Pellet grill
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pellet fuel grill comprising:
- a base having a wall that defines an opening at the top of the base and that defines a heat distribution chamber;
a cooking grid for supporting food to be cooked, the grid being supported in the opening at the top of the base;
a fire pot located inside the heat distribution chamber, the fire pot defining a burn chamber that is in communication with the heat distribution chamber such that gas can travel from the burn chamber into the heat distribution chamber;
a bin that defines a pellet storage chamber;
a pellet feeder for conveying pellet fuel from the pellet storage chamber to the burn chamber;
an electrical motor drivingly connected to the pellet feeder;
an air intake duct that defines (a) an air inlet in communication with ambient air, (b) an air outlet in communication with the burn chamber, and (c) an air intake passageway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, at least a portion of the air intake duct extending alongside the bottom of the base at a location where heat inside the heat distribution chamber will transfer to air inside the air intake passageway at a location that is upstream of the location where the air is received by the burn chamber;
a thermoelectric generator having a hot side that faces the heat distribution chamber and a cold side that faces the air intake passageway, the thermoelectric generator being electrically connected to the electrical motor to supply electrical current to the electrical motor; and
a controller that is connected to the motor to regulate operation of the motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated self-contained pellet grill includes a base housing that defines a heat distribution chamber with a cooking grid supported in an opening at the top of the base for supporting food to be cooked. A pellet burning mechanism, located within the housing, includes a pellet feeder driven by an electrical motor. Electrical power is provided for the motor by a thermoelectric generator having a hot side that is heated by burning pellets and a cold side that is cooled by flowing ambient air.
62 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pellet fuel grill comprising:
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a base having a wall that defines an opening at the top of the base and that defines a heat distribution chamber; a cooking grid for supporting food to be cooked, the grid being supported in the opening at the top of the base; a fire pot located inside the heat distribution chamber, the fire pot defining a burn chamber that is in communication with the heat distribution chamber such that gas can travel from the burn chamber into the heat distribution chamber; a bin that defines a pellet storage chamber; a pellet feeder for conveying pellet fuel from the pellet storage chamber to the burn chamber; an electrical motor drivingly connected to the pellet feeder; an air intake duct that defines (a) an air inlet in communication with ambient air, (b) an air outlet in communication with the burn chamber, and (c) an air intake passageway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, at least a portion of the air intake duct extending alongside the bottom of the base at a location where heat inside the heat distribution chamber will transfer to air inside the air intake passageway at a location that is upstream of the location where the air is received by the burn chamber; a thermoelectric generator having a hot side that faces the heat distribution chamber and a cold side that faces the air intake passageway, the thermoelectric generator being electrically connected to the electrical motor to supply electrical current to the electrical motor; and a controller that is connected to the motor to regulate operation of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A method for cooking food comprising:
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providing a pellet fuel grill comprising a base having a wall that defines an opening at the top of the base and that defines a heat distribution chamber, a cooking grid for supporting food to be cooked, the grid being supported in the opening at the top of the base, a fire pot located inside the heat distribution chamber, the fire pot defining a burn chamber that is in communication with the heat distribution chamber such that gas can travel from the burn chamber into the heat distribution chamber, a bin that defines a pellet storage chamber, a pellet feeder for conveying pellet fuel from the pellet storage chamber to the burn chamber, an electrical motor drivingly connected to the pellet feeder, an air intake duct that defines (a) an air inlet in communication with ambient air, (b) an air outlet in communication with the fire pot, and (c) an air intake passageway extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, at least a portion of the air intake duct extending alongside the bottom of the base at a location where heat inside the heat distribution chamber will transfer to air inside the air intake passageway, a thermoelectric generator having a hot side that faces the heat distribution chamber and a cold side that faces the air intake passageway, the thermoelectric generator being electrically connected to the electrical motor to supply electrical current to the electrical motor, and a controller that is connected to the motor to regulate operation of the motor; burning pellet fuel in the burn chamber, which heats the hot side of the thermoelectric generator; conveying ambient air through the intake passageway in such a path that (a) the ambient air in the intake passageway cools the cold side of the thermoelectric generator and maintains a temperature differential between the hot side and the cold side thereby generating electrical current and (b) the ambient air in the intake passageway is heated by heat received from the heat distribution chamber to provide heated air in the intake passageway; conveying the heated air from the intake passageway to the burn chamber via the air outlet; operating the pellet feeder to feed pellet fuel from the pellet storage chamber to the burn chamber by supplying electrical current to the motor; and positioning food on the cooking grid where the food is exposed to heat generated by the burning of the pellet fuel.
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Specification