Indoor Smoker Smoke Assembly with Auger and Catalytic Converter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smokers lack precise temperature and duration control for the smoldering process, leading to suboptimal smoke quality and the inability to safely operate indoors due to harmful emissions.
Innovation Solution
An indoor smoker with a smoke generating assembly featuring a smoke barrel, an auger for material advancement, and a smoldering heater, combined with a catalytic converter and a water reservoir for extinguishing combustible materials, allowing for controlled smoke generation and emission management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional smokers are used outdoors with direct smoke exhaust, then smoke generation is simple and effective, but harmful emissions cannot be eliminated for indoor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies catalytic conversion to transform harmful combustion emissions into beneficial or harmless substances. The catalytic converter uses catalysts to promote chemical reactions that convert volatile organic compounds and other harmful emissions into carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other less harmful substances, enabling indoor smoke generation without harmful emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catalytic converter as an intermediary component between the combustion chamber and the indoor environment. This intermediary device processes the smoke and emissions through catalytic reactions before they are released, eliminating harmful substances while maintaining the smoke generation function.
2Productivity
If wood is completely burned to generate smoke, then fuel consumption is efficient, but smoke quality deteriorates and acrid flavors are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the combustion process through an auger system that continuously feeds wood pellets at controlled rates. This dynamic feeding mechanism allows the combustion process to maintain optimal conditions for smoke generation without complete combustion, preventing acrid flavors while ensuring continuous fuel supply and efficient utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the combustion parameters by regulating the feed rate of wood pellets through the auger system and controlling the temperature of the heating element. By maintaining specific temperature ranges and feed rates, the system optimizes smoke quality and prevents complete combustion that would produce acrid flavors.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the smoldering process is allowed to continue without control, then continuous smoke is generated, but temperature regulation fails and smoke quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that continuously monitor the smoldering process and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts the auger feed rate and heating element power to maintain optimal temperature ranges for smoke generation, ensuring continuous quality smoke without overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the auger system to continuously feed wood pellets into the combustion chamber, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fuel for continuous smoke generation. The heating element continuously maintains the required temperature, and the system operates in a sustained cyclic manner to provide continuous high-quality smoke.
4Ease of operation
If no extinguishing mechanism is provided, then the smoker operates continuously, but safety risks increase and quick shutdown is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the combustion process from the main body by providing a separate combustion chamber that can be isolated and extinguished independently. The ash tray and discharge mechanisms allow the combustible material to be removed and extinguished separately from the smoke generation chamber, enabling quick shutdown and reducing safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements rapid extinguishing capability through the auger system that can quickly remove combustible material from the combustion chamber and discharge it into the ash tray. This rushing through of the combustible material out of the combustion zone enables quick shutdown and eliminates safety risks associated with continuous combustion.
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
Enables precise temperature control for high-quality smoke production and safe indoor operation by regulating the smoldering process and eliminating harmful emissions through catalytic conversion and quick extinguishing of combustible materials.
Implementation Method 1
A smoldering heater is in thermal communication with the smoke barrel for smoldering the combustible material
Implementation Method 2
Certain indoor smokers have been developed that use a catalytic converter to remove harmful emissions and permit indoor operation
Data Source
AI summary
A smoke generating assembly for an indoor smoker includes a smoke barrel having a rotating auger positioned therein. The smoke barrel may be supplied with combustible material at a first end of the smoke barrel and the auger may be intermittently rotated to advance the combustible material toward a second end of the smoke barrel and over a smoldering heater to generate a flow of smoke. A discharge port at the end of the smoke barrel may be positioned over a water reservoir, and the auger may be selectively rotated to advance partially consumed combustible material out of the smoke barrel and into the water reservoir where it is quickly extinguished.