WO1996001395A1

WO1996001395A1 - Cooking apparatus incorporating a tabletop

Info

Publication number: WO1996001395A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000405
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Owen Cantrill; Malcolm Heather
Original assignee: Fairmount Commercial Enterprises Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1995-07-05
Publication date: 1996-01-18
Also published as: AU2874895A; AUPM662194A0

Abstract

A cooking apparatus (1) comprising a table top (2) is disclosed which includes a cooking surface (4) arranged at a location substantially in the centre of the table top (2). The cooking surface (4) comprises part of cooking device (3) and includes a combustion chamber (15) arranged beneath the cooking surface (4). The chamber (15) is configured to retain a quantity of solid fuel (21) which can be heated to ignition by a number of gas burners (22) if not readily ignitable. The cooking surface (4) is arranged substantially in a plane of the table (2) and therefore by positioning the combustion chamber (15) beneath the plane of the table (2), the table top (2) acts to direct heat from the combustion chamber (15) onto persons seated about the table top (2), thereby providing environmental warmth as well as a cooking function.

Description

COOKING APPARATUS INCORPORATING A TABLETOP

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cooking apparatus and, in particular, discloses a cooking apparatus incorporated within a tabletop which can advantageously be used in outdoor entertainment areas and the like.

Background Art Outdoor entertainment, which often includes cooking and the like, is quite popular in many countries. Typically, such activities occur when weather conditions are favourable, more often than not during the summer months. For this purpose, many hotels and public bars incorporate what is known as a "beer garden" which provides an area by which patrons may relax in an outdoor atmosphere. Typically, during inclement weather, and often during winter months, such areas are not utilized, or at least are under utilised, often because such areas are sufficiently cold as to be uncomfortable for relaxation. Outdoor and portable cooking apparatus are well known, and in Australia are commonly referred to as the barbecue (BBQ). Such apparatus is often gas-fired and generally provides one or more cooking surfaces, such as a grill and a hot plate, by which various meats and/or vegetables and the like can be cooked in the outdoor environment. Where such devices are not gas-fired, they are traditionally operated using wooden fuel or barbecue heat beads. Whilst such apparatus are more than capable or adequately cooking food, such devices are often not used in cold weather due to the inherent discomfort associated with outdoor entertainment in such climates.

Further, where beer gardens and the like are provided with BBQ cooking apparatus, whilst those apparatus may be well used during the warmer months of the year, they are typically under utilised during the colder months and therefore the beer garden and its associated facilities can represent an under utilised capital cost during those months.

It is therefore desirable to provide an arrangement by which outdoor entertainment during colder weather can be facilitated. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed apparatus comprising a tabletop about which a plurality of persons can be seated, support means for supporting the tabletop and least one cooking device, the or each cooking device having a cooking surface arranged substantially in a plane formed by the tabletop and a combustion chamber arranged beneath and supporting the cooking surface, the combustion chamber being substantially enclosed, wherein when operable, the combustion chamber acts as a source of both radiant and convection heat whereby heated air that rises up a side surface of the combustion chamber is deflected outwardly by an underside of the tabletop towards locations about the tabletop at which persons can be seated.

Generally the combustion chamber is configured to retain a quantity of a combustible solid fuel, and includes an ignition and heating source for the solid fuel. Preferably the ignition and heating source comprises at least one gas burner positioned within the chamber beneath the solid fuel. The gas burner is operable by means of gas supplied to the cooking device. Preferably the gas is supplied by means of a gas bottle and hose removably connectable to the gas burner. Alternatively, the gas can be supplied by means of a permanent connection to a gas source.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises an opening in the combustion chamber by which air can enter the chamber to sustain combustion, the cooking surface including at least one aperture via which combustion gases can exhaust from the chamber. Generally the opening is configured in a wall of the chamber beneath a perforated surface upon which the solid fuel is positionable. Often the opening comprises an adjustable flue control by which the entry air can be limited to adjust a rate of combustion. Alternatively the opening can comprise an aperture of predetermined size in the wall.

Preferably the apparatus includes a tray locatable in the chamber beneath the perforated surface and configured to accumulate ash that falls through the perforated surface as a result of combustion of the solid fuel. Generally the tray is removable from the chamber via the opening whereby the predetermined size is sufficient to maintain combustion when the tray is positioned in the opemng.

The solid fuel can be selected from the group consisting of timber, compressed cellulose matter, and coal. Preferably the solid fuel is coke. Advantageously, the cooking surface is positioned substantially centrally of the tabletop, and the support means maintains a clearance between the tabletop, and the cooking surface and chamber.

For safety purposes in the preferred embodiment, the support means comprises a plurality of slats, substantially non-conductive of heat, arrange about the chamber to prevent inadvertent contact therewith. Generally the slats and tabletop are manufactured of wooden materials and the support means and cooking device are manufactured of metals. Preferably the support means and the combustion chamber are manufacture of stainless steel.

Advantageously the cooking surface comprises a grilling section that acts as a chimney for combustion gases arising from the chamber.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional elevational view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a cooking apparatus 1 is shown which includes a tabletop 2 and a cooking device 3 arranged substantially in a central location of the tabletop 2. The cooking device 3 includes a cooking surface 4 that protrudes through an aperture 5 arranged in the tabletop 2 to lie in substantially the same plane. As better seen in Fig. 5, the aperture 5 is formed by an interior annular collar 6 connected with the planar surface of the tabletop 2.

As best seen in Fig. 5, arranged to support the tabletop 2 is a frame 7 having a post support 8 preferably configured to be embedded in a concrete ballast 9 arranged in a ground surface 10 upon which the cooking apparatus 1 is configured. The frame 7 incorporates a lower substantially annular flange support 11 formed in a base plate 17 interconnected to the post support 8, and an upper substantially annular support 12 configured to abut the underside of the tabletop 2 adjacent the collar 6. Interconnecting the supports 11 and 12 is a perforated sheet metal surround 13 and to which a plurality of wooden slats 35 are connectable using screws, the slats 35 being arranged to prevent burning users of the apparatus 1. A heat shield 18 is provided to extend from the frame 7 between the collar 6 and the cooking surface 4. Extending substantially radially from the upper support 12 are a number of horizontal support members 14 which extend beneath the tabletop 2 to support the periphery thereof.

The cooking device 3 is configured within the interior of the frame 7, and includes a combustion chamber 15 defined by a substantially annular wall 16 and the base plate 17. The cooking surface 4 is configured to reside upon the upper peripheral edge of the wall 16, in the manner illustrated.. Positioned approximately centrally within the combustion chamber 15 are two gas burners 22 each interconnected to a gas supply line 23 (best seen in Fig. 4) which incorporates a stop cock (or valve) 24 and a coupling 25 (seen in Fig. 3) by which a hose 26 connected to a gas bottle 27 can be connected. Alternatively, the burners 22 can be connected to a permanent town gas supply (not illustrated). The burners 22 are typically manufactured of cast iron and are configured to support a cast iron grate 20 upon which solid fuel 21 can be placed for combustion.

Arranged beneath the gas burners 22 is an ash residue tray 28 configured to collect ash that falls through the grate 20, which forms a perforated surface, as a result of the combustion of the fuel 21. Two angled baffle plates 19 are provided as illustrated in Fig. 4 to direct ash down into the tray 28. The tray 28 is configured to be withdrawn from within the combustion chamber 15 by way of an aperture 29 arranged in a lower portion of the side wall 16. The tray 28 is coupled to a wooden handle 30 which acts to avoid burning a user thereof. The solid fuel 21 can be any type of combustible solid fuel such as timber, compressed bricks of paper or other vegetable matter, or coal. Most preferably the fuel used is coke (or sometimes known as coking coal) which represents the solid residue from the carbonisation of coal after the volatile matter of the coal has been distilled off. The present inventors prefer to used dried coke, sometimes known as stoke which affords smokeless and odourless initial combustion. Another preferred fuel is known in Australia as PCI Thermal Coal, which is derived from coal in a manner not unlike coke.

In order to operate the cooking apparatus 1 in the preferred manner, when cold, the cooking surface 4 is manually removed to permit access to the combustion chamber 15. A quantity, generally about 10 kilograms, of coking coals are then poured into the combustion chamber 15 to reside on the grate 20. The cooking surface 4 is then replaced. The gas bottle 27 is then connected to the coupling 25 via the hose 26, and the gas burners 22 then ignited using a separate ignition source, (eg. a long match or gas igniter device). The gas burners 22 then directly heat the coking coals. After approximately 20 minutes, the coking coals are sufficiently hot as to be self containing in their combustion. The gas burners 22 can then be turned off by manipulating the stop cock 24. The gas bottle 27 and hose 26 can then be disconnected and removed from use. Air input required for combustion enters via a flue passage formed by the space between the edges of the aperture 29 and the tray 28. Further, the aperture 29 can be enlarged to provide a predetermined amount of flue control. Further, that amount of air access can be adjusted by partially withdrawing the tray 28 from the aperture 29.

Not illustrated, but well known in the art, a flue control connected to a handle can be provided to adjusted or restrict air flow into the chamber 15 and thereby adjust the rate of combustion of the solid fuel 21. By adjusting such a the flue control, an optimum combustion rate of the fuel 21 can be obtained in order to achieve heating of the cooking surface 4. When heated to the desired level, the cooking surface 4 can then be used. As the cooking surface 4 resides directly above the combustion chamber 15, the surface 4 must include a certain number of apertures which permit exhaust of combustion gases and a consequential uptake of fresh air (including oxygen) through the flue passage to permit continued combustion. As illustrated, the cooking surface 4 incorporates a centrally located grilling section 33 and two peripheral hotplate sections 34. In this manner, the grilling section 33 acts as a chimney for combustion gases and a broken surface upon which meats and the like may be cooked. The hotplate sections 34 provide a different cooking surface by which, for example, onion pieces may be cooked. Further, once the cooking device 3 is at or near its operating temperature, particularly using the preferred fuel 21, the combustion process is substantially smoke free and essentially odourless and therefore not prohibitive of enjoyable entertaining. Those skilled in such cooking will however appreciate that fat dripping from cooking foods can cause smoke to be produced, which may be undesirable to some persons.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that if the cooking surface 4 is desired to be substantially a hotplate-type surface, a number of venting holes will be required to be provided in that surface to allow venting of the combustion gases. Furthermore, if the cooking surface 4 is to be interchanged through or between different cooking operations, adjustment of the flue may be required to ensure an appropriate, but not excessive heating level.

If provided with an adjustable flue control, the combustion can be extinguished by closing the flue control, thus depriving the fuel 21 of oxygen. Where the flue input is fixed (eg. by enlarging or otherwise adjusting the aperture 29), combustion can be extinguished by obscuring or otherwise closing the chimney provided in the cooking surface 4. This can be readily done by placing a metal sheet (such as a baking dish) over the grilling section 33 of the preferred embodiment, which act to limit air flow through the cooking device 3, which after time reduces the heat until combustion is no longer sustainable.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, by means of the tabletop 2 extending away from the cooking device 3, the cooking apparatus 1 provides a location about which a number of chairs may be placed such that the tabletop 2 provides a surface upon which users of the apparatus 1 may manipulate as a conventional table. Provision of the wooden slats 35 prevents burning of legs of seated persons in particular.

After an appropriate heating period (approximately 20-30 minutes when coke is used as the solid fuel 21), the combustion chamber 15 becomes a source of both radiant and convection heat. Importantly, the combustion of the fuel 21 acts to heat the wall 16 and base 17 to the extent that they each radiate heat and thereby can directly heat the legs and lower torso of persons seated or otherwise positioned about the apparatus 1.

Further, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the cooking device 3 provides substantial convection heat through convection by drawing cool air from the ground surface 10 which rises, as illustrated by the arrow 36, from beneath or adjacent the base 17, along and substantially parallel the wall 16, to be deflected substantially horizontally by the underside of the tabletop 2. Accordingly, in this manner, persons seated about the tabletop 2 are provided with a substantial heating effect from the flow of air about the cooking apparatus 1 and heat radiated directed from the wall 16. The present inventors have found that, even in particularly cold weather, persons can be comfortably seated about the cooking apparatus 1 whereupon enjoyment may be obtained through traditional outdoor entertainments in spite of cold atmospheric temperature. Further, once the cooking device 3 is at or near its operating temperature, particularly using the preferred fuel 21, the combustion process is substantially smoke free and essentially odourless, and therefore not prohibitive of enjoyable entertaining. Those skilled with BBQ cooking will however appreciate that fat dripping from cooking foods can cause smoke to be produced.

The tabletop 2 is preferably manufactured of material non-conductive of heat, such a timber, compressed cellulose panel (FIBRO), and the like and is preferably laminated or painted to provide an easily cleanable surface. As seen in Figs 1 and 2, the tabletop 2 can incorporate advertising material 40 and the like which in some applications can be used to offset the capital and. /or operating cost of the apparatus 1. Excepting the wooden slats 35, the remainder of the cooking apparatus 1 is preferably of all metal construction. For example, the gas burners 22, grate 20 and cooking surface 4 are typically manufactured of cast iron, and the gas supply line 23 and stop cock 24 manufactured of brass or other suitable materials. The frame 7, wall 16, perforated sheet 13 and base 17 are all preferably manufactured of stainless steel which permit substantial durability in outdoor environments and ease of cleaning. Experiments conducted by the present inventors indicate that approximately 10 kilograms of coking coal permits the cooking apparatus 1 to be fired for a usual commercial period of approximately 10 to 12 hours. At the end of that period, approximately half the fuel is recoverable from the grate 20 and can be used in the next cooking operation. The ash collected in the tray 28 can be either discarded or where appropriate used in other applications, such as the smelting of aluminium for example. Further, by only needing to operate the gas burners 22 until such time as the solid fuel 21 is suitably ignited, the fuel cost is substantially reduced. The present inventors envisage an operating cost of approximately A$3.50 per day for such apparatus, predominantly derived from the cost of the coking coal. It will be further appreciated, that where other solid fuels are used, the gas burners 22 need not be required, or need not be fired. For example, wooden fuels are readily ignitable and to that extent do not require a prolonged ignition period such as that described above with reference to the preferred fuel source. However, the preferred fuel source (coking coal) provides a substantially greater heat output than comparable volumes of other fuels over a longer period of time.

By using the preferred embodiment in a "beer garden" environment, depending on the number of appliances used, substantial environmental heating of the entire area can be obtained, even if no cooking is performed on the cooking surfaces 4. In this manner, the present arrangement provides a means by which capital and operating costs can be recovered for those areas generally not used during cold weather.

As an alternative to using a solid fuel, volcanic rocks can be placed on the grate 20 to provide a heat ballast as a result of heating via the burners 22. Such a configuration however necessitates operating the gas burners 22 substantially continuously to achieve a substantial heating effect.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the tabletop 2 of the preferred embodiment is of a generally circular shape, and can seat approximately six adults thereabout, different shapes such as square or oblong can be used. Further depending on the length of an oblong tabletop, two or more of the cooking devices 3 can be configured therein.

Claims

CLAΠVIS.

1. Apparatus comprising a tabletop about which a plurality of persons can be seated, support means for supporting said tabletop and least one cooking device, the or each said cooking device having a cooking surface arranged substantially in a plane formed by said tabletop and a combustion chamber arranged beneath and supporting said cooking surface, said combustion chamber being substantially enclosed, wherein when operable, said combustion chamber acts as a source of both radiant and convection heat whereby heated air that rises up a side surface of said combustion chamber is deflected outwardly by an underside of said tabletop towards locations about said tabletop at which persons can be seated.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber is configured to retain a quantity of a combustible solid fuel, said combustion chamber including an ignition and heating source for said solid fuel.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ignition and heating source comprises at least one gas burner positioned within said chamber beneath said solid fuel.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said gas burner is operable by means of gas supplied to said cooking device.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gas is supplied by means, of a gas bottle and hose removably connectable to said gas burner.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gas is supplied by means of a permanent connection to a gas source.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising an opening in said combustion chamber by which air can enter said chamber to sustain combustion, said cooking surface including at least one aperture via which combustion gases can exhaust from said chamber.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 2 wherein said opemng is configured in a wall of said chamber beneath a perforated surface upon which said solid fuel is positionable.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said opening comprises an adjustable flue control by which the entry air can be limited to adjust a rate of combustion.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said opening comprises an aperture of predetermined size in said wall.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a tray locatable in said chamber beneath said perforated surface and configured to accumulate ash that falls through said perforated surface as a result of combustion of said solid fuel.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tray is removable from said chamber via said opening whereby said predetermined size is sufficient to maintain combustion when said tray is positioned in said opemng.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said solid fuel is selected from the group consisting of timber, compressed cellulose matter, and coal.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said solid fuel comprises coke or a coal derived substance.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooking surface is positioned substantially centrally of said tabletop, said support means maintaining a clearance between said tabletop, and said cooking surface and chamber.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of slats, substantially non-conductive of heat, arrange about said chamber to prevent inadvertent contact therewith.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said slats and tabletop are manufacmred of wooden materials and said support means and cooking device are manufactured of metals.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said support means and said combustion chamber are manufacture of stainless steel.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooking surface comprises a grilling section that acts as a chimney for combustion gases arising from said chamber.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said combustion chamber is provided with a heat ballast material configured for heating using said source.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said ballast material comprises volcanic rocks and said source comprises at least one gas burner.