Patent 6982400 was granted and assigned to Texas Instruments on January, 2006 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A self retaining crankcase heater (10) has a tubular casing (12) of relatively flexible, thermally conductive material in which is received a PTC element (16), sandwiched by semi-cylindrical terminal blocks (14). Spring contacts (18a) are received in grooves (14c) of the terminal blocks and the assembly is potted with heat conductive material (20) and sealed with sealant (22). Locking projections (12d) are formed at open end (12c) of the casing which are lockingly received in an annular recess (24a; 26d) of a well (24; 26) in a compressor housing wall.