A smokeless grill for cooking food

Abstract

The present invention falls within the scope of equipment to cook food, in particular smokeless grills. The object of the present invention is a grill to cook food that comprises one heat generating module (100) which includes one heating element (101) and at least one heat-emitting plate (102); a food preparation module (200), arranged in a lower plane than the heat generating module (100), comprising at least one compartment (201) adapted to receive the food to be cooked; wherein the heating element (101), the emitter plate and the food preparation module (200) are structurally arranged so that the heating element (101) heats the heat-emitting plate (102), the latter heating the food placed on the food preparation module (200). This solution allows to grill food in a healthy manner, without having the food sticking to the grid and without producing harmful fumes and gases resulting from fuel burning.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A SMOKELESS GRILL FOR COOKING FOOD

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention falls within the scope of equipment to cook food, in particular smokeless grills.

[0005] BACKGOUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Grills are equipment used to cook food, by means of which the food is cooked by the direct action of infrared rays (IR) , commonly designated by heat. To generate the necessary heat to grill the food, several heat sources are used, the most common of which are fuel sources such as coal or wood. But, the use of such fuels implies a number of disadvantages when the combustion of these fuels is not efficient, resulting in the production of solid waste, such as ashes, as well as the production of harmful gases and fumes .

[0007] In addition, food is usually placed over the heat source, exposing it to direct contact with harmful gases and fumes, and fluids released by the food itself, such as fat and water, fall directly onto the heat source, causing more smoke, flames and unpleasant smells, making it difficult to grill food.

[0008] The present invention provides a solution for the limitations presented by the already existing grills, by combining the advantages of the heat source upper arrangement, in relation to the food product, with the high energy efficiency and waste heat recover.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the present invention is a grill to cook food (1) comprising:

[0011] - one heat generating module (100) comprising a heating element (101) and at least one heat-emitting plate (102) ;

[0012] - a food preparation module (200) , arranged in a lower plane than the heat generating module (100) , comprising at least one compartment (201) adapted to receive the food to be prepared; characterized in that the heating element (101) , the heat-emitting plate (102) and the food preparation module (200) are structurally arranged such that the heating element (101) heats the heat-emitting plate (102) in such a way that said plate emits heat that falls on the food placed on the food preparation module (200) .

[0013] As the food preparation module (200) is in a lower plane in relation to the heat generating module (100) , it allows the heat emitted by the heat-emitting plates (102) to fall directly on the food to be prepared, the food being heated before the surface on which that food is placed. This directional heat on the food is advantageous because it prevents food from sticking to surfaces during cooking, allowing delicate food products such as fish and vegetables to be cooked without sticking to surfaces and falling apart during handling. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the heat generating module (100) comprises at least two heatemitting plates (102) having a square shape, being preferably positioned in line, side by side and in direct contact with each other, to increase and define a continuous area with heat emission to prepare the food.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grill (1) to cook food comprises a first heat recovery module (300) consisting of at least one heat reflector plate (301) , at least two supporting vertical profiles (302) to sustain the mentioned heat reflector plates (301) , and one upper cover (303) with a hood shape that has at least one central ventilation port (304) , placed at the central highest zone of said upper cover (303) . The heat reflector plate (301) is supported by the supporting vertical profiles (302) in a plane above the heat generating module (100) , said supporting vertical profiles (302) comprising notches adapted to receive the heat reflector plate (301) . In turn, the upper cover (303) includes the set consisting of the supporting vertical profiles (302) , the heat reflector plate (301) and the heat generating module (100) arranged on the bottom plane of said cover.

[0015] The arrangement of the heat reflector plate (301) facing the heat generating module (100) allows the heat irradiated upwards by the heat-emitting plates (102) to, in return, be reflected downwards by the heat reflector plate (301) , towards the heat generating module (100) and the food preparation module (200) ; the upper cover (303) does also reflect the heat irradiated upwards which has not been reflected by the heat reflector plate (301) . In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the first heat recovery module (300) comprises at least two heat reflector plates (301) , wherein said heat reflector plates (301) are tilted relative to the horizontal plane of the heat-emitting plate (102) , adapting the heat reflector plates (301) to direct the rising gases from the heat generating module (100) and from the food preparation module (200) towards the at least one central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) . Additionally, the structural arrangement of the heat reflector plates (301) , in several upper planes, and the hood shape of the upper cover (303) allow the gases originating in the heat generating module (100) or in the food preparation module (200) , to be directed towards the central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) , thus allowing the gases to escape through the central ventilation port (304) without contacting the food under preparation .

[0016] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the grill (1) comprises a second heat recovery module (400) that consists of a supporting frame (401) and in a gas diffuser element (402) . The supporting frame (401) is adapted to accommodate, in its interior, the heat generating module (100) and the first heat recovery module (300) . It has an opening at its bottom, facing the food preparation module (200) , and an opening at the top, facing the gas diffuser element (402) positioned on the supporting frame (401) . The gas diffuser element (402) consists in a casing with an open base, which communicates with the opening on the top of the supporting frame (401) , comprising, at the top, at least two peripheral sections (403) with a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) around a central section with no holes (405) . The peripheral sections (403) have a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) , which permit to ventilate the rising gases from the heat generating module (100) and from the food preparation module (200) . The gases ventilated through the holes on the peripheral sections (403) are directed by the central section with no holes (405) , wherein said central section with no holes (405) consists of a physical barrier for the vertical flow of gases from the ventilation port of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) , directing the gases from the centre to the periphery. The purpose of the central section with no holes (405) in the gas diffuser element (402) is to prevent the possible spillage of liquids directly into the at least one central ventilation port (304) when it falls centrally on the first heat recovery module (300) , actually hitting the heat generating module (100) and, particularly, the gas burner (11) . Should there be a liquid spillage at the zone with no holes (405) , that liquid must run and fall onto the peripheral zones of the upper cover (303) , being later on directed to the compartment peripheral zone (201) of the food preparation module (200) such that the liquid does not fall onto the grid (202) where the food to be prepared is found .

[0017] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the grill (1) comprises an outer module (500) consisting of an upper cover casing (501) , adapted to lodge in its interior the second heat recovery module (400) , and a supporting frame (502) arranged in a lower plane than the upper casing, comprising at least one opening adapted to receive the food preparation module (200) . The upper cover casing (501) has a top opening, adapted to receive the gas diffuser element (402) of the second heat recovery module (400) , said opening being aligned with the gas diffuser element (402) , so that the gas diffuser element (402) communicates with the atmosphere to ventilate the residual gases from the heat generating module (100) and from the food preparation module (200) . Additionally, the gas diffuser element (402) consists of an element that emits residual heat, which may be used to heat other containers and / or objects that are directly placed on top of the gas diffuser element (402) . The supporting frame (502) of the outer module (500) is positioned in a lower plane than the upper casing (501) and comprises an opening adapted to receive the food preparation module (200) , the latter being preferably detachable to enable the handling of food in the compartment (201) without risking directly exposing the user to the heat emitted by the heat generating module (100) .

[0018] The grill (1) to cook food may assume different embodiments and is not limited to any embodiment described herein .

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] Figure 1 - a schematic illustration of the heating element, type gas burner (11) , including an inner gas inlet pipe (12) , an external gas distribution pipe (13) and a plurality of gas outlet ports (14) .

[0021] Figure 2 - transparent view of the heating element, type gas burner (11) . The inner gas inlet pipe (12) has an end for the inlet of propane gas and a section that is inserted into the external gas distribution pipe (13) . The mentioned section, comprises a plurality of notches allowing the outlet of gases into the external gas distribution pipe (13) , said notches being centrally arranged on the external gas distribution pipe (13) , to ensure a homogenous distribution of propane gas along the whole external gas distribution pipe (13) .

[0022] Figure 3 - a lower perspective view of the heat generating module (100) , comprising the gas burner (11) , consisting of an inner gas inlet pipe (12) , an external gas distribution pipe (13) and a plurality of gas outlet ports (14) ; and comprising a set of heat-emitting plates (102) , arranged on both sides of the gas burner (11) .

[0023] Figure 4 - an upper perspective view of the heat generating module (100) , comprising the gas burner (11) , a set of heat-emitting plates (102) , arranged on both sides of the gas burner (11) , and of a set of supporting vertical profiles (302) , said supporting vertical profiles (302) being fixed by means of attachments, such as screws, rivets, among others .

[0024] Figure 5 - an upper perspective view of the heat reflector plates (301) supported by the supporting vertical profiles (302) and arranged on the heat-emitting plates (102) .

[0025] Figure 6 - an upper perspective view of the upper cover (303) , comprising a plurality of central ventilation ports (304) , said upper cover (303) being arranged on the supporting vertical profiles (302) and heat reflector plates (301) . Figure 7 - a perspective view of the supporting frame (401) , comprising a rectangular opening at the top of the supporting frame (401) , the upper cover (303) with a hood shape extending through the opening in the top of said supporting frame (401) .

[0026] Figure 8 - a perspective view of the second heat recovery module (400) comprising a supporting frame (401) and a gas diffuser element (402) , arranged on the opening at the top of the supporting frame (401) . The gas diffuser element (402) has, on its top face, two peripheral sections (403) with a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) around a central section with no holes (405) , said central section being aligned with the central ventilation ports (304) in the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) .

[0027] Figure 9 - a perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of the grill (1) , depicting the outer module (500) that comprises an upper cover casing (501) and a supporting frame (502) comprising an opening adapted to receive the food preparation module (200) arranged in a lower plane than the heat generating module (100) .

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The more general advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the Invention. These configurations are detailed hereafter, in accordance with other advantageous and / or preferential implementation modes of the present invention. In a preferential aspect of the present invention, the heat generating module (100) comprises at least two heatemitting plates (102) with a quadrangular shape, which are preferably arranged side by side and in direct contact with each other, the dimensions of the heat-emitting plates (102) are adapted such that the heating thereof may be rapid and efficient, without the risk of deforming the material of the heat-emitting plates (102) due to high temperatures, considering that bodies submitted to procedures of repeated heating and cooling are prone to partial deformation. Thus, the increase in the heat emission area is performed through the arrangement of more than one heat-emitting plate (102) so that there are subdivisions between the heated plates to avoid their deformation.

[0030] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the heat-emitting plates (102) are made of metal, preferably stainless steel, and have a thickness between 0.5 mm and 0.6 mm which allow a rapid and efficient heating of said heat-emitting plates (102) .

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heating element (101) consists in a propane gas burner (11) , which includes an inner gas inlet pipe (12) and an external gas distribution pipe (13) . The external gas distribution pipe (13) comprises a cavity, an end adapted to receive the inner gas inlet pipe (12) , a closed end and at least a strip with a plurality of gas outlet ports (14) arranged in a pipe longitudinal plane. The inner gas inlet pipe (12) comprises an open end, configured to receive the gas flow in the interior of said inner tube, and an open top communicating with the cavity in the external gas distribution pipe (13) , said end being arranged at the center of the cavity to ensure the diffusion and homogeneous distribution of gas inside the cavity, resulting in regular flames in all the holes along the longitudinal strip of the plurality of gas outlet ports (14) .

[0032] An advantageous aspect of the present invention is the use of propane gas as fuel for the gas burner (11) , propane gas having a highly combustible efficiency that, practically, does not produce waste and gases from its combustion .

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the heat-emitting plates (102) are arranged in a horizontal plane on the gas burner (11) so that, during the combustion of propane gas, the hottest point of the flame is in direct contact with the centre of each heat-emitting plate (102) . This preferred configuration increases the heat transfer to the heatemitting plates (102) , which heat up faster and more efficiently as well as they reach, more quickly, temperatures suitable to irradiate the food to be cooked.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the heating element (101) of the heat generating module (100) consists in an electrical heating device adapted to heat the heat-emitting plates (102) , either by induction or by the action of electric resistance, in order to not produce any gases during the generation of heat.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first heat recovery module comprises a plurality of heat reflector plates (301) supported at least by two supporting vertical profiles (302) which, in turn, are fixed onto the heat generating module (100) through attachment means, such as screws, rivets, among others.

[0036] The heat reflector plates (301) are arranged in parallel on different planes to form spaces between said heat reflector plates (301) and allow the upward flow of convection gases. Preferably, the heat reflector plates (301) have a tilt between 12° and 14° in relation to the horizontal plane, so that the heat from the heat generating module (100) is reflected back to the centre of the opening at the bottom of the upper cover (303) . The plates tilt does also allow the rising gases to be directed towards the central ventilation ports (304) arranged on top of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) .

[0037] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) is arranged on said heat reflector plates (301) to cover an area equal or greater than the area defined by the heat generating module (100) , minimizing lateral heat losses .

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second heat recovery module (400) comprises a gas diffuser element (402) , wherein the central section with no holes (405) of said gas diffuser element (402) comprises an area greater than the at least one central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) , in order to prevent the vertical flow of gases from the first heat recovery module (300) , promoting a horizontal flow of the gases from the centre towards the periphery, and also preventing a possible liquid spillage on the gas diffuser element (402) reaching the heat generating module (100) within the grill (1) . Additionally, the gas diffuser element (402) comprises lateral faces perpendicularly arranged in relation to the top of said gas diffuser element (402) , wherein each of the lateral faces comprises a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) adapted to provide a secondary horizontal ventilation path for gases from the first heat recovery module (300) . This secondary ventilation path is very important to guarantee an efficient ventilation of the gases produced during the food preparation, even in occasions wherein there is a partial or total obstruction of the gas diffuser element top (402) .

[0039] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the grill (1) comprises an outer module (500) made of metal, preferably in aluminium because it is a lighter metal. The upper cover casing (501) of the outer module (500) comprises at least one lid (503) arranged above the upper cover casing (501) of the outer module (500) , and which has an opening adapted to receive the top of the gas diffuser element (402) of the second heat recovery module (400) . Additionally, the lid (503) is suspended above the upper cover casing (501) and is supported by a plurality of spacing elements (504) , which guarantee a minimum spacing of 10 mm so that the gaps formed by the spacers consist of a secondary and horizontal ventilation path for the gases from the first heat recovery module (300) , namely the plurality of holes (404) included in the lateral faces of the gas diffuser element (402) of the second heat recovery module (400) . This configuration ensures an efficient ventilation of the gases produced during the food preparation in the event of a partial or total obstruction of the gas diffuser element top (402) . In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the attachment points of the different modules of the grill (1) are preferably arranged on the peripheral zones of each module wherein the temperature will be lower, because the production of heat is performed at the centre by the heat generating module (100) and the heat recovery modules are configured to direct the reflected heat and the rising gases towards the grill's centre. The attachment of the different modules is effected by attachment means such as screws, rivets, among others.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting frame (502) of the outer module (500) comprises an opening adapted to receive the food preparation module (200) , so that said food preparation module (200) may be removable in order to enable a safe handling of the food to be prepared.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food preparation module (200) comprises at least one grid (202) , wherein said grid (202) can be positioned at various distances from the heat generating module (100) . In order to obtain the best conditions to cook food, the heat generating module (100) and the food preparation module (200) are structurally arranged so that the distance between the grid (202) and the heat-emitting plates (102) is equal or greater than 10 cm, wherein the grid (202) comprises height variation means adapted to regulate the distance from the grid (202) to the heatemitting plates (102) in order to adjust the intensity of the heat emitted onto the food placed on said grid (202) , preferably being a reversible grid (202) , which height variation means consist of two sets of supports, one on either side of the grid (202) , said sets having different lengths. When the distance between the grid (202) and the heat-emitting plates (102) is less than 10 cm, the heat dispersion, which consists of infrared radiation, ceases to be homogenous and may partially burn some food parts. The maximum distance to guarantee a suitable level of heat to fall on the food placed on the grid (202) is 14 cm, to provide grilled food without losing efficiency.

[0042] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the grid (202) has a set of supports that position the grid (202) at a distance of 11 cm from the heat-emitting plates (102) , ideal to grill food with a thickness up to 1 cm, and has a supporting set on the opposite side, which places the grid (202) at a distance of 14 cm from the heat-emitting plates (102) , ideal to grill food with a larger thickness, up to 4 cm.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A grill to cook food (1) comprising:- one heat generating module (100) comprising one heating element (101) and at least one heatemitting plate (102) ;- one food preparation module (200) , arranged in a lower plane than the heat generating module (100) , comprising at least one compartment (201) adapted to receive the food to be cooked; characterized in that the heating element (101) , the heat-emitting plate (102) and the food preparation module (200) are structurally arranged so that the heating element (101) heats said heat-emitting plate (102) in such a way that said heat-emitting plate (102) is able to heat the food placed on the food preparation module (200) .

2. A grill, according to the previous claim, characterized in that it comprises at least two heat-emitting plates (102) structurally arranged on the same horizontal plane, aligned side by side and in direct contact so that the set of heat-emitting plates (102) defines a continuous area of heat emission towards the food preparation module (200) .

3. A grill (1) , according to the previous claim, wherein the heating element (101) consists of a gas burner (11) characterized in that it comprises an inner gas inlet pipe (12) and an external gas distribution pipe (13) ; whereinthe external gas distribution pipe (13) comprises a cavity, an end adapted to receive the inner gas inlet pipe (12) , a closed end and at least a strip with a plurality of gas outlet ports (14) arranged in a longitudinal plane of the pipe; and the inner gas inlet pipe (12) comprises an open end, configured to receive the gas flow inside said inner pipe, and one open end that communicates with the cavity of the outer pipe.

4. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the heat-emitting plate (102) is structurally arranged over the gas burner (11) in a plane over the strip with the plurality of gas outlet ports (14) of said gas burner (11) , wherein the distance between said heat-emitting plate (102) and said gas burner (11) is such that the flame resulting from the gas combustion extends through the holes and is in direct contact with the emitter plate.

5. A grill (1) , according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the heating element (101) is an electric heating device .

6. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, comprising a first heat recovery module (300) consisting of at least one heat reflector plate (301) ; at least two supporting vertical profiles (302) of said heat reflector plates (301) ; and an upper cover (303) comprising at least one central ventilation port (304) on top of said upper cover (303) ; wherein the at least one heat reflector plate (301) is arranged in a plane above the heat generating module (100) ; and in that said upper cover (303) is arranged over said heat reflector plate(301) to cover an area equal or greater than the area defined by the heat generating module (100) .

7. A grill (1) , according to the previous claim, wherein the first heat recovery module (300) comprises at least two heat reflector plates (301) , said heat reflector plates (301) having a tilted arrangement in relation to the horizontal plane of the heat-emitting plate (102) adapted to direct the ascending gases, coming from the heat generating module (100) and from the food preparation module (200) , towards the at least one central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) .

8. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, comprising a second heat recovery module (400) that comprises a supporting frame (401) adapted to accommodate therein the heat generating module (100) and the first heat recovery module (300) , said supporting frame (401) further comprising an opening on the top and an opening at the bottom; and a gas diffuser element (402) arranged on the supporting frame (401) ; wherein said gas diffuser element (402) consists of a casing the bottom of which is open and communicates with the top opening of the supporting frame (401) , and which top comprises at least two peripheral sections (403) with a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) around a central section with no holes (405) , said central section with no holes (405) being aligned with the at least one central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) .

9. A grill (1) , according to the previous claim, wherein a central section with no holes (405) of the gas diffuser element (402) comprises an area greater than the area of the at least one central ventilation port (304) of the upper cover (303) of the first heat recovery module (300) .

10. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, wherein the gas diffuser element (402) comprises lateral faces perpendicularly arranged in relation to the top of said gas diffuser element (402) , each of the lateral faces comprising a plurality of gas outlet ports (404) .

11. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises an outer module (500) consisting of an upper cover casing (501) , adapted to accommodate, inside, the second heat recovery module (400) , wherein the top of said upper cover casing (501) comprises at least one opening adapted to receive the gas diffuser element (402) of the second heat recovery module (400) , said opening being aligned with the gas diffuser element (402) ;- a supporting frame (502) arranged on a lower plane than the upper cover casing (501) , comprising at least one opening adapted to receive the food preparation module (200) .

12. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper cover casing (501) comprises at least a lid (503) arranged over the top of the upper cover casing (501) of the outer module (500) , wherein said lid (503) comprises one opening adapted toreceive the top of the gas diffuser element (402) , the lid (503) being supported by a plurality of spacer elements ( 504 ) .

13. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the food preparation module (200) is removable and comprises at least one grid (202) .

14. A grill (1) , according to the previous claim, characterized in that the heat generating module (100) and the food preparation module (200) are structurally arranged so that the minimum distance between the grid (202) and the heat-emitting plates (102) is equal to or greater than 10 cm, wherein said grid (202) comprises height variation means adapted to regulate the distance between the grid (202) and the heat-emitting plates (102) .

15. A grill (1) , according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the heat-emitting plates (102) have a thickness between 0.5 and 0.6 mm and are made of metal.

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