Gravity fed smoker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smoker systems with a firebox adjacent to a cooking chamber suffer from significant heat loss due to radiation and upward draft, leading to inefficiency and the need for excessive fuel consumption.

Innovation Solution

A gravity-fed charcoal smoker design featuring a cooking chamber with a cooking grate, a solid fuel fire pit, a fire chimney, a fuel hopper with a chute directing fuel into the fire pit by gravity, and a fan providing combustion air. The system includes a heat baffle in the cooking chamber and air diverter in the fire pit to enhance heat retention and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If fuel is fed into an adjacent or offset firebox, then combustion can be maintained, but energy loss increases significantly due to higher temperature from forced air

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful upward draft and radiation heat loss into a beneficial concentrated heat source by channeling combustion products through a vertical fire chimney. The chimney structure captures the naturally rising hot gases and redirects them horizontally into the cooking chamber, transforming the waste upward flow into useful cooking heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement from a horizontal adjacent firebox configuration to a vertical fire chimney structure. By positioning the fire pit beneath the cooking chamber and using a vertical chimney to transport heat, the system utilizes the vertical dimension to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If a firebox is positioned adjacent to the cooking chamber, then heat can be transferred, but significant heat loss occurs via radiation and upward draft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transferVSAvoidheat loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The fire chimney acts as an intermediary structure between the fire pit and the cooking chamber. It captures combustion products and heat from the fire pit and efficiently transports them into the cooking chamber, serving as a heat transfer mediator that reduces direct radiation loss and upward draft waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the heat and combustion products from the traditional adjacent firebox location and redirects them through a dedicated fire chimney structure. This separation allows the fire pit to be positioned optimally for combustion while the chimney efficiently delivers the heat to the cooking chamber, reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Power

If forced air is used to maintain combustion, then burning temperature increases, but fuel consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburning temperatureVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fire chimney utilizes natural buoyancy forces to draw combustion products and heat from the fire pit into the cooking chamber without requiring additional forced air. The vertical chimney structure creates a natural draft that self-regulates the combustion process, eliminating the need for excessive forced air and reducing fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design significantly reduces heat loss and improves energy efficiency by utilizing gravity-fed fuel delivery, controlled air flow, and a heat baffle to ensure even heat distribution, thereby reducing fuel consumption and enhancing cooking performance.

Implementation Method 1

a fuel hopper attached to a fuel chute directing solid fuel from the hopper into the firepit by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a fan directing combustion air into the fire pit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

a heat baffle in the cooking chamber interposing the fire chimney and the cooking grate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 4

Combustion products and heated gases will also travel vertically upwards due to buoyant forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS20250031903A1Gravity fed smoker

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 W C BRADLEY CO

AI summary

A cooking grill has a cooking chamber containing a cooking grate, a solid fuel fire pit beneath the cooking chamber, a fire chimney interposing the fire pit and the cooking chamber, a fuel hopper attached to a fuel chute directing solid fuel from the hopper into the firepit by gravity, and a fan directing combustion air into the fire pit.