Patent Application
20230190040
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to electricity generating assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new electricity generating assembly for grilling and generating electricity. The present invention discloses an electricity generating assembly comprising a grill housing usable as fire pit, a grill, a smoker, and a stovetop, and is engaged to a thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator and a set of solar panels are engaged to a battery
The prior art relates to electricity generating assemblies, which may comprise combustion chambers engaged to thermoelectric generators and grilling grates. Prior art electricity generating assemblies also may comprise grills engaged to thermoelectric generators that power associated grilling accessories. What is lacking in the prior art is an electricity generating assembly comprising a grill housing usable as fire pit, a grill, a smoker, and a stovetop, and is engaged to a thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator and a set of solar panels are engaged to a battery.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a grill housing, which defines an interior space. A front opening is positioned in a front face of the grill housing and is configured to allow positioning of combustible materials into the interior space. A front door is hingedly engaged to the grill housing and is positioned to selectively close the front opening. A thermoelectric generator is engaged to a back face of the housing and is configured to generate an electrical current due to a temperature differential between the grill housing and the ambient environment. A power storage module is operationally engaged to the thermoelectric generator so that the power storage module is charged by the electrical current. The power storage module is configured to engage an electrical device to power the electrical device.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A gauge 26 is engaged to the grill housing 12 and is configured to present a temperature reading of the interior space 14. As shown in
A pair of lift handles 30 is engaged to the grill housing 12. One lift handle 30 is engaged to the front face 18 of the grill housing 12 below the front opening 16. The other lift handle 30 is engaged to a back face 32 of the grill housing 12. The lift handles 30 are configured to allow the grill housing 12 to be lifted and positioned. The grill housing 12 may be sized similarly to a 55 gallon drum, so having the pair of lift handles 30 available renders it easier to lift and to position. The grill housing 12 may have an irregular octagon shape when viewed from a respective side face 28, as shown in
A plurality of legs 34 is engaged to and extends from a bottom 36 of the grill housing 12. The legs 34 are configured to support the grill housing 12 on a surface. The legs 34 may be hingedly engaged to the grill housing 12 so that the legs 34 are selectively positionable in a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, as shown in
A set of grates 38 is engaged to the grill housing 12 and is positioned in the interior space 14. The front opening 16 is configured to allow access to the interior space 14 to allow grilling of an item on a respective grate 38. The set of grates 38 may comprise two grates 38, as shown in
Each of a plurality of side openings 40 is positioned in a respective side face 28 of the grill housing 12. The side opening 40 is configured to allow access to the interior space 14 from the respective side face 28. The plurality of side openings 40 may comprise two side openings 40, which are positioned in a respective side face 28 of the grill housing 12, as shown in
An aperture 46 is positioned in the top 24 of the grill housing 12. A smokestack 48 is engaged to the top 24 of the grill housing 12 and extends from the aperture 46. The smokestack 48 is configured to vent the interior space 14. The smokestack 48 may be selectively engageable to the grill housing 12, as shown in
A plurality of sets of vent holes 52 is positioned in the grill housing 12. The sets of vent holes 52 are configured to vent the interior space 14. The plurality of sets of vent holes 52 may comprise two sets of vent holes 52 positioned in a respective side face 28 of the grill housing 12, as shown in
A thermoelectric generator 58 is engaged to the back face 32 of the housing and is configured to generate an electrical current due to a temperature differential between the grill housing 12 and the ambient environment. The thermoelectric generator 58 may be selectively engageable to the back face 32 of the grill housing 12 so that the thermoelectric generator 58 is removable from the grill housing 12. A pair of fans 60 is engaged to the thermoelectric generator 58 so that the fans 60 are positioned to cool the thermoelectric generator 58. A controller 62 is operationally engaged to the thermoelectric generator 58 and to the pair of fans 60. The controller 62 is enabled to selectively actuate the pair of fans 60 to cool the thermoelectric generator 58.
A power storage module 64 is operationally engaged to the thermoelectric generator 58 so that the power storage module 64 is charged by the electrical current. The power storage module 64 is configured to engage an electrical device, such as a phone, audio or audiovisual equipment, and the like, to power the electrical device. The combustion powered electricity generating assembly 10 thus provides a means of grilling, griddling, heating, smoking, and generating electricity. It thus is anticipated to be useful in a variety of settings where access to electricity is not available.
The power storage module 64 comprises a module housing 66, which defines an internal space 68. A battery 70 is engaged to the module housing 66 and is positioned in the internal space 68, as shown in
A recess 78 is positioned in the module housing 66. The set of outlets 76 is positioned in the recess 78. A lid 80 is hingedly engaged to the module housing 66 and is positioned to selectively cover the recess 78, thus shielding the outlets 76 from the elements. The rings 82 of a pair of rings 82 are engaged singly to opposed ends 84 of the module housing 66. Each ring 82 is formed to define a grasp 86, which extends upwardly from the module housing 66, and a footing 88, which extends downwardly from the module housing 66.
A set of solar panels 90 is engaged to the module housing 66 and is operationally engaged to the battery 70. The solar panels 90 are configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to an electrical current to charge the battery 70. A frame 92 is engaged to and extends from an upper facet 94 of the module housing 66. As shown in
In use, the grill housing 12 is carried using the pair of lift handles 30 to a desired location. The legs 34 are deployed and the grill housing 12 is positioned as desired. The thermoelectric generator 58 is engaged to the back face 32 of the grill housing 12 and the second panels 98 are extended from the frame 92, positioning the thermoelectric generator 58 and the solar panels 90 to charge the battery 70. Combustible materials are positioned in the interior space 14 and ignited. As the grill housing 12 and interior space 14 are heated, foods can be positioned on the grates 38 and the top 24 of the grill housing 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
