Smoke Generator

Abstract

The smoke generator comprises a plurality of concentric chambers, the innermost of which fuel is provided to burn to produce aeromatic smoke and the outer chambers being operable to contain smoke produced by the fuel.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to food preparation apparatus and, more particularly to smoking apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Means commonly used and employed to generate smoke for smoke curing include burning suitable, aeromatic wood, or wood chips, in the presence of food. Uncontrolled smoking fuel may ignite, rather than smolder. Several methods of controlling the rate of burning have been employed, such as wetting the smoking fuel. Wetting the fuel may produce unsavory side effects. Burning the smoking fuel in the presence of food may have unfavorable temperature effects, such as cooking the food or changing its chemical structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide smoke-generating apparatus which may generate smoke adjacent a suitably enclosed food enclosure.

It is another object of this invention to provide smoke-generating means, including control means to control the rate of burning and the rate of smoke outflow.

These and other objects shall become apparent from the description following, it being understood that modifications may be made without affecting the teachings of the invention here set out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the smoke generator comprises a plurality of concentric chambers, the innermost of which fuel is provided to burn to produce aeromatic smoke and the outer chambers being operable to contain smoke produced by the fuel. The smoke generator may include control means and suitable venting.

A more thorough and comprehensive understanding may be had from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in connection with the drawings forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the smoke generator of this invention, shown with the sidewalls thereof broken away for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2--2 of the FIG. 1, showing the interior configuration thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to the FIGS. 1 and 2, the smoke generator of this invention is shown to advantage and generally identified by the numeral 10. The smoke generator 10 comprises a plurality of concentrically disposed chambers 11, 12, and 13. It is to be understood that the chambers 11, 12, and 13 may be fixedly or detachably mounted. The centermost fuel chamber 11 is intended to hold and to incinerate fuel, such as charcoal. The fuel chamber 11 includes a lower solid cylindrical wall portion 14 and an upper porous wall portion 15 which is fastened to the uppermost terminal end of the wall portion 14. The porous wall portion 15 may be fabricated of suitable material, such as screen, to permit free circulation of air and heat. The wall portion 15 may be reinforced at its uppermost terminal end by a ring 16. The lowermost terminal wall 17 of the fuel chamber 11 and the smoke generator 10 is provided with a vent 18 which may include a multiplicity of holes 18', the holes 18' are distally disposed in the centermost portion of the chamber 11.

The chambers 12 and 13 are operable to carry wood chips (not shown) used in cure smoking. The inner chip chamber 12 is disposed about the fuel chamber 11, and includes a cylindrical wall 19 which rests on the lowermost terminal wall 17. The lowermost portion of the wall 19 includes a circumferential grating 20 which permits heat and air to pass between the inner chip chamber 12 and the outer chip chamber 13. The grating 20 may comprise a multiplicity of holes 21. The outer chip chamber includes a circumferential wall 22. It has been found to advantage to fabricate the wall 22 to be distally longer than that of the walls 14 and 19 to permit passage of heat and air at the upper portion of the smoke generator 10. The lowermost terminal wall 17 is fastened distally above the lowermost terminal end of the circumferential wall 22 to provide an air space beneath the lowermost terminal wall 17. The rim-like portion of the wall 22 depends below the wall 17 and includes vents 23 to facilitate passage of air through the vents 23 and the area between the wall 17 and the surface upon which the generator 10 may be placed.

The uppermost terminal end of the smoke generator 10 is covered by a removable cover 24, and is operable to tightly enclose the uppermost terminal end of the smoke generator 10. Smoke generated by the generator 10 is conducted to a suitable enclosure (not shown) containing material to be smoked by a duct 25. The duct 25 is fastened distally from the center of the cover 24 to reduce heat loss and to increase output of smoke. The duct 25 may be provided with a damper 26 to control the outflow of smoke from the generator 10 and a coupling 27 to connect the generator 10 with the enclosure.

In operation, coal fuel is disposed at the bottom of the fuel chamber 11, and burning fuel is disposed above, generally in the wall portion 15 of the chamber 11. The fuel may then burn downwardly in the chamber 11 at a substantially constant rate. Chips are disposed in the chip chambers 12 and 13. The chips tend to burn from the center of the smoke generator 10 outwardly, and in a downward direction in the inner chamber 12, and, as a result of ignition, through the grating 20, the lower portion of the wall 19, and upwardly through the chamber 13. Smoke thus generated is conducted by the duct 25 to the smoking enclosure.

Having thus described in detail a preferred apparatus which embodies the concepts and principles of the invention and which accomplishes the various objects, purposes and aims thereof, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes could be made in the apparatus without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. Hence, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A smoke generator comprising

a fuel chamber including a solid, lower cylindrical wall portion and a porous upper cylindrical wall portion fastened to the uppermost terminal end of said lower wall portion, and a vent in the lowermost terminal wall of said generator;

an inner chip chmaber including a solid cylindrical wall disposed distally concentrically about said fuel chamber cylindrical wall, said inner chip chamber including a cylindrical grating at the lowermost terminal end of said chip chamber cylindrical wall; and

an outer chamber including a cylindrical wall disposed distally concentrically about said inner chip chamber inner wall, said lowermost terminal wall being fastened to the lower terminal end of said outer chip chamber cylindrical wall, and including a cover attachably disposed at the uppermost terminal end of said outer cylindrical wall, said cover including a duct to communicate smoke from said smoke generator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including control means disposed in said duct to control the outflow of smoke from said smoke generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lowermost terminal wall is disposed distally from the lowermost end of said outer cylindrical wall of said outer chamber, and wherein the rim-like portion between said lowermost terminal wall and the lowermost terminal end of said outer chamber cylindircal wall having the vents including a plurality of holes.