source. Therefore, the present invention only occupies a small space. The ceramic seat is formed by combining a primary seat and a secondary seat.

Abstract: A sleeve heater has a pair of end tubes centered on a common axis and having axially confronting and spaced inner ends, an electrically resistive helicoidal heating coil centered on the axis, and at least one tubular center tube coupled to the end tubes at the inner ends thereof and axially and angularly slidable on at least one of the end tubes so that the length of the heater can be adjusted. The coil has a pair of end sections of relatively shallow pitch in the end tubes and a center section of relatively steep pitch between the inner ends. Thus with this system the user can alter the length of the sleeve heater.

Abstract: An open coil electric heater comprising a rigid support frame composed of a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced members, with cross members between and secured to the longitudinal members. The cross members carry ceramic insulator members which are detachably connected to the cross members. Each insulator member has an end formed with a slot at an acute angle to the side walls of the insulator member to pass a portion of a convolution of an electrical wire coil. Hook-like projections form a transverse indentation at the base of the slot to detachably hold the portion of the wire om the insulator member. The portion of the wire is secured to the insulator members in an expeditious manner and without the use of tools by twisting the wire portion so that the wire portion is aligned sufficiently with the slot to enable the coil to freely pass into said slot.

Abstract: A multi-apertured ceramic disk heat conductor support for use in a heating element for electrically heating industrial furnace installations. The ceramic disk has a center aperture extending between exterior surfaces on an axis of symmetry for receiving a supporting element. Further apertures extend are provided for receiving heat conductors. The further apertures are equidistantly disposed around at least one circle which is coaxial with the center aperture. The further apertures have a respective axial portion, and a respective widening portion at least at one end thereof which increases in diameter from the axial portion toward a respective exterior surface of the ceramic disk. A rounded transition region between the axial portion and the widening portion is provided and the length of the axial portion is less than one-half the thickness of the ceramic disk.

Abstract: A sheathed heater having a cylindrical metal sheath includes at least two rod shaped insulator core pieces that are separated from each other and inserted into the sheath along an axial direction of each core piece. Two or three lead pins separated from each other are inserted into the core pieces axially, and an internal heater coil segment is wound around each core piece. Adjacent ends of adjacent internal heater coil segments are electrically connected to the same lead pin, and the coil segments are connected across a single-phase or three-phase electric power source through the lead pins. A thermal and electric insulation material can be inserted between adjacent core pieces.

Abstract: A modular type heating unit or assembly having particular utility for use in a high temperature electric furnace, preferably in a group arrangement, comprises an insulating fibrous refractory block, a pair of spaced apart support rods, inner and outer support tubes and a heating element. Both the heating element and the support rods are formed of alloys to enable operation at relatively high temperatures. By utilizing this concept of modular element/insulation units, furnaces can be operated at relatively higher temperatures than is currently possible for exposed electrical element type furnaces.

Abstract: A heating element for an air flow comprises a channel shaped bracket including a base and side walls at right angles thereto within which is mounted a pair of mica sheets arranged parallel to the base and at right angles to the sides and connected to the sides by ribs longitudinally of the sides with transverse slots within which the sheets slide. Each sheet is wrapped with a heating wire formed into helical coils so that each side of the sheet carries a plurality of parallel helical coil portions with connecting portions wrapped over the edges of the sheet. The sheets are symmetrical and one is inverted relative to the other. Each sheet carries at ends thereof a male and a female connector of the blade and receptacle type so that the blade of one sheet engages into the receptacle of the other sheet.

Abstract: A flexible vertebra-like heating element useful in a hot runner housing of an injection molding machine including method of manufacture and method of installation.

Abstract: The temperature control device comprises heat transfer shells, each of which consists of two shell sections, each of which consists of a metal casting, in which a single temperature control element is embedded. The temperature control element has been formed from a tubular blank to comprise at least one loop and is formed with locating surfaces, which are exposed to recesses formed in the inside and outside peripheral surfaces of the shell section. Owing to that design the metal castings may be made by die casting under relatively high injection pressures and with a much smaller wall thickness so that the inside peripheral contacting surfaces of the shell sections can much more snugly contact the plasticizing cylinder or the nozzle and a temperature change can be effected at a higher rate.

Abstract: A Heater-Cooler unit that provides efficient heating and cooling in such a manner that the temperature is easily controlled. The unit's 360 degree exposure enables both fins and barrel surface to be in complete contact with cooling air. The structure of the fins provides contact with the barrel to conduct heat flowing from the heating elements to the barrel surface.

Abstract: A flexible heating assembly includes a plurality of stranded or otherwise combined, insulated electrical conductors including feeder lines and, possibly, additional lines and constituting a subassembly; a heating conductor loops around this subassembly in multiple loops; at least two of the feeder line conductors have spaced apart and staggerdly arranged bare spots of removed insulation exposing the respective electrical conductor and the heating conductor where passing across such a bare area will be an intimate electrical contact making relationship without supplemental fastening; the loop density defined as number of loops per unit length on the subassembly is smaller in between bare spots and higher by at least 20% as to loops contacting conductors in a bare spot.

Abstract: An electric heating element with a resistance element, a metal sheath in heat transfer relation to the resistance element on one side of the sheath and a thin, dry coating of refractory material major proportion by weight of which is boron nitride on another side of the sheath to be placed in heat transfer relation to an object to be heated. A method of enhancing the heat-transfer qualities of a metal sheathed electric heating element includes coating the metal sheath, on a surface to be placed in heat-transfer relation to an object to be heated, with a liquid slurry of refractory material a major proportion of which is boron nitride, drying and outgassing the coating and mounting the sheathed element on an object to be heated with the coating in contact with the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support frame for a resistor element in a heating furnace for glass sheets, said flame providing a substantially continuously extending, elongated rest surface for a resistor element. The support frame elements consist of trough-like castings and are fastened to each other in an articulated manner. The short frame elements are easy to cast and can be assembled into long continuous support frames for resistor elements, the thermal stresses of said frames not passing over the link points. A long continuous support frame structure makes it accordingly possible to employ resistor elements that are long and continuous and thus readily replaceable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resistor element assembly for a glass sheet heating furnace and to a method of replacing a resistor element. A resistor element is built by placing successively in longitudinal direction ceramic elements, with a resistance wire wound therearound. Between the ceramic elements are fitted ceramic spacer blocks whose diameter exceeds that of the resistance wire coils. The resistor element is carried by a support frame upon the spacer blocks. A problem to be resolved is to provide a long resistor element, wherein the major variations in length between the components of various materials caused by major temperature variations do not produce deformations in resistance wires. This problem has been resolved by fitting between one end of the support frame and the corresponding end of the resistor element a tensioned spring which compresses the resistor element at all operating temperatures against a limit stop at the other end of the support frame.

Abstract: Device for holding a helically wound wire resistor of a potentiometer in a helical groove comprising, an outer cylindrical member having an inwardly projecting ridge extending over the length thereof and a projecting claw, and an inner cylindrical member of an elastic nature having an outer surface engagable with the inner surface of the outer member, wherein the inner member has a cut out portion extending over the length thereof to receive the ridge from the outer member, and a recess in the outer surface to receive the claw of the outer member.

Abstract: A resistance heating element of the ribbon type for use in a high temperature electric furnace. The element has the same curved cross-sectional configuration throughout its entire length to give it strength and stiffness and permits the element to be bent into various patterns without any overlapping portions at the bends. The curved cross-section permits the element to be supported at the bends without the element sagging reducing the amount of heat absorption by the supports and allowing greater exposure of the element.

Abstract: A heating coil assembly for use in an air blower device has an annular support element, a first end cap, a core having a heating coil spirally wound thereon, a sleeve surrounding the coil and core, and a second end cap. All components have a centrally disposed non-circular bore therein for receiving a heavy gauge non-circular wire retainer, swaged at one end, which extends through the entire assembly and is retained by a press washer at an opposite end. The interior of the sleeve is spaced from the coil forming an axial channel for air flow over the coil. Axial openings in the end caps form air inlets and outlets for the channel. The coil has several leads, at least one of which extends through an axial opening in one of the end caps. The heating coil assembly has a small number of components, which are easily assembled and simultaneously axially and radially positioned and retained relative to each other by the wire retainer.

Abstract: An electric thermal unit comprises a spiral coil resistance heater incorporated in a ring-like structure formed by mutually fastened ceramic strips. This structure is surrounded by two coaxial interspaces communicating with each other at the upper region of the cylinder mounting the structure itself. In particular, cooling air is admitted into the outer interspace and may be tapped, in a heated condition, off the bottom of the inner interspace for use in subsequent processing operations.

Abstract: A method of repair of an article incorporating the application of considerable thermal energy, e.g. a welding operation, requires heating of the article both in the repair area and surrounds wherein the heating of the repair area and surrounds is carried out by flexible heating mats and wherein fixing means are used to securely fix the heating mats to the article, which fixing means may readily release at least a part of the heating mats whereby that part may be folded back or otherwise removed from the repair area to allow the repair step to be carried out. After repair, that part of the heating mats removed from the repair area may be replaced.

Abstract: An electric thermal unit is disclosed for controllably heating cylinders in plastic material extruders, rubber drawing machines, and the like apparata. The electric thermal unit is designed to provide closed circuit ventilation air circulation such as to enable the heated outlet air to be used for other applications, whether related or not to the proper operation of the cited apparata.

Abstract: An insulated electric heating element particularly suitable for use in a hot plate or electric stove is disclosed. The insulated electric heating element (11) includes a unitary two chamber housing (21). The chambers are located one above the other. A U-shaped upper chamber (22) houses a resistive electric heating element (23). A U-shaped lower chamber (24) houses thermal insulation (30). The thermal insulation reduces the heat radiated downwardly and sidewardly and correspondingly increases the heat radiation upwardly by the electric heating element.

Abstract: A cylindrical core of a ceramic such as alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) has grooves in the form of a double lead thread. A coil of Nichrome V is placed in the grooves, starting in one lead of the thread and returning in the other. A split ring of a ceramic such as beryllia surrounds the core. The heater is enclosed in a housing of a metal such as Inconel 600. The entire cartridge is only one inch long and 3/16 inch diameter. It is used as a catalyst bed heater for a satellite thruster.

Abstract: The assembly comprises coiled resistances passing through one or more holes as transversely formed in ceramics material strips so shaped as to be effective to be coupled to one another in a partial sliding relationship and to provide a structure having void spaces, engageable by the electric resistances and being restrained, on the outside thereof, by a net band wound as a ring and provided with means for removably coupling its end portions.

Abstract: The leads to a heater for an electrothermal hydrazine monopropellant thruster comprise tungsten conductors wrapped with smaller diameter tungsten support wire and insulated with beads of alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3). A transition section connects the leads to regular leads. An attaching support wire is attached to the heater at one end and to the transition section at the other end. The insulated conductors and attaching wire are wrapped together with nickel ribbon to form a sheath.

Abstract: A heater rack assembly, of the type which supports an electric heating coil in a pattern of parallel rows in a plane, utilizes double-ended stand-off insulators which are formed wafer-like in the plane. The insulators have, at each end, pairs of hook portions facing each other to provide a throat, which opens into a wire-accommodating slot behind the hook tips, the slot converging toward the center at an angle of 150.degree. or less. Adjacent turns of the coil are to be accommodated within the slot. Its convergence retains within the slot adjacent coil turns which might otherwise escape, requiring for such escape what is in effect a reverse in-plane twisting displacement.

Abstract: An insulated electric heating element particularly suitable for use in a hot plate or electric stove is disclosed. The insulated electric heating element includes an insulating member comprising a layer of ceramic insulation surrounding the sides and bottom of the housing that encloses the resistive heating element is disclosed. The ceramic insulation is mounted in the bottom and extends up the sides of a cross-sectionally U-shaped channel. The legs of the channel are formed so as to adhere to the sides of the heating element housing. The ceramic insulation reduces the heat radiated downwardly and sidewardly and, correspondingly, increases the heat radiation upwardly by the electric heating element. The upper edge of the channel legs lie below the upper surface of the heating element housing to avoid creating a gap between the bottom of a vessel (e.g., pot) to be heated and the upper surface of the heating element housing.

Abstract: An elongated flexible resistance heating element includes a heat transmitting cover that is generally coextensive with the element. A resilient element is provided adjacent one end of the heating element to accommodate extension of the cover for use of the heater as desired without changing the length of the element or cover. The extensible tape heater of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible resistance wire heating element, a heat transmitting extendable cover arranged coextensive with the heating element, a substantially nonresistive wire connected about one end of the heating element, a spring surrounding the nonresistive wire and abutting the cover at one of its ends, a stop positioned about the non-resistive wire in spaced relation to the end of the cover, and a flexible sleeve extending over the spring.

Abstract: An improved electrical heating element is constructed to increase the amount of electrical wire per unit space available for plug-type convection heating units. The heating element includes a metal frame structure with a plurality of spaced support elements and a plurality of spaced removable cross bars connected thereto. A plurality of ceramic heater support blocks, each of T-shape in plan, with spaced end faces are arranged end to end and have undercut grooves which receive a cross bar and are interposed between the support elements. A continuous electric resistance heating wire has a series of parallel spaced inverted U-shaped wire sections. The wire sections are arranged in groups. Each block has a support boss of reduced width adjacent one end face adapted to extend between the strands of a section of the heating wire. Each block has a pair of spaced bosses adjacent to its other end face which extend laterally outward of the support boss.

Abstract: An insulator for an electrical heating element includes an inner section and an outer section removably disposed thereabout. The electrical heating element is removably and loosely received within at least one of the sections. Several of these insulators can be used to make a new and improved electrical heating element assembly.

Abstract: A heating element comprising a plurality of ceramic components strung together on a heating wire to form a flexible structure, adjacent ceramic components comprising integrally formed mating projections and depressions. The element comprises ceramic components of a type each having a body defining two generally parallel passages therethrough, both passages terminating at one end in a depression, one passage terminating at the other end in a depression and the other passage terminating at the other end in a projection.

Abstract: A heating element comprising a plurality of ceramic components strung together on a heating wire to form a flexible structure, adjacent ceramic components comprising integrally formed mating projections and depressions.

Abstract: A coil assembly is formed by an elastic metal wire helical extension spring coil having convolutions resiliently urged towards each other and held apart by spacers pinched between the convolutions and held there by the spring-back of the convolutions. The spacers can interspace the coil convolutions and be made to extend radially inwardly and outwardly beyond the inside and outside of the coil, so as to radially space the coil from a coil center and the inside of a tubular casing enclosing the coil. In this way a tubular radiant heater can be made by using electric resistance wire to form the coil and making the spacers from refractory insulating material.

Abstract: An electric radial blade type heating element is provided for industrial furnaces or other heated devices in which the electrical conductors are relatively thin flat strips or blades, rectangular in cross section and free floating relative to the insulating support structure of the element. The conductors are arrayed in a radially diverging relationship to maximize the exposure of the radiating surfaces which minimizes the pocketing of released heat and overheating of the elements. Means are provided to pass a fluid over the conductors when the element is mounted within a radiant tube to reduce oxidation of the element and the interior surface of the radiant tube. The heating element support structure is not dependent on the conductors for strength or rigidity, thereby rendering the element equally suitable for vertical as well as horizontal installation. The element may be used to directly heat a furnace, or may be mounted in a radiant tube to heat the radiant tube.

Abstract: An open coil electric heater wherein the resistance conductor is supported on a frame. The resistance conductor in this instance, instead of being in the form of a single coiled wire, is composed of a plurality of strands of wire so as to reduce the cost of the resistance conductor while providing adequate surface area. The strands of fine wire or flat ribbon wire are braided into a rope which is formed into a series of reaches in customary manner. At least one of the strands is of a material which will provide strength to the wires that primarily generate the heat and thereby prevent sagging of such wires between wire supports. In a preferred form, the wires are loosely braided to form wide open spaces and insulated support members are projected through certain of the open spaces to support the strands in predetermined position.

Abstract: An improved electrical heating element for a high-temperature furnace including a support structure and an electrical-heating assembly. The support structure includes a plurality of thin, flat, non-conductive plates each having a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough and a plurality of non-conductive spacers smaller than the plates with one spacer interposed between each pair of adjacent plates. The electrical-heating assembly includes a plurality of elongated electrical conductors, preferably U-shaped, each leg extending through one aperture in each plate radially outwardly of the spacers. The conductors are supported by and extend between the plates and the ends of the conductors are interconnected so that the conductors as interconnected define a single tortuous electrical path radially outwardly of the spacers. The .[.interconnection.]. .Iadd.interconnections .Iaddend.between the conductors maintain the support structure in assembly.

Abstract: A heating coil assembly for use in an air blower device has an annular support element, a first end cap, a core having a heating coil spirally wound thereon, a sleeve surrounding the coil and core, and a second end cap. All components have a centrally disposed non-circular bore therein for receiving a heavy gauge non-circular wire retainer, swaged at one end, which extends through the entire assembly and is retained by a press washer at an opposite end. The interior of the sleeve is spaced from the coil forming an axial channel for air flow over the coil. Axial openings in the end caps form air inlets and outlets for the channel. The coil has several leads, at least one of which extends through an axial opening in one of the end caps. The heating coil assembly has a small number of components, which are easily assembled and simultaneously axially and radially positioned and retained relative to each other by the wire retainer.