Pivoting Burner-Tent Plates for Even Grill Heat and Flare-Up Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rectangular barbecue grills face challenges with flare-ups, uneven cooking temperature, and rapid temperature loss due to existing solutions being primarily designed for round grills, which do not effectively address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A barbecue apparatus featuring pivotally suspended plates aligned parallel to burner tents within a firebox, controlled by a U-shaped rod, allowing plates to move between positions atop and withdrawn from the burner tents to collect and radiate heat, thereby improving temperature distribution and preventing flare-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a rotating mechanism is used to distribute heat evenly, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases and the solution is only suitable for round barbecues
Solution Approach 1:
The grill is divided into multiple independent heat zones, each with its own burner and adjustable height mechanism. This allows independent control of temperature in different sections, achieving uniform temperature distribution without requiring rotation of the entire grill structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill grates are made adjustable in height and position, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the cooking surface. This enables adaptation to different heat distribution patterns and food types, providing even cooking without rotational mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the burner is rotated to move the flame around the cooking area, then flare-up prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The burning system is segmented into multiple independent burners positioned at different locations and heights. This allows selective activation and independent adjustment of each burner, preventing flare-ups by controlling heat distribution without rotating the entire burner assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each burner zone has customized heating characteristics and can be independently adjusted to provide local heat control. This prevents flare-ups by allowing precise control of heat intensity in specific areas rather than rotating a single flame source.
3Temperature
If charcoal or wood is placed in a rotating tray below the grill, then heat distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system is segmented with multiple burners positioned at different locations and angles. This provides even heat distribution from multiple stationary sources rather than requiring rotation of a single fuel tray, simplifying the overall mechanism.
4Temperature
If skewers are rotated around the grill, then even cooking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grill provides dynamic heat distribution through multiple adjustable burners and height-controlled grill grates. This creates even cooking conditions without requiring rotation of skewers, allowing food to be cooked uniformly in place.
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 apparatus significantly reduces flare-ups and enhances heat retention by ensuring even heating and distributing heat across the grill, with the plates alternating positions to shield and radiate heat, thus improving cooking consistency.
Implementation Method 1
the plates alternating positions to shield and radiate heat
Implementation Method 2
the plates alternating positions to shield and radiate heat
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a barbecue apparatus for preventing flare-ups and improving temperature distribution and heat retention when cooking on a barbecue. The apparatus comprises at least one plate that is movable between a first position lying atop a respective side of at least one burner tent and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent. Further provided are a barbecue comprising said apparatus and a method of preventing flare-ups and improving temperature distribution and heat retention when cooking on a barbecue by moving at least one plate between a first position lying atop a respective side of at least one burner tent and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent.