WO2006121326A1

WO2006121326A1 - Moveable device and method for the preparation of food products

Info

Publication number: WO2006121326A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Boels
Original assignee: Dirk Boels
Priority date: 2005-05-12
Filing date: 2006-05-11
Publication date: 2006-11-16
Also published as: NL1029024A1; NL1029024C2; WO2006121326B1

Abstract

This invention relates to a moveable device (1) for the preparation of food products comprising a housing (2) , with the housing (2) comprising a combustion space (3) , characterized in that a first part (5) of the housing (2) comprises a first opening (4) for connection of the combustion space (3) to a smoke gas outlet channel (6) ; a second part (7) of the housing (2) comprises at least one air inlet opening (8) , and a third part (9) of the housing (2) comprises means (10) to support a cooking plate (11) . This invention further relates to a method for the preparation of food products, comprising the generation of heat by combustion of wood hi a moveable device (1) according to this invention.

Description

Moveable device and method for the preparation of food products

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a moveable device for the preparation of food products comprising a housing, with the housing comprising a combustion space. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of food products.

Background of the invention

Known moveable devices for the preparation of food products use charcoal as fuel for the combustion. A disadvantage of the combustion of charcoal is that the combustion can not always be controlled well. Often there is a moment wherein the combustion is too much and the food product burns and becomes charred. The combustion can also develop in an uncontrollable way because fats of the food products enter the place of combustion. Another disadvantage van the use of charcoal is that it takes some time before the temperature is high enough to use the device for the intended purposes.

With known moveable devices mostly a grid is used as support for heating food products, whereby the grid is present above the combustion space. However, the food products often come into contact with high evolving flames and become burnt or charred. Furthermore it is very difficult to clean the grid, because of the many angles where residuals accumulate, especially when food products are charred or burnt on the grid.

Another disadvantage of grids is that, because the combustion space is exposed to the environmental air to a relatively great extent, the supply of fresh air and the outlet of smoke gasses, and, as a consequence, the combustion, is difficult to control. Therefore, wood, is almost never used as fuel in combination with moveable devices for the preparation of food products. This while wood often is easy to obtain and quickly reaches a high temperature.

A device for heating food products wherein wood can be used as fuel, is described in FR2549709. This device comprises a smoke gas outlet channel that is connected with a housing, whereby the housing is prepared of stones. This device is derived from the conventional hearth, especially an hearth which is made for the garden. However, because the construction is made of stones, the device is not moveable and similarly not useable as a moveable device for heating food products, such as a barbecue. Another disadvantage of such a device is that the smoke gas outlet channel is present right above the combustion chamber. This is necessary because otherwise the smoke gasses do not go through the smoke gas outlet channel. However, by using this device a large part of the heat generated by the combustion directly disappears via the smoke gas outlet channel and is not exploited for the preparation of the food products. In addition the combustion in such a device can not be controlled well.

In CA 2354503 a moveable device for the preparation of food products is described, whereby a glass cooking plate serves as a support for the food product. It is described that this moveable device for heating food products is used with gas as fuel but it is also suggested that it can be used as well using charcoal or wood. However, because a glass cooking plate closes the combustion space substantially, it is difficult to keep a fire burning with a fuel such as charcoal or wood. Namely, the smoke gasses can not easily leave the combustion space and therefore it is difficult for fresh air with oxygen to enter the combustion space. That is, there is no draught in the system and for that reason the fire will go out. Another disadvantage that arises if wood is used as fuel using that kind of device, is that the flames will come up under the glass cooking plate if combustion is going to fast, and will therefore still touch the food product. On the other hand, these flames can be dangerous during preparation of the food products.

During combustion smoke gasses are produced which are of a high temperature and could contain waste matter and soot particles. The smoke gasses as a result of combustion of charcoal and wood have in addition a stench which stays in the cloths of people. In short, smoke gasses often are annoying.

Therefore there exists a need for a moveable device for the preparation of food products that doesn't have the disadvantages of the known moveable devices for the preparation of food products. The objective of the present invention is providing such a moveable device. Also the need exists for a method for the preparation of food products whereby as fuel wood can be used. Therefore, it is an other objective of the present invention to provide for such a method.

Summary of the invention Therefore, the invention provides a moveable device for the preparation of food products comprising a housing, with the housing comprising a combustion space, characterized in that a first part of the housing comprises a first opening for connection of the combustion space to a smoke gas outlet channel, a second part of the housing comprises at least one air inlet opening, and a third part of the housing comprises means to support a cooking plate.

An advantage of such a device is that it offers the possibility to prepare food products onto an cooking plate, whereby the combustion can be controlled as well, and whereby, as a consequence, it is also possible to use wood as fuel. By "preparation of food products" in relation to the device according to the present invention, is meant, preparing food products using heat, such as baking. Thus, it comprises heating of food products but also making of food products ready. The food products, for example, can be meat, fish, or packages including different food products. Where in this invention "cooking plate" in relation to the present invention is mentioned, a plate-like part is meant, which plate-like part preferable is made out of one piece and preferable comprises no significant openings. Preferable the cooking plate has a smooth surface such that the cooking plate is easy to clean, hi addition the cooking plate potentially comprises ridges. The cooking plate could be flat but also could be hollow such that is can, for example, be used as a wok. The cooking plate can also have another shape. The advantage of a cooking plate is that there are no openings through which flames can enter en therefore the food can not be burnt by the flames. Another advantage of a cooking plate is that it is easy to clean. Preferably, the cooking plate is connected detachably to the housing. This is preferred because the cooking plate than can be easily disconnected and cleaned. Moreover, this is preferred for the reason of storing the device, because the cooking plate often needs additional protection during storage. In the case the cooking plate is flat, the means can be a flat area of the housing that virtually has the same dimensions as the cooking plate. In the case the cooking plate has another shape the means can have a similar shape such that the cooking plate makes contact with the housing as much as possible to transfer the heat of the housing to the cooking plate as efficient as possible. The cooking plate can be in a one level surface in relation to other horizontal parts of the device. The products to be heated or already heated can then be moved to other horizontal parts. Preferable the combustion takes place underneath the means.

Where in this application "housing" is mentioned in relation to the present invention, it is meant to mean a body that either consists of flat surfaces or a body with many round shapes, whereby the flank, under - and/or upper side are connected to each other in the course of round shapes. Thus, the first, second and third part can be surfaces of the housing of which the boundaries are the ribs of the housing but they can also be area's on a housing, which area's do not have clear boundaries in the form of ribs or other structures, but share round shapes. The housing preferable is single walled but the housing can also be double walled . Another advantage of such a device is that it is moveable and one can choose at which location the food products are to be prepared. Where in this application "moveable" in relation to the present invention is mentioned, it is meant to mean that the device can be handled easily by one or two people and is promptly movable to another location. Thus, the device is as a whole moveable and it is not necessary to dismantle the device to move it, in contrast to heavy, for example made of stoned stones, devices with smoke gas outlet channels.

The first part can be an upper side of the housing but can also be a part of a flank of the housing. The second part, which part comprises at least one air inlet opening, is preferable one flank of the housing but can also comprise a plurality of flanks or other parts of the housing. The advantage of one air inlet opening is that its size is easier to control and that, in addition, the air inlet opening can also serve as the inlet of fuel, such as wood. The advantage of a plurality of smaller air inlet openings is that it is safer. The housing is closed better for example for hands of children and the fuel is stored safer in the housing. If the device falls, the risk of loosing fuel out of the combustion space is smaller.

Another advantage of such a device is that it comprises a smoke gas outlet channel. Therefore the smoke gasses are not annoying during the preparation of the food products. The smoke gas outlet channel in addition contributes to a better combustion because the smoke gas outlet channel during the combustion has a very high temperature and therefore the smoke gasses can also reach a higher temperature and as a result of that the smoke gasses shall rise more rapidly and are removed well. The smoke gas outlet channel is preferable for the largest part, and preferable totally, vertical such that the smoke gasses during rising do not encounter obstacles. Because the smoke gasses can be removed more rapidly, fresh air with oxygen can also again more rapidly enter the device and the combustion is therefore better. The presence of the smoke gas outlet channel makes it possible that also wood and charcoal can be used as fuel in a device using a cooking plate as support for the food products. It is especially preferred that wood can be used as fuel because wood is easily to obtain and bums and generates heat rapidly. Burning wood also has ambiance-determining qualities. The device preferable also comprises a frame, for example consisting of four legs, to support the housing. The device can be prepared of stainless steel but also of aluminum which is lighter.

Preferable the combustion space, after placing the cooking plate onto the means, is mainly connected to the environment by the smoke gas outlet channel and the air inlet opening. The combustion in such a moveable device is mainly determined by the amount of air that can enter the combustion space via the air inlet opening and the amount of smoke gasses that can leave the combustion space via the smoke gas outlet channel. Therefore, the combustion can be controlled very well and is not dependent of other, often irregular, flows of air/gasses through the combustion space. Another advantage is that no other material, such as fats and remains of food, can enter the combustion space. When the support doesn't comprise an opening the phrase "after placing the cooking plate onto the support" is of course unnecessary.

More preferably, the size of the air inlet opening is maximal two times as large as the surface of a cross-section of the most narrow part of the smoke gas outlet channel, and preferable is equal. The advantage of keeping the size of the air inlet opening as small as possible, is that the smoke gasses will be removed as much as possible by the smoke gas outlet channel, and not by the air inlet opening. As a consequence, because of the relatively small air inlet opening, the combustion is limited by the capacity of the smoke gas outlet channel to remove smoke gasses. The smoke gas outlet channel is preferable at the inner site along the total length uniform such that the smoke gasses can flow without disturbance through the channel. The most narrow part of the smoke gas outlet channel is important because it also determines the speed of the removal of the smoke gas. By "size of the air inlet opening", in case there are a plurality of air inlet opening present, is meant the sum of the size of all air inlet openings. Preferably, the size of the air inlet opening can be controlled. The advantage of the relatively closed combustion space with the controllable air inlet opening is that the combustion can be controlled better. The combustion can be adjusted in such a way that it is enough for the preparation of the food products and the fuel can be exploited optimally. The controllable air inlet opening can, in addition, be used to stop the combustion. The means preferable comprises a space to incorporate, preferable fittingly, a cooking plate. The advantage of such a space is that the cooking plate can not move and is better associated with the housing. This space could be created through a gap in the housing or by a stand-up rim on the housing. Preferable, the space is dimensioned in such a way that the cooking plate can be placed as one piece in the space, potentially with gaps for the fingers.

The means comprises preferable at least one second opening, which second opening, preferable gas tight, can be closed by placing the cooking plate onto the means. Preferable the cooking plate, after placing it onto the means, is for the largest part making direct contact with the combustion space.

The housing preferable is oblong, whereby the first part is mainly present in the vicinity of a first end, the second part is mainly present in the vicinity of the second end that is moving away from the first end, and the third part extends from the first end tot the second end. The advantage of this is that the heat, which is generated by the combustion, leaves the combustion space via the smoke gas outlet channel less rapidly and can therefor be exploited better to heat the cooking plate. In addition a temperature gradient is created in the combustion space and thus, also on top of the cooking plate. Therefore, the first part shall have a higher temperature than the second part. This gradient can be used by the preparation of different food products but can also be used during the preparation of the food products.

In a preferred embodiment of the moveable device according to the invention the device also comprises a cooking plate, which cooking plate is made out of glass, preferable ceramic glass. The advantage of glass is that is easy to clean because is has a smooth surface. Another advantage is that it rapidly gets a high temperature. Especially ceramic glass is very heat-resistant and is often used as cooking plate. Another advantage of glass is that it can be transparent, so the combustion is visible. Firstly, it is practical that it is possible to determine if more fuel needs to be added. Secondly it is a nice view to see the fire, that is, it gives a good atmosphere simultaneously with the preparation of the food products.

In an other preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device also comprises a cooking plate, which cooking plate is made out of stone, preferable steatite. The advantage of stone, and especially steatite, is that it stays warm for a very long time. Even in the case the combustion has already stopped, steatite can still serve as a source of heat for the preparation of food products. The heat which is stored in the stone can not only serve for the preparation of food products but also for heating of the surrounding.

In an other preferred embodiment of the moveable device according to the invention is the smoke gas outlet channel coupled detachably to the housing and is it possible that the smoke gas outlet channel, when it is uncoupled, can be incorporated in the housing. The advantage of such a device is that it, when it is not used, can be stored easily as a whole. It can in addition be stored in a small volume that is easy to carry. The smoke gas outlet channel preferable comprises two or more pipes, which pipes preferably can be telescoped. Therefore, the dimension of the pipes is more suitable to be incorporated by the housing. Thus, the device is easy to store and can consequently, easier be taken to other locations, for example on holidays.

The invention also provides a method for the preparation of food products, comprising generation of heat by combusting wood in a moveable device according to the present invention. The advantage of preparation of food products in such a way is that, because wood produces heat rapidly, the preparation of the food products can be started in next to no time. With a device according to the present invention the place for the preparation of the food products is virtually separated from the combustion space. Therefore, the combustion does not have to be adapted to prevent burning of the food product. Another advantage is that the rate of burning the wood can be adapted to the required heat for the preparation of the food products by controlling the size of the air inlet opening.

Description of the figures

Hereafter the invention is explained referring to the figures: figure 1 shows a perspective view on a device for the preparation of food products according to the present invention, and figure 2 shows a perspective view on a housing wherein a smoke gas outlet channel consisting of two pipes is stored.

Detailed description

The moveable device (1) for the preparation of food products shown in figure 1 comprises a housing (2), which housing comprises a combustion space (3), whereby a first part (5) of the housing (2) comprises a first opening (4) for connection of the combustion space (3) to a smoke gas outlet channel (6), a second part (7) of the housing (2) comprises one air inlet opening (8), and a third part (9) of the housing (2) comprises means (10) to support a cooking plate (11). The means (12) in this embodiment comprises a space (12) to suitably incorporate the cooking plate (11) and one second opening (13), which second opening (13) can be closed gas tightly by placing the cooking plate (11) with respect to the means (10). In this preferred embodiment the housing (2) is oblong, whereby the first part (5) is mainly present in the vicinity of a first end (13), the second part (7) is mainly present in the vicinity of the second end (15) that is moving away from the first end (14), and the third part (9) extends from the first end (14) to the second end (15). The combustion space (3) is, after placing the cooking plate (11) ontothe means (10), only connected to the environment via the smoke gas outlet channel (6) and the air inlet opening (8) and the size of the air inlet opening (8) is maximal virtually as high as the surface of a cross-section (16) of the smoke gas outlet channel (6), whereby the size of the air inlet opening (8) is adjustable by moving a plate (18) in front of the air inlet opening (8).

In the housing, shown in figure 2, two pipes (17), which together make a smoke gas outlet channel, which smoke gas outlet channel is uncoupled from the housing (2), that can be incorporated in the housing (2). In this preferred embodiment the two pipes (17) are present in the combustion space (3).

Claims

1. A moveable device (1) for the preparation of food products comprising a housing (T), with the housing comprising a combustion space (3), characterized in that - a first part (5) of the housing (2) comprises a first opening (4) for connection of the combustion space (3) to a smoke gas outlet channel (6);

- a second part (7) of the housing (2) comprises at least one air inlet opening (8), and

- a third part (9) of the housing (2) comprises means (10) to support a cooking plate (11).

2. A moveable device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the combustion space (3), after placing the cooking plate (11) with respect to the means (10), is mainly connected to the environment by the smoke gas outlet channel (6) and the air inlet opening (8).

3. A moveable device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the size of the air Met opening (8) is maximal two times as large as the surface of a cross- section (16) of the most narrow part of the smoke gas outlet channel (6), and preferably has the same size.

4. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the means (10) comprises a space (12) for incorporating, preferable fitted, the cooking plate (11).

5. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the means comprises at least one second opening (13), which second opening (13), preferable gas tight, can be closed by placing the cooking plate (11) with respect to the means (10).

6. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that

- the housing (2) is oblong; - the first part (5) is mainly present in the vicinity of a first end (14) of the housing

(2);

- the second part (7) is mainly present in the vicinity of the second end (15) that is moving away from the first end (14), en - the third part (9) extends from the first end (14) to the second end (15).

7. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the moveable device also comprises a cooking plate (11) which is made out of glass, preferable ceramic glass.

8. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the moveable device (1) also comprises a cooking plate (11), which cooking plate (11) is made out of stone, preferable steatite.

9. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the size of the air inlet opening (8) is adjustable.

10. A moveable device (1) according to one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the smoke gas outlet channel (6) is coupled detachably to the housing (2) and, when the smoke gas outlet channel (6) is uncoupled, can be incorporated in the housing (2).

11. A moveable device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the smoke gas outlet channel (6) comprises at least two pipes (17), which pipes (17) can be telescoped.

12. A method for the preparation of food products, comprising the generation of heat by combustion of wood in a moveable device according to one of claims 1 - 11.