Startup burner assembly for snow melting apparatus and method of snow melting

Abstract

A startup burner assembly for use in snow melting applications, and which permits initiation of snow melting without first supplying water as a coolant. The startup burner assembly comprises a fuel burner having adjustable combustion output and a nozzle to facilitate the emergence of products of combustion, and a combustion chamber having a first portion in substantially air-tight communication with the fuel burner and enclosing the nozzle and a second portion shaped and dimensioned for disposition into a snow melting receptacle or pit. The combustion chamber has a plurality of discharge holes formed at least on the second portion thereof to permit the egress of products of combustion from the fuel burner into the tank or pit, and thereby permit agitation and melting of snow loaded therein, The startup burner assembly also includes an air cooling assembly for supplying air to cool at least the first portion of the combustion chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.