U.S. patent application number 11/359117 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for cooking apparatus for use with a plurality of fuels.
This patent application is currently assigned to EVO, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert A. Shingler.
Application Number | 20060201496 11/359117 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36969513 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shingler; Robert A. |
September 14, 2006 |
Cooking apparatus for use with a plurality of fuels
Abstract
A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a cooking device and a
cooking device having a convertible fuel apparatus are disclosed,
wherein the convertible fuel orifice apparatus includes a body, a
fuel passage extending through the body, wherein the fuel passage
includes an inlet and an outlet, an insert disposed within the
body, wherein the insert intersects the fuel passage, a first
orifice extending through the insert, wherein the first orifice is
configured for a first fuel, and a second orifice extending through
the insert, wherein the second orifice is configured for a second
fuel, wherein the insert is adjustable by a user to select between
the first orifice and the second orifice.
Inventors: |
Shingler; Robert A.;
(Beaverton, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALLEMAN HALL MCCOY RUSSELL & TUTTLE LLP
806 SW BROADWAY
SUITE 600
PORTLAND
OR
97205-3335
US
|
Assignee: |
EVO, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36969513 |
Appl. No.: |
11/359117 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60655774 |
Feb 22, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/39N ;
126/41R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 37/0704 20130101;
F24C 1/02 20130101; A47J 37/0871 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/039.00N ;
126/041.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 3/00 20060101
F24C003/00 |
Claims
1. A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a portable cooking
device, comprising: a body; a fuel passage extending through the
body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet; an
insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects the
fuel passage; a first orifice extending through the insert, wherein
the first orifice is configured for a first fuel; and a second
orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second orifice is
configured for a second fuel; wherein the insert is adjustable by a
user to select between the first orifice and the second
orifice.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fuel is natural gas
and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a valve cap coupled
to the insert to hold the insert in the body.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the body and
the insert includes indicia configured to enable a user to align
the fuel passage with at least one of the first orifice and the
second orifice.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fuel passage is configured
to be aligned to one of the first and the second orifice by
rotating the insert in relation to the body.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert is configured to be
adjusted by a tool that is operated by the user.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first orifice is
approximately orthogonal to the second orifice.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a
cross-section of the first orifice is a different size than at
least a portion of a cross-section of the second orifice.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert is further
configured to restrict rotational motion of the insert to a range
defined by the first orifice and the second orifice.
10. A cooking device having a fuel transport system comprising: a
fuel passage configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and
a fuel destination; and an adjustable orifice disposed within the
fuel passage, wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be
varied by a user between at least a first orifice and a second
orifice, wherein at least a portion of the first orifice has a
different cross-sectional area than the second orifice.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first orifice is configured
for natural gas and the second orifice is configured for liquid
petroleum.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable orifice is
configured to receive a tool, wherein the tool enables a user to
vary the adjustable orifice between the first orifice and the
second orifice.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable orifice is
configured to be varied by rotation of the adjustable orifice in
relation to the fuel passage by the user.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the fuel destination is at
least one burner.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable orifice is
configured to be varied by a user between more than two
orifices.
16. A method of operating an outdoor grill configured to utilize a
plurality of fuel types, wherein the grill includes a fuel passage
configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and at least one
burner, and an adjustable orifice structure disposed within the
fuel passage, wherein said adjustable orifice structure is
configured to be adjusted by a user between a first orifice
configured for a first fuel and a second orifice configured for a
second fuel, the method comprising: attaching a fuel source
containing a selected fuel type to the fuel passage; and adjusting
the adjustable orifice structure in response to the selected fuel
type.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said adjusting the adjustable
orifice structure includes rotating the adjustable orifice to align
one of the first orifice and the second orifice with the fuel
passage.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first fuel is natural gas
and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein said adjusting the adjustable
orifice may be performed without disassembling the grill.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/655,774, entitled COOKING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A PLURALITY OF
FUELS and filed Feb. 22, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus
adapted to utilize a plurality of different fuels, and more
particularly to a cooking apparatus adapted to utilize both liquid
petroleum and natural gas fuels.
SUMMARY
[0003] One disclosed embodiment provides a convertible fuel orifice
apparatus for a cooking device, wherein the convertible fuel
orifice apparatus includes a body, a fuel passage extending through
the body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet,
an insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects
the fuel passage, a first orifice extending through the insert,
wherein the first orifice is configured for a first fuel, and a
second orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second
orifice is configured for a second fuel, wherein the insert is
adjustable by a user to select between the first orifice and the
second orifice. A cooking apparatus having a convertible fuel
apparatus is also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a partially broken-away view of a portion of a
cooking apparatus illustrating an embodiment of a fuel transport
system.
[0005] FIGS. 2A-2D show several views of an embodiment of a
convertible orifice assembly of the fuel transport system of FIG.
1.
[0006] FIG. 3A-3C show several views of the orifice assembly body
of the convertible orifice assembly of FIG. 2.
[0007] FIGS. 4A-4D show several views of the orifice insert of the
convertible orifice assembly of FIG. 2.
[0008] FIGS. 5A-5E show several views of the valve cap of the
convertible orifice assembly of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 6 shows a view of the convertible orifice assembly of
FIG. 2 attached to a gas flow valve.
[0010] FIG. 7 shows a magnified view of alignment indicia on the
convertible orifice assembly.
[0011] FIG. 8 shows a view of the convertible orifice assembly and
gas flow valve of FIG. 6 attached to a manifold, and also shows a
gas supply line connector exploded from the manifold and a manifold
seal disposed in an end of the manifold.
[0012] FIG. 9 shows a view of the convertible orifice assembly, gas
flow valve, manifold and connector of FIG. 8, wherein the connector
is connected to the manifold via a saddle connector.
[0013] FIG. 10 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of a cooking
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows, generally at 10, a portion of a cooking
apparatus configured to utilize a plurality of different fuel
types. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a partially broken-away view of
an underside of a control panel of a cooking apparatus,
illustrating a fuel transport system for the apparatus. Cooking
apparatus 10 may be any type of cooking apparatus, including but
not limited to outdoor grills. In some examples, cooking apparatus
10 may be configured to be portable or stationary. While the
depicted embodiments are described herein in the context of a
grill, it will be understood that the discussion may apply to other
types of cooking apparatuses. Furthermore, it will be appreciated
that the concepts described herein may be extended to devices
outside of the cooking arts that utilize liquid and/or gaseous fuel
sources.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows grill 10 including a fuel transport system for
transporting the fuel between a fuel source and a fuel destination,
such as a burner. The fuel transport system includes a flare
fitting 12 adapted to receive a quick-disconnect coupling to
receive connection of a fuel supply line, a manifold 14 to which
flare fitting 12 is attached, a valve 16 coupled to manifold 14 to
allow a user to control a flow of fuel to a burner or burners (not
shown), and a convertible orifice assembly 20 connected to valve 16
through which fuel expands prior to mixing with oxygen at the
burners. Convertible orifice assembly 20 may also be connected to a
Venturi tube 18 such that an end of the orifice assembly 20 is
positioned within Venturi tube 18. Venturi tube 18 may include an
adjustable opening 19 to permit adjustment of an amount of air that
is mixed with the fuel for combustion. It will be appreciated that
the depicted components are merely exemplary, and that grill 10 may
include any other suitable components in addition to and/or in
place of those shown.
[0016] Convertible orifice assembly 20 may be configured to convert
between a liquid petroleum (LP) orifice and a natural gas orifice,
allowing either type of fuel to be used with grill 10. In contrast,
conventional grills are typically configured to utilize a specific
type of fuel source. LP (typically propane) and natural gas require
different fuel transport system characteristics. For example,
natural gas typically is supplied at lower pressure than liquid
petroleum. Therefore, LP grills typically have a smaller valve
orifice than natural gas. Furthermore, LP grills also have smaller
fuel supply lines leading to the valve orifice than natural gas
grills, and also may have different regulators. Therefore, grills
configured to burn one type of fuel generally cannot be used with
other types of fuels without extensive modifications. This requires
a user who wants to use both LP and natural gas sources for grills
either to buy more than one grill, or to modify one grill for use
with the other type of fuel. Such modifications may be permanent in
nature, and also may pose hazards to the user.
[0017] Convertible orifice assembly 20 overcomes such problems by
including orifices for both LP fuels and natural gas. FIGS. 2A-2D
show convertible orifice assembly 20 in more detail. Convertible
orifice assembly 20 may include an orifice assembly body 22, a
convertible orifice insert 24 that fits within orifice assembly
body 22, and a valve cap 26 attachable to orifice insert 24 to hold
the orifice insert within the orifice assembly body. Convertible
orifice assembly 20 also may include various washers, O-rings,
springs, and other parts not separately described herein to prevent
gas leaks, etc. As shown in FIG. 2B, orifice assembly body 22
and/or orifice insert 24 may also include indicia 46 indicating
which orifice is currently in use.
[0018] FIGS. 3A-3C show orifice assembly body 22 in more detail.
Orifice assembly body 22 includes an inlet 30, an outlet 32, and a
fuel passage 34 extending between inlet 30 and outlet 32. Orifice
assembly body 22 may also include an opening 36 between inlet 30
and outlet 32, wherein opening 36 is disposed transversely to, and
bisects, fuel passage 34. The depicted opening 36 has a tapered
shape corresponding to the shape of the depicted orifice insert 24,
but both the opening and the orifice insert may have any other
suitable shape. Alternatively, orifice assembly body 22 may contain
a cavity to substantially fully enclose orifice insert 24, rather
than an opening for containing orifice insert 24. Where orifice
assembly body 22 is configured to substantially fully enclose
orifice insert 24, orifice assembly body 22 may be formed from a
plurality of sections that are assembled around orifice insert 24
to contain orifice insert 24.
[0019] FIGS. 4A-4D show orifice insert 24 in more detail. It will
be appreciated that the orifices may have any other suitable
dimensions, and that the dimension may differ depending upon the
desired maximum thermal output of grill 10. FIG. 4B shows an
example indicia 46 for indicating which orifice is currently in use
as well as an opening configured to receive an Allen wrench.
[0020] Orifice insert 24 is shown having two different orifices
that extend completely through the diameter of the orifice insert:
an LP orifice 40 having a smaller cross-sectional area, and a
natural gas orifice 42 having a larger cross-sectional area. FIG. 4
shows orifice insert 24 in more detail. LP orifice 40 and natural
gas orifice 42 are configured to line up with fuel passage 34 when
orifice insert 24 is positioned in orifice assembly body and
rotated to an appropriate position. Natural gas orifice 42 and LP
orifice 40 are positioned at different locations on orifice insert
24, such that natural gas orifice 42 and LP orifice 40 do not line
up with outlet 32 of orifice assembly body 22 at the same time.
Therefore, orifice assembly 20 may be changed from a LP mode to a
natural gas mode simply by turning orifice insert 24 to line up
either LP orifice 40 or natural gas orifice 42 with fuel passage
34. However, it should be appreciated that orifice insert 24 may be
configured to be adjusted by methods other than rotation, including
but not limited to linear displacement, toggle mechanisms, etc.
[0021] It will be appreciated that the positioning and
configuration of convertible orifice assembly 20 require a user to
have the intent to change the setting from LP to natural gas for
the change to be made. In other words, convertible orifice assembly
20 may be configured such that it cannot be moved accidentally
between the LP and natural gas positions. Furthermore, the depicted
convertible orifice assembly may require the use of a tool to make
the adjustment so that the adjustment cannot be made accidentally
by a child, etc. The depicted convertible orifice assembly utilizes
an Allen wrench to make this adjustment. However, it will be
appreciated that any other suitable adjustment mechanism for
preventing accidental adjustment may be used.
[0022] As shown above in FIG. 2D, valve cap 26 can be configured to
be attached to orifice insert 24 to hold the orifice insert in
place in body 22. Valve cap 26 is shown in more detail in FIGS.
5A-5E. Valve cap 26 may include a central opening 48 configured to
accept insertion of a fastener (for example, the button head socket
screw shown in FIG. 2D) for attaching cap 26 to orifice insert 24.
Valve cap 26 may also include a protrusion 50 configured to extend
into a complementary recess formed in orifice assembly body 22
(recess is shown at 52 in FIG. 2D). Protrusion 50 and recess 52
cooperate to restrict the range of rotation of orifice insert 24
within orifice assembly body 22. In the depicted embodiment,
protrusion 50 and recess 52 are configured to stop the rotation of
orifice insert 24 at the points where LP orifice 40 and natural gas
orifice 42 line up with fuel passage 34. However, it will be
appreciated that protrusion 50 and recess 52 may be configured to
stop rotation of orifice insert 24 at any other suitable location
or locations, or may be omitted from convertible orifice assembly
20.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a view of convertible orifice assembly 20
connected to valve 16. Valve 16 may include a saddle connector 62
for connecting the valve to a manifold, and may also include a stem
64. Stem 64 may be configured to protrude through a control panel
and accept attachment of a knob (not shown). This allows a user to
control valve 16 by turning stem 64 via the knob.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a magnified view of indicia 46. As can be seen,
natural gas orifice 42 is in use when the "NG" indicia on orifice
insert 24 line up with the arrows on orifice assembly body 22.
Likewise, LP orifice 40 is in use when the "LP" indicia on orifice
insert 24 line up with the arrows on orifice assembly body 22.
[0025] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a view of convertible orifice assembly 20
and valve 16 attached to manifold 14. FIG. 8 also shows flare
connector 12 exploded from manifold 14, and FIG. 9 shows flare
connector 12 attached to manifold 14. Flare connector 12 may be
configured to accept attachment of a quick-disconnect fitting on a
fuel supply line so that LP and natural gas sources can be quickly
and easily changed. Flare connector 12 may include threads (not
shown) for attachment to a saddle connector 70.
[0026] FIG. 8 also shows a seal 72 disposed in an end of manifold
14. Seal 72 may include barbs (not shown) with a slightly larger
outer diameter than the inner diameter of manifold 14. Seal 72 can
be connected to manifold 14 by inserting seal 72 into manifold 14,
thereby sealing manifold 14 with the barbs. Thus, in this example,
no weld is needed to complete the seal. However, welds may be used
in some embodiments. Furthermore, an O-ring may be used in the
connection to provide additional leakage resistance.
[0027] While the depicted convertible orifice assembly includes
orifices configured for LP and natural gas fuels, it should be
appreciated that the convertible orifice assembly may be configured
for any other suitable fuel, and may be configured to convert
between orifices for more than two different fuels.
[0028] As described above, the depicted orifice assemblies may be
used in any suitable cooking apparatus. FIG. 10 illustrates one
example of a cooking apparatus 100 in the form of a portable
outdoor grill. In the example of FIG. 10, the orifice assembly 20
is shown to be located generally adjacent an instrument panel of
the grill. However, orifice assembly 20 may be located adjacent to
a fuel supply connector, or at any other suitable location.
[0029] Furthermore, although the present disclosure includes
specific embodiments of cooking apparatuses and orifice assemblies
for cooking appartuses, specific embodiments are not to be
considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are
possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all
novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the
various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed
herein. The description and examples contained herein are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention, but are included for
illustration purposes only.
[0030] The following claims particularly point out certain
combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious.
These claims may refer to "an" element or "a first" element or the
equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include
incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor
excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and
subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties
may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through
presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such
claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to
the original claims, also are regarded as included within the
subject matter of the present disclosure.
* * * * *