GB2040439A - Portable Stoves - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to apparatus for cooking food and is suitable for use in areas of the world where common energy sources, such as electricity, gas, coal or wood are difficult to obtain. According to the invention there is provided a combustion chamber (10) for burning therein a combustible substance so that food mounted on a grille (32, Fig. 5) above the chamber is cooked by heat given off from combustion of the substance. Any convenient combustible substance may be burnt in the chamber. The chamber comprises a plurality of stackable cylindrical components (11, 12, 13) adapted to be received one within another in a stored position (Fig. 2) and stacked one on top of another in an operating position (Fig. 1) thereby to comprise the chamber. The principal use of the invention is the provision of apparatus which requires inexpensive sources of energy for cooking food. However, the apparatus also is suitable for picnics because it is easily transportable and could use local material as an energy source. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Cooking Food This invention relates to apparatus for cooking food.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for cooking food comprising a combustion chamber for burning therein a combustible substance and having a plurality of stackable cylindrical components adapted to be received one within another in a stored position so that the components in the stored position have a smaller combined ial dimension than when stacked. s At least one of the components may be provided with a plurality of apertures for the passage of air therethrough.

The apertures may be provided in a base of one of said components.

The apertures in the base may be arranged in rows.

The rows may each extend transversely of a longitudinal axis of the said one of the components.

The said one of the components may be provided with a plurality of feet for locating the said one of the components above a supporting surface.

The combustion chamber may comprise two said components in addition to the said one of the components.

The or a said additional component may be adapted to engage the said one of the components for stacking thereon.

The or said additional component may be adapted to engage another said additional component for stacking thereon.

Each of said components may taper downwardly.

The combustion chamber may be adapted to receive a grille.

The grille may comprise a first portion, a second portion and means pivotally connecting the said portions.

Each of the said portions may have a handle pivotally connected thereto.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention, the chamber comprising three cylinders located one above another in an erected condition, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinders when in a stored condition, Figure 3 is an elevation of the cylinders when stacked to provide the chamber, Figure 4 is a plan view of the chamber illustrated in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the chamber and a grille for use therewith, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cylinders in a stored condition and of the grille prior to being located in a stored condition on the cylinders.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a combustion chamber 10 comprising a lower cylinder 11 an intermediate cylinder 12 and an upper cylinder 13, each of aluminium.

The lower cylinder 11 comprises a base 14 having an upstanding circumferential wall 1 5 provided with a circumferential inwardly projecting corrugation 1 6. The circumferential wall 1 5 has an upper outwardly downwardly and inwardly turned flange 17. The base 14 is provided with three rows of perforations 18, each of the the rows extending radialiy of the base 1 4 and each row being located at an angle of approximately 1200 to an adjacent row. The base 14 has, on an outer surface thereof, a plurality of depending feet 1 9, each of the feet being located an equal distance circumferentially of the base 14 from an adjacent one of the feet.

The intermediate cylinder 12 comprises a cylindrical wall 20 having axially spaced inwardly projecting circumferential corrugations 21 and a lower inwardly directed circumferential flange 22.

A lower portion of the wall 20 is turned inwardly to provide a circumferential shoulder 23. An upper portion of the wall 20 is turned outwardly, downwardly and inwardly to provide a flange 24.

The wall 20 is provided at a lower portion thereof with a circumferential row of apertures 25, the row being located axially above the flange 22.

The upper cylinder 1 3 comprises a cylindrical wall 26 having axially spaced circumferential inwardly projecting corrugations 27. A lower portion of the wall 26 is provided with an inwardly directed circumferential flange 28. The wall 26 has a lower portion which is turned inwardly to provide a circumferential shoulder 29. An upper portion of the wall 26 is turned outwardly downwardly and inwardly to provide an upper flange 30.

Each of the cylinders 11, 12 and 13 taper in a downward direction and are of dimensions such that the lower cylinder 11 is receivable in the intermediate cylinder 12 and the intermediate cylinder 1 2 is receivable in the upper cylinder 13, as shown in Figure 2. In this manner, cylinders 11, 12 and 1 3 conveniently may be stored in the condition illustrated in Figure 2.

The cylinders 11, 12 and 13 also are of dimensions such that they can be stacked to provide the chamber 1 0. Stacking is effected by locating the cylinder 11 so that the feet 1 9 thereof are supported on a support surface 31 (see Figure 3). In this manner, the base 14 of the cylinder 11 is in a raised position above the surface 31. The cylinder 12 then is located so that the circumferential shoulder 23 thereof engages an inner circumferential portion of the flange 1 7 of the cylinder 11 whereby the cylinder 12 seats on the lower cylinder 11. The cylinder 13 then is located so that the circumferential shoulder 29 of the cylinder 13 engages an inner circumferential surface of the upper flange 24 of the intermediate cylinder 12 and the cylinder 13 thereby seats on the intermediate cylinder 12.The stacked cylinders 11, 12 and 13 thus comprise the chamber 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Any tendency for the cylinders to topple is reduced due to the portion of the wall 20, 26 between the shoulder 23, 29 and the lower flange 25, 28 of the cylinders 12, 13 being in abutment with an inner surface of an adjacent wall 1 5, 20 of a corresponding cylinder 11, 1 2.

The upper flange 30 of the upper cylinder 13 has seated thereon a grille 32 comprising two components 33 and 34. Each of the components 33, 34 comprises a wire loop 35 having welded thereto a plurality of spaced parallel rectilinear wire strips 36 extending across the loop 35. The loops 35 are connected by a pair of additional wire loops 37 so that the components 33, 34 may be pivoted relative one to another. Each of the components 33, 34 is provided with a wire handle 38, 39, each handle having loops 40 arranged such that one of the wire strips 36 of an associated component 33, 34 extends through the loops 40. In this manner, each of the handles 38, 39 is pivotally connected to an associated one of the components 33, 34 so that the handle may be pivoted inwardly of the wire loop 35 of the component, 33, 34 to a storage position as shown in Figure 6.The arrangement is such that if each of the handles 38, 39 is pivoted outwardly of the loop 35 of the associated component 33, 34, a portion of the handle 38, 39 will come to rest on wire strips 36 of the associated component 33, 34, the remaining portion of the handle extending radially outwardly from the component 33, 34, as shown in Figure 5.

In use, the combustion chamber 10 is erected from a storage position, as shown in Figure 6 by stacking the cylinders 11, 12 and 13 so that the cylinder 11 is supported on the support surface 31, the cylinder 12 is supported on the cylinder 11 and the cylinder 13 is supported on the cylinder 12. A slow burning combustible product, such as newspaper, is inserted into the chamber 10 and is ignited. The handles 40 of the grille 32 are pivoted from a storage position as shown in Figure 6 outwardly of the components 33, 34 of the grille 32 to the position shown in Figure 5.

The components 33, 34 then are pivoted away from one another so that food to be cooked can be inserted therebetween. The handles 40 then are gripped so that the components 33, 34 move towards one another and thereby engage the food therebetween. The grille 32 then is lowered, as shown in Figure 5, until the grille 32 seats upon the upper flange 30 of the wall 26 of the upper cylinder 13.

The food may be reversed by turning the handles 40 on a longitudinal axis of one of the handles and the grille 32 replaced on the upper cylinder 13. In this manner, the food is cooked by means of heat generated by combustion of the product in the chamber 10.

Combustion is assisted by means of air which passes under the base 14 of the lower cylinder 11, through the perforations 1 8 in the base 14 and upwardly through the chamber 10 and by air which passes through the apertures 25 in the wall 20 of the intermediate cylinder 12 and upwardly through the chamber 10.

When the apparatus has been used for cooking food, the food having been removed from the grille 32, the apparatus can be dismantled by pivoting the handles 40 of the grille inwardly of the components 33, 34 of the grille to the position shown in Figure 6. The cylinders 11, 12 and 13 are disengaged one from another as shown in Figure 1 and reassembled so that the intermediate cylinder 12 receives the lower cylinder 11 and is itself revived in the upper cylinder 13, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. The grille 32 then is lowered onto the re-assembled chambers 11, 12 and 13, as shown in Figure 6, for storage. A convenient storage container is a bag adapted to receive the cylinder 11, 12 and 1 3 when in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6 and having the grille 32 supported thereon.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus in accordance with the present invention does not require expensive fuel, provides instantaneous heating and reduces to a minimum smoke and fumes emanating from the combustible product since the combustible product is contained within the chamber 10. Furthermore, after use the cylinders 11, 12 and 13 and the grille 32 may easily be cleaned and may be assembled to provide a compact lightweight article which is easily transportable.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. Apparatus for cooking food comprising a combustion chamber for burning therein a combustible substance and having a plurality of stackable cylindrical components adapted to be received one with another in a stored position so that the components in the stored position have a smaller combined axial dimension than when stacked.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein at least one of the components is provided with a plurality of apertures for the passage of air upwardly therethrough.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the apertures are provided in a base of one of said components.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the apertures are arranged in rows.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the rows each extend transversely of a longitudinal axis of the said one of the components.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the said one of the components is provided with a plurality of feet for locating the said one of the components above a supporting surface.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the combustion chamber comprises two said components in addition to the said one of the components.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the or a said additional component is adapted to engage the said one of the components for stacking thereon.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein each of said components tapers downwardly.

1 0. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the combustion chamber is adapted to receive a grille.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the grille comprises a first portion, a second portion and means pivotally connecting the said portions.

1 2. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein each of the said portions has a handle pivotally connected thereto.

1 3. Apparatus for cooking food substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.