Barbecue grill smoker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current barbecue grill smokers face issues with handling hot or soiled grates, lack of stable and versatile handle systems, and inefficient fuel management, leading to burns, soiling, and fuel waste, with no effective solution for easily removing and salvaging residual solid fuel.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of handles that attach to internal grates for safe handling, a basket for containing and sifting solid fuel, and legs on the lid for inverted storage, allowing for safe handling and storage of grates and fuel without soiling hands, and facilitating fuel distribution and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wire handles protrude upward from the cooking surface, then the handles are accessible for gripping, but the handles become too hot to use during operation and are covered in soot when cold
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is extracted from the cooking surface and repositioned to the perimeter, separating the gripping function from the heat-exposed cooking area. This allows users to handle the grate without direct exposure to heat and soot while maintaining full control.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly acts as an intermediary tool that transfers the mechanical force needed to manipulate the cooking grate, while its peripheral positioning protects the user's hands from direct contact with harmful heat and soot environments.
2Ease of operation
If the grill smoker is hot and the grate needs to be removed, then food can be retrieved or fuel added, but the user's hands are burned
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is extracted from the heat-exposed cooking surface and repositioned to the cooler perimeter area, allowing users to grip and manipulate the hot grate without direct hand contact with heat sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle positioning moves from a vertical arrangement (protruding upward from cooking surface) to a horizontal arrangement at the perimeter, creating spatial separation between the user's hands and the heat zone while maintaining mechanical leverage.
3Ease of operation
If the grill smoker is cold and the grate needs to be removed, then preparation can be done, but the user's hands are covered in soot
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is extracted and repositioned to the perimeter area that is not exposed to soot accumulation zones, allowing users to handle the cold grate without transferring soot to their hands or storage surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If modern grill assemblies lack dedicated grate storage, then the structure remains simple, but there is no place to store the grate without transferring soot or burning the storage surface
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the cooking surface, acts as a mounting location for handle assemblies, and serves as a clean storage area for the cooking grate when not in use, eliminating soot transfer problems.
5Ease of operation
If removable handle assemblies are used, then the grilling surface can be lifted in hot or cold conditions, but the handle assemblies are not firmly attached and have limited control
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assemblies are pre-attached to the perimeter structure before the cooking grate is installed, ensuring they are firmly secured and positioned. This preliminary attachment provides stable anchor points that maintain reliability during grate manipulation.
6Device complexity
If removable handle assemblies rely on cross rail stiffness, then the structure remains simple, but the handles are unstable when manipulating hot cooking surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assemblies are extracted from the unsupported center cross rail area and repositioned to the perimeter structure, which provides inherent structural rigidity and stability from the grill's frame, eliminating the need for complex support mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A barbecue grill smoker assembly includes a firebox base and fuel grate handles and food grate handles connected to components internal to a cooking chamber of the grill smoker that extend outwardly beyond the cooking chamber. The grill smoker assembly includes a fuel grate assembly in the form of a basket that, when combined with a food grate assembly, contains solid fuel within an area defined by a compartment. Fuel can be managed by manipulating the food grate assembly and the fuel grate assembly. The fuel grate assembly may include an aperture to facilitate transfer of residual solid fuel to a charcoal starting device. The lid features a lid support to support the lid when inverted.