Patent ID: 8071921

Claim:
A method of transmitting electric current to a furnace having a wall which is heated by electric current conducted into the furnace wall, said method comprising the steps of: providing a furnace having an electrically conductive furnace wall that is heated electrically; providing a plurality of spaced, electrically conductive current input devices that are in contact with an outer surface of the furnace wall and that have a main body portion; and forming in at least one of the electrically conductive current input devices at a position in close proximity to the outer surface of the furnace wall a region of the at least one current input device that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the main body portion of the at least one electrically conductive current input device, so that current flow toward the furnace wall through said smaller cross-sectional region of the at least one electrically conductive current input device develops a higher temperature than in the main body portion of the at least one electrically conductive current input device, to provide a local increase in heat flow from the at least one electrically conductive current input device to the furnace wall outer surface at the contact position of the at least one electrically conductive current input device with the furnace wall outer surface.