Patent Application
20120055384
The present invention relates to charcoal fueled appliances, and more particularly, to apparatus for igniting charcoal and storing ignited charcoal for subsequent use in a charcoal fueled appliance.
Certain small scale combustion based consumer appliances such as hookahs, food smokers, grills of the type for example known as hibachis, and others typically utilize heat generated by charcoal. Ordinarily, the consumer appliance is loaded with charcoal, which is then ignited using a liquid accelerant for example. Petroleum based liquid accelerants are widely sold in retail outlets.
In some cases, it may be preferable to provide pre-ignited charcoal for immediate use in a consumer appliance rather than initiating combustion of unlit charcoal in that appliance. Conventional charcoal grills ands other devices may be loaded with charcoal briquettes which are then ignited, and from which a supply of pre-ignited charcoal may be withdrawn as needed. However, such devices may not be ideally suited for maintaining such a supply of pre-ignited charcoal. Many grills and like devices are unduly large and bulky, may require that a liquid accelerant be maintained, and may be designed such that stored ignited charcoal burns inordinately quickly, thereby depleting the supply and requiring constant attention to assure that there is an adequate supply of pre-ignited charcoal.
There exists a need for a device which addresses the various aspects of igniting and storing a supply of ignited charcoal.
The present invention addresses the above stated need by setting forth an apparatus which is particularly adapted to ignite and store charcoal. The device is fully self-contained in that a separate supply of accelerant and auxiliary items such as matches need not be maintained. The apparatus stores or integrally incorporates these items, as well as a small yet adequate supply of fresh charcoal for replenishment. The apparatus also maintains pre-ignited charcoal burning at a rate that conserves the charcoal rather than being subject to rapid depletion.
To these ends, the novel apparatus comprises a housing having two chambers, one for igniting charcoal, hereinafter referred to as an ignition chamber, and the second for storing ignited charcoal. The second chamber is referred to hereinafter as a storage chamber. A burner is provided in that chamber used for igniting charcoal. A compartment for housing a replaceable fuel canister, fuel valve, and ignition source for lighting the burner may be disposed adjacent the ignition chamber. The housing may also comprise a drawer or other receptacle for storing a supply of charcoal awaiting ignition.
It is an object of the invention to provide self-contained apparatus for igniting charcoal and storing ignited charcoal.
Another object of the invention is to conserve stored ignited charcoal for as long as feasible.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring first to
The present invention is described in terms of butane as a fluid fuel for the burner 108, but could utilize other fuels, such as compressed natural gas, alcohol in liquid or gel form, kerosene, and other combustible liquids may be substituted for butane, with appropriate modification being made to the burner 108 and the flow control 112. Should the selected fuel be resistant to spontaneous flow to the burner 108, such as alcohol gel and relative thick hydrocarbon liquids, a pump (not shown) may be provided to promote flow of the fuel to the burner 108. It is preferred to utilize butane because pre-charged canisters of butane such as the butane canister 110 exist as commercial products currently enjoying widespread retail distribution.
A grate 116 is provided to support the solid fuel above the burner 108. It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as above refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change should the apparatus 100 be held in a different position. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.
The grate 116 may comprise a perforated surface on which the solid fuel is placed, and legs 118 which are dimensioned and configured such that when the legs 118 rest on the floor 120 of the housing, the perforated surface of the grate 116 is close to yet suitably spaced above the burner 108. For example, depending upon the flame characteristics of the burner 108, the perforated surface may be located approximately at the level of the top of the flame or flames of the burner 108. The grate 116 is thus manually removable from the housing 102, for example to facilitate cleaning.
The ignition chamber 104 is defined above the floor 120 and within walls 122, 124, 126 and a partition 128 of the housing 102. The storage chamber 106 may be defined adjacent the ignition chamber 104, using the walls 122 and 126, and an end wall 130 in addition to the floor 120. Both the ignition chamber 104 and the storage chamber 106 may be upwardly open. To control rate of combustion of ignited solid fuel stored in the storage chamber 106, and to protect the burner 108 and solid fuel in process of being ignited, a cover 132 may be provided. The cover 132 substantially closes the storage chamber 106 to the ambient environment such that combustion of ignited solid fuel is impeded but not entirely deprived of combustion air. The cover 132 may be manually installed on and removable from the housing 102, having a handle 134 for lifting and maneuvering the housing 102, and tabs 136 for retaining the cover 132 to the housing 102.
Combustion air for the storage chamber 106 may be obtained through the ignition chamber 104. It will be seen that the wall 124 bears air openings 138. The partition 128, which separates the ignition chamber 104 from the storage chamber 106, bears air openings 140. The openings 138, 140 are both small, perhaps on the order of one eighth of an inch in diameter, and are sized to enable air flow into the respective ignition chamber 104 and storage chamber 106 at a rate approximating that of actual consumption of oxygen. The storage chamber 106 may be devoid of openings elsewhere in any wall of the storage chamber 106 other than the partition 128. Consequently, combustion air for the storage chamber 106 is obtained only from the ignition chamber 104.
The air openings 138 have a total cross sectional area, as do the air openings 140. These air openings 138, 140 are selected in dimensions and number such that the air openings 140 of the partition 128 have a total cross sectional area which is less than the total cross sectional area of the first air openings 138 of the ignition chamber 104.
Exhaust fumes generated by the burner 108, when the cover 132 is not in place closing the ignition chamber 104 and storage chamber 106, and fumes from stored ignited solid fuel, now in the form of glowing ash covered embers, may be exhausted to the ambient environment through gaps (not shown) between the housing 102 and the cover 132. If the cover 132 is fabricated to such a close fit that insufficient gaps are present to pass exhaust fumes, additional openings such as the openings 138, 140 may be introduced to the housing 102.
Referring also to
Returning to
The housing 102 may comprise a storage drawer 172 supported on the housing 102, for holding solid fuel supply (not shown). The storage drawer 172 may be arranged to open and close in directions indicated by an arrow 174.
The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the novel principles.
The cover 132 could be modified from the above description, for example, being hinged to the body 102 if desired (this option is not shown). Also, separate covers (not shown) for the ignition chamber 104 and the storage chamber 106 could be provided in place of the unitary cover 132.
Length of the legs 158, 160, 162, 164 may be accomplished by a screw mechanism, by friction, by internal releasable detents, or in any other suitable way as an alternative to the holes (such as the holes 168) and pin such as the pin 170.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible
