Camera insertion into a furnace

A monitoring system for a furnace, comprising:

• a fluid cooled lance having a first end adapted to be held by an operator, and a second end adapted to be inserted into the furnace;
• a camera mounted in said lance adjacent said second end thereof, and cooled along with said lance, and including a camera lens;
• an electrical connection to said camera mounted within said lance, and extending exteriorly of the furnace;
• a control unit mounted exteriorly of the furnace, and connected to said electrical connection;
• headgear for the operator of said lance;
• and
• a portable real time video monitor mechanically mounted on said headgear so that it may be seen by the operator, and operatively connected to said camera through said control unit.

A method of inspecting a furnace while at a temperature of over 400° F. using a camera mounted in a free end of a lance, comprising:

• [a] inserting the lance free end into the furnace while at a temperature of over 400 degrees F., and moving the lance free end around within the furnace;
• [b] cooling the camera by circulating cooling fluid in a cooling fluid jacket around the camera;
• and
• [c] outside of the furnace, viewing an area of the furnace in the field of view of the camera in a substantially undistorted manner on a substantially real time basis.