Furnace channel heating method and apparatus

A burner for heating the channel of a channel type furnace comprising:

• an elongated burner tube;
• said tube having an open end and retention means whereby said tube is adapted to be positioned within such a furnace with said open end located adjacent an opening to a furnace channel and with the opposite end thereof extending externally of such furnace;
• a fuel supply conduit extending within said tube from said opposite end toward said open end to define therein a fuel flow path and to define an air flow path radially intermediate said conduit and the interior walls of said tube;
• means adjacent said opposite end for supplying fuel to said conduit from a source of fuel and for supplying combustion air to said air flow path;
• a burner assembly retained within said tube adjacent said open end;
• said burner assembly including a burner plate portion oriented transversely of the axis of said tube and a depending skirt extending from said plate toward said open end and disposed in radially spaced relationship with respect to the interior walls of said tube to define the confines of said skirt a combustion space which is open to said open end and to define radially intermediate said tube and said skirt an air flow space which is maintained in open communication with said air flow path and said open end;
• air tube means penetrating said burner plate portion and communicating with said air flow path for delivery of combustion air therefrom into said combustion space;
• a fuel supply means penetrating said plate and communicating with said conduit for delivery of fuel into said combustion space;
• and
• said air flow space being maintained in open communication with said open end of said tube whereby air flows within said air flow path and said air flow space to said open end during burner operation to cool said tube.