EP1196071A1 - Grill de barbecue a foyer vertical - Google Patents

Grill de barbecue a foyer vertical

Info

Publication number
EP1196071A1
EP1196071A1 EP00939851A EP00939851A EP1196071A1 EP 1196071 A1 EP1196071 A1 EP 1196071A1 EP 00939851 A EP00939851 A EP 00939851A EP 00939851 A EP00939851 A EP 00939851A EP 1196071 A1 EP1196071 A1 EP 1196071A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
firebox
barbecue grill
recited
cooking
base cavity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00939851A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1196071A4 (fr
Inventor
Alphonso G. Andress
Lawrence Harbin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/332,903 external-priority patent/US6182560B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/434,379 external-priority patent/US6158330A/en
Priority claimed from US09/515,035 external-priority patent/US6257227B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/575,241 external-priority patent/US6412480B1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1196071A1 publication Critical patent/EP1196071A1/fr
Publication of EP1196071A4 publication Critical patent/EP1196071A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
    • A47J37/07—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues
    • A47J37/0718—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues with vertical fire box
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
    • A47J37/07—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues
    • A47J37/0731—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues with a fire box movable between different positions, e.g. horizontal, vertical, inclined
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
    • A47J37/07—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues
    • A47J37/0718—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues with vertical fire box
    • A47J37/0727—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues with vertical fire box with gas burners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/06—Roasters; Grills; Sandwich grills
    • A47J37/07—Roasting devices for outdoor use; Barbecues
    • A47J37/0763—Small-size, portable barbecues

Definitions

  • problems confronted and/or addressed by the present invention include but are not limited to achieving simultaneously multi-temperature and multi-mode cooking (direct and indirect heating), simultaneous underside and laterally cooking, thermal insulation from extreme firebox heat, ash containment and removal for easy clean-up, channeling and trapping grease drippings; strength and rigidity of deployed grill assembly, convertibility to an oven, portability and transportability of a collapsed grill, stability of a grill assembly when fully deployed, utilization of waste heat for steam, hot water, or powering grill implements, provide detachable legs which elevate the grill to sufficient height, and/or containment of grill parts for transport and storage.
  • Another object of the invention is to catch grease drippings during barbecuing in order to prevent spoiling of gas burners and/or briquettes, thereby facilitating clean up after barbecuing.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide routing and/or trapping of cooking effluence during barbecuing.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred structure of a collapsible, deployable barbecue grill in deployed mode absent, among other things, a high-temperature firebox and multiple cooking grids.
  • Fig. 2 depicts an exemplary optional hinged cover for converting the vertical hearth barbecue grill to an oven.
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of the barbecue grill of Fig. 2 illustrating yet other features including a grease box or trap, a downwardly sloping main cooking grid, an inclined firebox, an exemplary firebox receptacle or support structure, and an ash reservoir in the firebox.
  • Fig. 4 shows preferred construction details of an exemplary main cooking grid, which includes oppositely facing channels (angles or semi-circular channels), instead of wire rods, that route grease drippings to a trough or grease box located in a frontal portion of the base cavity of the barbecue grill away from burning coals or gas burner flames.
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a main grid and grease tray disposed in operative relation to the base and side panels of the illustrative barbecue grill.
  • Fig. 6 depicts a preferred supporting arrangement for the main and mid-level cooking grids, including support structure provided by the side panels.
  • Fig. 7 depicts an upwardly inclined edge of a cooking grid.
  • Fig. 8 depicts a preferred structure of the top cooking/flame-broiling cooking grid.
  • Fig. 9 is a side view of the barbecue grill illustrating inclination of the firebox and provision of a heat shield to protect the finish of the grill.
  • Figs. 10 A and 10 respectively show an exemplary firebox and a slip cover that slips over the firebox for smothering or extinguishing burning briquettes.
  • Fig. IOC depicts a firebox having a divider, useful for half-loads of briquettes.
  • Fig. 11 depicts a heat exchanger arrangements adapted for the barbecue grill of the present invention.
  • Figs. 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B show alternative arrangements of a heat exchanger and hot water storage tank.
  • Fig. 14A illustrates a side view a basic improvement provided by the present invention, which includes detachable legs attached to respective side panels and to sides of a vertical barbecue grill;
  • Fi,g. 14B depicts a front view of the detachable legs of Fig. 14A.
  • Fig. 14C is an expanded view of an illustrative interlocking structure of Fig. 14A. Description of Illustrative Embodiments
  • Fig. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a barbecue grill 10 constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention, which is trade named "V-Broiler.”
  • the grill includes a housing comprising a lower base cavity 12, a top lid 14, and a pair of opposed sidewalls 16a and 16b, preferably made of sheet metal. Some or all of these components may be sand, shell or die casted of steel, or a high-temperature aluminum or other alloy.
  • Top lid 14 includes a series of stiffening ribs 13b, 13b, 13c, and 13d stamped into the sheet metal to reduce warping tendencies when exposed to extreme heat of a firebox.
  • Base cavity 12 includes a lip 11 that mates with a corresponding lip 15 of top lid 14 in sealed relation when the unit is closed.
  • Lips 11 and 15 of the respective base cavity and top lid may be beveled outwardly towards each other to establish therebetween spring-loaded compression sealing when the grill is closed.
  • a two to three degree bevel angle should suffice.
  • Piano hinge 22 pivotally connects the top lid 14 to the base cavity 12, and also assists in sealing the rear edges the top lid and base cavity when closed.
  • Other sealing arrangements as known in the art may also be employed, either by various hinge designs or construction arrangements of mating lips of top lid 14 and base cavity 12.
  • the base cavity includes brackets (not shown here) attached to the inside thereof for supporting the lower portion of a removable firebox that rests in an inclined position.
  • inclination advantageously provides simultaneous direct and indirect heating of foodstuffs on cooking grids placed in the vicinity thereof. Indirect heat emanates laterally from the vertical hearth of the firebox while direct heating is applied underneath the cooking grid above the heated fuel source.
  • FIG. 2 An optional cover, preferably made of metal, is shown in Fig. 2.
  • the cover When used with the vertical barbecue grill of Fig. 2, it establishes an oven-like enclosure in and about the cooking area of the grids, which helps with smoke-induced flavoring using an amount of wood chips in the firebox.
  • the cover converts the vertical barbecue grill to a portable oven, which is particularly useful for baking or roasting, and comprises a top portion 21 that is preferably hinged to a frontal portion 26 at junction 28.
  • a piano hinge, as well, may be used here.
  • Top portion 21 may be supported by hooks that rests in slots of the hat channels attached to the sidewalls. The top portion of the cover extends backward to but does not extend over the firebox.
  • a damper 25c is provided to control the internal oven temperature by venting air, and a temperature gage 25d is provided for monitoring temperature.
  • Top portion 21 may also serve as a warming/cooking surface.
  • a handle 27 provides convenient opening and closing of the chamber during cooking without substantial loss of trapped heat.
  • a set of front legs 30a and 30b, and rear legs 30c and 30d elevates the barbecue grill to a convenient cooking height, typically thirty to thirty-four inches.
  • the leg pairs swing outwardly front to back, rather than from side to side, in order to improve stability.
  • a tabletop model need not include legs at all but may instead have insulating spacers.
  • a low- profile unit may have shorter legs, e.g., four to ten inches.
  • a non-portable backyard version of barbecue grill 10 need not have folding legs. Fixed legs, instead, may be provided. Further, the legs may be constructed from a variety of materials including tubular steel, aluminum, wood, etc.
  • Front leg pair 30a and 30b includes extension members 36a and 36b, if necessary, to obtain sufficient height.
  • the leg extensions may be extendable and retractable within the leg housings and held in place at discretely extended or retracted points using conventional clamps, leg-locks, spring-loaded button-hole mechanisms, or the like.
  • a cross member 31a preferably comprising a flat metal slat, interconnects leg pair 30a and 30b to provide stability. Although illustrated on the inward side of the legs, slat 31a preferably attaches to the outward side of leg pair 31a and 31b so as to provide unobstructed folding over a retracted rear leg pair 30c and 30d.
  • Rear leg pair 30c and 30d also includes extension members 36c and 36d as well as a cross member support 31b.
  • slat 31b preferably attaches to the outward side of leg pair 30c and 30d.
  • One set of legs (either the front or the rear pair but preferably the rear) has a greater distance between them to permit retraction of both sets to the same plane whereby the cross member slats lie outwardly of the unit when the legs are folded to a retracted position.
  • This arrangement provides a clearance underneath the slats for storing side shelves and/or an oven cover (Fig. 2).
  • a hinge cup 32 and axial pin 34, shown with respect to leg 30b, provide a pivot point and stop for the leg during extension and retraction.
  • rear leg pair 30c and 30d extend outside the rear plane of the base cavity. Instability or backward tipping tendencies may result from a rearward displacement of the barbecue grill's center of gravity upon loading the firebox.
  • the leg pairs are folding and extendable, as shown.
  • the height of the front and rear leg pairs may differ in length (or height) to provide a forward incline of the base cavity in order to channel grease drippings towards the front of the unit. Inclination channels potentially flammable grease drippings away from the region of the firebox, thus reducing the chance of grease fires.
  • Grease channeling may also be provided by forward inclination established by support members for a main cooking grid, subsequently described, which channels grease drippings to a grease box or grease trough preferably located in the inside front the base cavity 12.
  • a non-portable model need not have folding legs but may include a base cavity construction that provides the same functionality.
  • Sidewall 16a pivotally connects to top lid 14 via hinges 20a and 20b, but may as well, be constructed so that it pivots from upper edges of the base cavity 12. Pivoting the sidewall from the top lid, though, advantageously permits a single locking clamp to rigidly fasten the sidewall to the base cavity when deployed and to fasten the top lid to the base cavity when collapsed, as subsequently shown and described. Similar hinging is provided for sidewalls 16b.
  • Each sidewall includes cutouts 17a and 17b, shown in sidewall 16b, for providing air intake for a burning fuel of a firebox insertable in the barbecue grill housing 10. Further, the sidewalls include hat channels 19a and 19b (not shown) spot welded to the inside thereof.
  • the hat channels 19 provide an internal air spacing that provide thermal insulation between the fuel chamber of the firebox and the exterior area of the barbecue grill 10.
  • the hat channel includes a series of flanges 18a, 18b, and 18c for slideably supporting multiple cooking grids at various heights (and also at various temperatures) across the frontal face of the firebox when inserted into the barbecue grill housing. This arrangement is useful for interchangeably providing a method of subjecting foodstuffs to direct and indirect heating during cooking.
  • Flange 18a also provides support for and engages a cover, which encloses the area between to sidewalls to create an oven.
  • the basic structure of the barbecue grill including the sidewalls, base cavity and top lid provides a cooking area generally defined about the base cavity upwardly between the sidewalls.
  • multilevel cooking grids positioned at levels defined by flanges 18a, 18b and 18c provide a variety of different cooking temperatures for various types of foods.
  • Fig. 3 is a side view showing further details of the preferred structure of Fig. 1.
  • top lid 14 includes an inner shelf 49 that is spot-welded internally thereof and which provides a flange 49 for supporting the upper portion of the firebox 50 via lip 56 located on the firebox housing.
  • a flange or bracket 57 supports the firebox at a lower ended thereof.
  • inclination of the firebox may be provided by a variety of structures, including support by other structures in the base cavity 12, or alternatively, by a supporting structure of the sidewalls.
  • a cradle or receptacle that mates or interlocks with the firebox may be provided to support the firebox in an inclined position to achieve the advantages of simultaneously direct and indirect heating.
  • Firebox 50 preferably comprises a sheet metal housing which includes an ash reservoir or chamber 52 at the bottom thereof.
  • This reservoir advantageously catches ashes in briquette-burning vertical grills, or provides a burner chamber for a gas-fired version (natural gas or propane). Since few, if any, ashes falls into the base cavity, the unit may be conveniently cleaned simply by removing, extinguishing burning charcoal, and/or dumping the ashes from the firebox.
  • a firebox cover designed to close off air supply to burning charcoal may slideably attach (or attach by mating edges) to the firebox housing to extinguish oxidation.
  • clean-up requirements have been a major obstacle to acceptance by many of charcoal-burning grills.
  • expended ashes that fall into the reservoir also assist in augmenting thermal insulation between oxidizing briquettes and the firebox housing.
  • Chamber 52 may extend throughout a spacing 53 provided at the rear of the firebox housing.
  • the firebox comprises a wire mesh basket 70 for retaining charcoal briquettes, wood chips (for smoked flavor), or other fuel.
  • the chamber 52 may house a gas burner for heating stones, rocks or heat retaining briquettes.
  • the burner need not be inside the firebox but may instead be located externally of the firebox.
  • multiple propane or natural gas burners may be incorporated internally or externally of the firebox.
  • burners may be staggered at multiple levels about heat retention briquettes (not shown) either inside (i.e., embedded burners) or outside of the inclined firebox.
  • basket 70 extends further downwardly into the chamber 52 as shown at 73, and a facing portion 51 of the firebox is reduced in height to provide a greater area of direct exposure of coal grate 70 underneath the main cooking grid 46 so that direct heat may convect and radiate underneath main cooking grid 46.
  • the firebox bottom may be constructed to lie parallel with the bottom of the base cavity, e.g., having a cross-sectional shape similar to the top portion of the firebox.
  • Top grid 42 is preferably supported by flange 18a, or alternatively, may be pivotally supported by the top lid of the firebox or other structure of the barbecue grill 10.
  • Flanges 18 are punched out of the sheet metal of hat channels 19.
  • Flanges 18b and 18c of hat channel 19a are also sheet metal punchouts and horizontally support a mid-level grill 44 at respective vertical levels.
  • Base cavity 12 includes a flange 61 spot welded to each side thereof for supporting the main cooking grid 46 to provide approximately three degrees (more or less) of forward incline from the rear to the front of the base cavity.
  • the range of inclination of the main cooking grid, i.e. support flange 61 may range between approximately one or two degrees to perhaps as much as five to ten degrees. Higher or lower ranges may be used so as to channel grease dripping away from the firebox and/or towards a grease trap.
  • cam lock 64 is shown to rigidly fastened sidewalls 16b to the top edge of the base cavity 12.
  • Cam lock 64 also fastens the top lid 14 to the base cavity 12 in tight, rigid mating relation when the barbecue grill is folded down and collapsed.
  • a lock engaging member in the top lid 14 is positioned to engage cam lock 64 when the unit is folded down.
  • a similar locking mechanism for the other side of lid 14 is provided for the opposed sidewall.
  • a rigid structure is provided which eliminates "flapping" members when the deployed unit is lifted, moved, or shaken. In essence the cam locks help establish a unitary rigid structure after deployment of the barbecue grill for convenient handling.
  • Cam lock 65 engages a member 65' (Fig. 18) in order to help tighten the seal of top lid 14 against the base cavity 12.
  • top lid 14 Because the top lid 14 is exposed to extreme heat of the firebox, there is a tendency towards warping of portions of the metal as it expands unevenly. To resist warping, stiffening ribs are stamped into the sheet metal surface thereof. Further, insulating features of the firebox reduce heat exposure to the top lid, which further helps to minimize warping tendencies.
  • the top lid may also include air passages, but preferably, such passages are provided in the sidewalls to avoid any openings in the barbecue grill housing when stowed and/or transported. Rigid fastening of the sidewalls to the base cavity further reduces warping tendencies.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a main cooking grid, which comprises a series of small oppositely facing, linearly overlapping metal channels 46a, 46b, etc. interconnected, e.g., by welding, by a series of rods 47a, 47b (two shown here).
  • Steel or stainless steel channels are preferred since their heat conduction and retention properties assist in cooking.
  • One-half inch channels having a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch may be utilized.
  • Opposing channels overlap in the elongated direction.
  • the main cooking grid is inclined downwardly to direct grease runoffs of foodstuffs to a grease catching box or trough which, in turn, route the grease to a box.
  • Inclination may be provided by support guides, or alternatively, by offsets in leg length between the front and rear leg pairs.
  • close spacing of channels helps to reduce any grease fire that may start from grease entering the base cavity.
  • the main grid assembly comprises a top portion 112 and a bottom portion 114, which are joined together by stiffening rods (Fig. 4) between portions 112 and 114 and extending laterally for side to side.
  • Top layer of sheet metal includes a series of slots or cutouts 16 through which grease drippings fall to the lower layer 114.
  • Mounds 117 are disposed between the slots, which may also lie in troughs.
  • Troughs 113 (Fig. 3A) in the lower layer 114 are laterally offset from mounds 117 in the upper layer, which enables reversibility of the cooking grid so that it may be used on either side.
  • the top layer 112 includes a folded over lip in the front thereof, but this may be removed so that the top and bottom layers are substantially the same.
  • Lower layer 114 includes a series of longitudinally extending troughs 113 disposed beneath the slots 116 of the upper layer.
  • the troughs 113 catch drippings and route them to a grease box 120 disposed along the front edge of the grid assembly due to being supported in an inclined position in a barbecue grill.
  • Grease box 120 may include a number of baffles or upward protrusions (not shown) in the bottom surface to break the flow of grease to reduce the chance of spillage when carrying the grease box for dumping.
  • Sheet metal stampings 112 and 114 may be porcelain dipped to form a non-stick surface in order to facilitate cleaning.
  • the upper and lower portions 112 and 114 may comprise oppositely facing and laterally offsetting troughs, e.g., a number of parallel small channels or angles, as shown in the related incorporated patent application mentioned above.
  • the upper and lower portions are disposed relative to each other so that troughs in the lower portion or layer catch vertically falling grease drippings while intervening spaces, perforations, cutouts or slots in the upper and lower portion permit convection of heated air from beneath the cooking grid assembly.
  • the preferred assembly uses thin sheet metal, e.g., eighteen to twenty gage sheet metal, and a number stiffening rods, e.g., 3/16" diameter, inserted between and traversing the upper and lower layers.
  • Fig. 6 shows a side panel 16 having an inner wall or hat channel 19a spot-welded or riveted thereto.
  • Inner wall 19a includes slots 19c, 19d that receive rod extension members 42c, 42d of a cooking grid 42, which extends between the side panels laterally across the cooking area.
  • Extension members 42c, 42d protrude into slots 19c, 19d of respective inner walls of the side panels thereby to support the cooking grid in a fixed position in the cooking area across the face of the firebox.
  • extension members 42c, 42d extend in a horizontal plane of the cooking grid 42 so as to attain minimal volume for storing the cooking grid inside the grill when collapsed or folded up.
  • slots 19c, 19d comprise a horizontal segment that receives the rod extension members and a vertical segment to permit the grid to drop down and lock in position.
  • slots 19c, 19d may comprise an elongated vertical segment only so that rod extensions of grid 42 may extend downwardly, perpendicular to the plane of the grid, to lock when pushed downwardly. This arrangement, however, would necessitate additional storage volume for the grid.
  • Inner wall 19a of side panel 19 also includes flex tabs 19e, 19f that support by friction grasping a main cooking grid (not shown) across a lower portion of the firebox.
  • flexing is achieved by providing vertical cuts in inner wall 19a at opposites sides of each of tabs 19e and 19f, as shown.
  • rear tab 19f is elevated slightly higher than front tab 19e so as to support the main cooking grid at an inclined position, e.g., about 2» , to help channel grease to a grease tray (not shown) in the front of the grill beneath the main cooking grid.
  • Fig. 7 depicts a segment of cooking grid 42 having frontal portion 42' inclined upwardly about 5°. This helps to prevent foodstuff from rolling off grid 42 during use. Ideally, the frontal portion 42' has an inclination between five and fifteen degrees. The rear portion of grid 42 may also be bent upwardly, if desired.
  • the vertical hearth barbecue grill preferably includes multiple cooking grids, including a top grid 43 shown in Fig. 8.
  • Top grid 43 includes a flip-over extension segment 43' adapted to rotate directly over the top of the firebox. When moved to a position over the firebox, this provide a "direct heat" cooking surface useful for searing or simply to provide a direct heating surface for a pot, pan, skillet, etc. When moved away from covering the firebox, briquettes may be added to the firebox. This arrangement advantageously enables refilling the firebox without removing foodstuff from the grid 43. Instead of rotating, the extension segment may be slideably mounted with grid 43 so as so slide between retracted and extend positions.
  • Fig. 9 depicts a heat shield 60 located inside the dome of lid 14 above firebox 50.
  • Shield 60 preferably comprising stainless steel or porcelain dipped steel, helps protect the finish of dome 14 and also helps to reduce the heat exposure to the portion of the dome 14 directly above the top of the firebox 50.
  • heat shield 60 enables a powder coat finish on the dome 14. Otherwise, it must be porcelain-dipped, which adds to the overall weight to the portable grill. Flexing of shield 60 may be attained by the shield material itself, or by hinging the shield to the dome (not shown).
  • base 14a of shield 60 is fastened to a shelf 13 spanning inside dome 14 so that, when the dome is opened, shield 60 flexes outwardly to extend over the top of firebox 50 and, when the dome is closed against base 12, shield 60 is pushed inwardly.
  • Shield 60 may also be held in place over the firebox by simple fastening means known in the art.
  • Extended protection may also be provided by a liner or shield 61 (shown in phantom) inside dome 14 in order to protect or shield the entire surface of the dome.
  • Shields 60 and 61 may be formed in a single integrated piece.
  • Fig. 10A shows a vertical firebox 50 that holds briquettes
  • Fig. 10B shows an upside down slip cover 51 that slips over the firebox 50 to form substantially an air tight seal that helps extinguish burning coals in firebox 50.
  • the seal is at least sufficient to extinguish coals by minimizing air flow to burning fuel in the firebox. This way, when cleaning up after barbecuing, the covered firebox with coals inside may be placed back into the base cavity 12 and carried away with the user, instead of dumping hot coal into the environment. After the coals are extinguished, they may then be properly trashed or disposed of.
  • firebox 50 includes an inside divider (Fig. IOC) that divides the internal chamber thereof into two compartments, as evident by open windows 52, 53.
  • Windows 52, 53 include expanded metal, wire mesh, grates, or the like for retaining briquettes or other fuel while allowing radiant heat and convection to enter the cooking area.
  • the divider is useful for grilling smaller amounts of foods using a one-half load of briquettes.
  • Firebox 50 measures 14.5" in height by 20" in width by 2.75" in depth, and preferably comprises stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.8 to 1.0 mm, and slip cover 51 has similar dimensions and also preferably comprises stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.4 to 0.6 mm.
  • open end 55 of slip cover 51 is beveled outwardly at 56 to facilitate slipping the cover over a slightly smaller open end 54 of firebox 50.
  • a further improvement is particularly useful with a barbecue grill having a vertical firebox where a laterally positioned heat exchanger and/or power unit is not subjected to grease drippings, food or fuel debris, exhaust or ashes.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates a portable, vertical hearth barbecue grill including an improvement of the present the invention, it be understood that grills having conventional horizontal-type briquette or propane heating may also incorporate the improvement hereof.
  • Barbecue grill 10 of Fig. 1 includes a base housing 12, a pivotally attached upper housing in the form of a dome or lid 14, and a pair of side panels 16 and 18 that are pivotally attached to the side panels. Grill 10 may also include legs (not shown).
  • a vertical firebox which provides a source of heat from burning charcoal or propane fired briquettes, is not shown here for the sake of convenient illustration.
  • An inventive improvement includes a heat exchanger shown in the form of a coil or tube 320 attached to panel metallic 321 located in a position behind the firebox and inside the dome 14.
  • the coil 320 is comprised metal tubing having a relatively high heat transfer coefficient and heat absorption characteristics, such as copper, anodized aluminum, or other metals.
  • Coil 320 may also include conventional fins (not shown), baffles (not shown), or cross member bars (not shown) that assist in heat exchanging.
  • the heat exchanger may also simply comprise a metal plate or other metallic structure having water channels, water passages, or other structure that permits transfer of heat to the water.
  • An funneling device such as a cup connects to an input of coil 320. This helps channel fresh water to fill the coil.
  • An discharge end 324 of tube 320 provides heated water discharged from the coil 320 after it passes in heat transfer proximity of a heated firebox.
  • the firebox is fully fired, e.g., about eight pounds of charcoal fully burning, twenty feet of copper tubing 3/16"" inside diameter coil spaced about two inches from the rear of the firebox heats 60° F supply water to about 120° F at a flow rate of about ten ounces per minute.
  • Heating can be improved by positioning the coil closer to the fire box, decreasing the flow rate, providing additional coil length, improving the heat absorption or transfer efficiency of the coil (e.g., adding fins, baffles, cross member rods, etc.), or a combination of these.
  • grill 10 may include a holding tank positioned in heat transfer proximity of the firebox in order to heat a reservoir of water for subsequent consumption, rather than heating during flow through a heat exchanger.
  • the surface of tube 320 may be cut open at various locations to vent pressurized steam with initial contact with water.
  • Figs. 12A and 12B show side and front views of a portable, vertical hearth barbecue grill having a vertical firebox that heats water both in a tank 328 and as water flows through coil 320.
  • gas-fired briquettes in firebox 50 are heated by a gas source 332, e.g., propane or natural gas, and gas burner 334 located at a lower portion of firebox 50.
  • Water tank 328 located near an upper portion of firebox 50 is filled with supply water via funnel device 322 and, during firing of the briquettes, becomes heater by radiant and convection heat from firebox 50.
  • a heat exchanger coil 320 although not necessary, communicates with tank 328 to further heat gravity-fed supply water flowing through coil 320 downwardly in lateral proximity of firebox 50 to a discharge port 324.
  • a manually operated check valve or tap 326 controls the flow a water.
  • Figs. 13A and 13B show side and front views of a charcoal-burning, vertical hearth barbecue grill having an inclined firebox 50 filled with briquettes.
  • firebox 30 has a charcoal capacity of about six to eight pounds. Inclination reduces the likelihood of ashes falling onto food cooking grids or surfaces (not shown).
  • a shelf 13 inside dome 14, among other things, helps provide a heated compartment or chamber behind the heated firebox 50 where heat exchanger coil 320 is located. The heated chamber further confines heat energy in and about the heating coil 320, which may additionally include fins or absorption rods to improve heat absorption and transfer capacity.
  • a funneling device or cup 322 assists in filling coil 320 with water, which becomes heated as it is gravity fed to tank 328.
  • Tank 328 is laterally disposed near a lower portion of firebox 50 and hold a heated supply of water until discharged through discharge tube 324 by manually operated check valve 326.
  • the tank in Figs. 13A and 13B may be located at any position in or out of heat transfer proximity of the firebox.
  • water may be heated using the tank 328 without the heat exchanger coil 320 or by the heat exchanger coil without the tank 328.
  • the coil and the tank my be used in combination to heat water and/or store hot water once heater.
  • the invention also provides a method of producing hot water from a barbecue grill including providing a source of heat in the barbecue grill, providing a heat exchanger (with or without fins or heat absorption elements) in proximity to the source of heat, passing water through or about a heat exchanger, and discharging heated water from the heat exchanger.
  • Another embodiment of the method includes providing a tank or reservoir in a barbecue grill, filling the tank with water, subjecting the tank to a source of heat, and extracting hot water from the tank with or without a check valve.
  • the improvement further includes producing steam for cooking foods in a barbecue grill, comprising the steps of providing a water tank in a barbecue grill (vertical or horizontal), filling the tank with water, subjecting the tank to a source of heat, and directing steam generated by said tank upon a food cooking region of the barbecue grill.
  • the improvement includes a method of producing power comprising providing a source of heat in said barbecue grill, providing a pressure tank in said barbecue grill, filling said tank with water or other fluid, pressurizing said tank by subjecting said tank to said source of heat, and converting steam or gas vapor produced by said tank to mechanical or electrical power.
  • leg members that fit inside a relatively small housing of the grill or shipping container, that quickly and firmly attaches to the grill housing, that provide stability on non-planar surfaces, that provide a handle straddling the grill's front-to- back center of gravity, and that provides stability against backward tipping when the grill's load is shifted.
  • detachable leg member on each side of the grill housing in the form of a tubular frame where a top portion of the leg member interlocks with the sides the grill, e.g., an elongated flange or slot opening on each side of the grill housing and a fastener, e.g., a screw bolt, clamp, cam lock, etc., that fastens the detachable leg member to the grill housing such that the appending ends of the legs extend rearward of the range of the grill's front-to-rear center of gravity.
  • a fastener e.g., a screw bolt, clamp, cam lock, etc.
  • the grill housing comprises sheet metal possessing a minimum degree of torsional flexibility about an axis that extends from side-to-side so as to permit self-leveling of four legs.
  • each leg may be segmented and/or hinged so that portions thereof fit inside the grill housing.
  • Other implements such as a protruding handle or a side shelf, may be held in place by friction clamping or interlocking with the leg members.
  • the legs may take on a variety of other shapes, including an A-frame, a U-shape, a partial parallelogram, or a combination thereof. Figs.
  • 14A, 14B, and 14C show an improvement of the invention which includes an upper segment or side bar 11 along with detachable legs 412 and 413 for each side of the barbecue grill.
  • the grill including a housing 12, a lid or dome 16, and a pair of side panels
  • a side bar 411 attaches to respective sides of a barbecue grill housing 10 and extends upwardly to secure side panel 17.
  • Side bar 411 is shown separated from legs 412 and 413 in order to more easily fit inside the grill 10, but desired, their structure may be integrated in a single piece comprising elements 411, 412 and 413.
  • the legs comprise, preferably, tubular metal such as steel, aluminum, or other metal.
  • the cross-sectional shape preferably is circular, square, or rectangular.
  • a "vacuum cleaner" like hose attachment may be provided to interconnect the legs to side bar 411 where the diameter of the tubular end of legs 412 and 413 is reduced.
  • Attachment of side bar 411 to the side of base housing 18 may be made by many means known in the art, but for portable models of grill 10 where the legs fit inside base 18, clamping, bolting, or latching is preferred for quick attachment.
  • Fig. 14B shows a knurled head screw 422 and hook pin 426 protruding through side bar 411 and fastening respectively to a nut 423 welded inside the base housing 18 and to a hole in lip 419 on the top edge of base housing 18.
  • the head of knurled head preferably has a diameter of one-and-a-half inches to enable sufficient hand-torque to fasten side bar 411 to base housing 18.
  • a knob, spring-loaded clamp, or other clamping mechanism instead, may also be employed.
  • the side bar 411 is beveled outwardly at an angle alpha of about five degrees, more or less, so that legs 412 and 13 when deployed, are angled outwardly from respective sides of the grill 10.
  • An end 427 of pin 426 is bent downward to protrude through a slot of lip 419 of base housing
  • base 18 when fastened thereto. Since base 18 preferably comprises cold drawn steel, nut 423 and screw 422 protrude through base 18 near its bottom where the metal is more rigid. A distance of at least two to three inches is provided between the top edge 421 (e.g., lip 419) and the axial position of screw-nut assembly 422, 423. Side base 411 is thus securely and removably fastened to the side of base 18 via knurled head screws 422 and 424, as well as hook pins 426 and 428.
  • base 18 preferably comprises cold drawn steel, nut 423 and screw 422 protrude through base 18 near its bottom where the metal is more rigid. A distance of at least two to three inches is provided between the top edge 421 (e.g., lip 419) and the axial position of screw-nut assembly 422, 423.
  • Side base 411 is thus securely and removably fastened to the side of base 18 via knurled head screws 422 and 424, as well as hook pins 426 and 428.
  • the barbecue grill generally has a varying front-to-rear center of gravity during various load conditions, e.g., when adding briquettes, when briquettes burn off, or when adding or shifting meats.
  • the depending end of rear leg 413 is offset reward of the grill's center of gravity so as to reduce the likelihood of backward tipping upon opening lid 16 or loading foodstuff on various grids of the grill 10.
  • the depending end of leg 413 extends beyond the edge 419 of base cavity 18.
  • the present invention advantageously overcomes this problem by providing front and rear appendages of detachable legs that straddle the front-to-rear center of gravity of the grill.
  • side bar 411 extends upwardly above of the top edge 421 of base 18 to provide a stop to restrict opening of side panel 17 that is hinged (not shown) to dome or lid 16.
  • Side bar 411 also includes a third knurled head screw 426 (or other type of fastener) to secure side panel 17 in an open position and to prevent rotation of dome 16, which is pivotally connected to base 18.
  • a further advantage provided by the detachable leg member includes the top portion of side bar 411 being elongated from front to rear to span the approximate center-of-gravity range of grill 10 during its normal loading so that a user may grab and lift the grill about its center of gravity and move the unit in an about its area of use.
  • the top portion of side bar 11 extends about seven to eight inches.
  • tubular metal of about 3/4 to 1.0 inches in diameter was used for the side bar and leg members in one embodiment of the invention.
  • the rectangular base 18 is rectangular (as illustrated in Fig. 14D) and measures twenty-two by sixteen inches in its current design.
  • base 18 comprises cold drawn sheet metal of mild steel of about one millimeter thickness which is drawn to a depth of about three and three-quarter inches.
  • the resulting structure has torsional flexibility about an axis 415 (Fig. 14D) extending from side 18c to side 18d of the base thereby to provide self-leveling of each leg pair, i.e., four legs, under its own weight (about twenty to thirty pounds) when placed on a non-planar surface.
  • Fig. 14D symbolically illustrates base 18 having front 18a, rear 18b, and respective left and right sides 18c and 18d. Leg members are attached to sides 18c and 18d.
  • the present invention provides a self-leveling grill having four legs.
  • the present invention also provides a leg assembly that is detachable, that is stable against rearward tipping, that provides both a stop to restrict opening of the grill's side panels and rotation of the grill lid or dome, and that provides an elongated handle spanning the approximate range of the gill's center of gravity.
  • the shape of the leg man be tubular and/or that of an A-frame, a U-shape (inverted), V-shape (inverted) or parallelogram.
  • a symmetrical shape facilitates manufacturing since both sides have the same leg.
  • such legs may or may not include a cross-member brace, for example.
  • the legs may be dimensioned to fit inside the base 18 of grill 10, or larger to provide more flexible use and operation of the grill.
  • the principal advantage provided by these various shapes includes providing a rear appendage that extends reward of the grill to improve stability against backward tipping, a relatively thin structure having a small volume and that fit inside the base of the grill if desired, and quick and convenient attachment and detachment to the grill.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un grill de barbecue à gaz ou à briquettes (10), qui produit des quantités de chaleur BTU élevées à partir d'un foyer vertical amovible (50) pouvant être incliné vers l'arrière pour assurer une combinaison de chauffage direct et de chauffage indirect. Plusieurs grilles de cuisson (42, 44) placées à diverses hauteurs forment une grande surface de cuisson pour la cuisson à la flamme, la grillade et le rôtissage. L'inclinaison réduit au minimum la chute de cendres pendant la combustion des briquettes et accroît également la zone de chauffage effective s'appliquant aux multiples grilles de cuisson (42, 44). Une grille supérieure (42) située directement sur le foyer assure une cuisson de surface haute température (chauffage direct). Une paire de parois latérales isolées opposées (17) de chaque côté d'une zone de chauffage central contribue à confiner la chaleur dans et autour des grilles de cuisson et peut également servir de support à une grille de cuisson principale amovible (46).
EP00939851A 1999-06-15 2000-06-14 Grill de barbecue a foyer vertical Withdrawn EP1196071A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/332,903 US6182560B1 (en) 1999-06-15 1999-06-15 Vertical hearth barbecue grill
US322903 1999-06-15
US09/434,379 US6158330A (en) 1999-11-05 1999-11-05 Broiler pan cooking grid
US434379 1999-11-05
US515035 2000-03-06
US09/515,035 US6257227B1 (en) 2000-03-06 2000-03-06 Barbecue grill providing hot water heating, steam and/or power
US54433600A 2000-04-06 2000-04-06
US544336 2000-04-06
US09/575,241 US6412480B1 (en) 2000-05-22 2000-05-22 Detachable legs for vertical hearth barbecue grill
US575241 2000-05-22
PCT/US2000/016256 WO2000076381A1 (fr) 1999-06-15 2000-06-14 Grill de barbecue a foyer vertical

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1196071A1 true EP1196071A1 (fr) 2002-04-17
EP1196071A4 EP1196071A4 (fr) 2004-11-24

Family

ID=29255681

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00939851A Withdrawn EP1196071A4 (fr) 1999-06-15 2000-06-14 Grill de barbecue a foyer vertical

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1196071A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU5487000A (fr)
CA (1) CA2376855A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000076381A1 (fr)

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USD813589S1 (en) 2016-07-05 2018-03-27 Barrel House Cooker, LLC Barrel cooker
USD854870S1 (en) 2017-05-08 2019-07-30 Barrel House Cooker, LLC Barrel cooker

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Title
No further relevant documents disclosed *
See also references of WO0076381A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5487000A (en) 2001-01-02
EP1196071A4 (fr) 2004-11-24
WO2000076381A1 (fr) 2000-12-21
CA2376855A1 (fr) 2000-12-21

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