Dryer having improved heating system

A gas clothes dryer comprising a cabinet having a rotatable cylinder therein for receiving the clothes to be dried. A gas burner head produces hot air which is conducted, through an appropriate duct, to the rear of the cylinder. An exhaust fan exhausts the air in the cylinder through the front of the cylinder thereby causing the hot air to flow from the rear to the front of the cylinder across the clothes to be dried. The duct comprises a wall in facing relationship to the rear of the cylinder and having openings therein through which the hot air passes to enter the cylinder. A portion of the duct extends forward and surrounds a portion of the cylinder and is spaced therefrom to define an air passage therebetween. Accordingly, the exhaust fan also causes ambient air to be drawn through the air passage and into the cylinder thereby to decrease air flow about the burner head. As a result, pilot light outage is minimized and, since the burner head operates at decreased air flow, flame burn-out is eliminated.