Smoker Cabinet Slide Bracket for Water and Wood Chip Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smokers lack an efficient and accessible configuration for managing water and wood chips, which hampers the smoking process by limiting control over smoke generation and food cooking.
Innovation Solution
A vertically extended smoker cabinet with a gaseous fuel burner, a water pan, and a wood chips pan, where the pans are supported by a slide bracket and accessible through a smaller side door, allowing for controlled smoke generation and easy pan removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional smoker cabinet design is used with front door access only, then the overall structure is simple, but the access to water pan and wood chips pan is difficult and requires opening the large front door
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet door is segmented into two functional parts: a main front door for general access and a smaller side door specifically for accessing the water pan and wood chips pan. This segmentation allows targeted access to specific components without requiring opening the entire front door, improving operational convenience while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A slide bracket mechanism serves as an intermediary device between the pans and the cabinet interior. The slide bracket allows the water pan and wood chips pan to be easily inserted and removed through the small side door, facilitating easy maintenance and refilling operations without direct manual manipulation through the large front door.
2Ease of operation
If the water pan and wood chips pan are made easily removable, then maintenance and refilling are convenient, but the structural stability of the cabinet may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The slide bracket provides a dynamic support system that allows the pans to be easily slid in and out when needed, while automatically providing stable support when the pans are in position. The bracket's movable nature enables easy pan removal for maintenance while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide bracket is designed as a simple, durable support mechanism that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than constructing a complex permanent mounting system. This approach prioritizes ease of pan removal while maintaining adequate structural support through a straightforward mechanical solution.
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
This configuration enables precise control over smoke generation and food cooking, improving the smoking process by allowing for easy access and management of water and wood chips, enhancing the overall smoking experience.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous fuel supplied burner element positioned next to the lower end portion of the cabinet, the burner element being removably connectable to a source of gaseous fuel
Implementation Method 2
a wood chips container for containing wood chips, wherein the wood chips container is positioned in between the water container and the burner element
Data Source
AI summary
A smoker apparatus is disclosed that provides a smoker cabinet having upper and lower end portions. The cabinet has a top, a bottom and a side wall or walls and an interior. The cabinet includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves mounted within the cabinet interior. A cabinet door that enables access to the shelves. A gaseous fuel supplied burner element is positioned next to the lower end portion of the cabinet, the burner element being removably connectable to a source of gaseous fuel. A pair of containers is mounted within the cabinet below the shelves and above the burner element. One of the containers is preferably a water container for containing water. The other of the containers being a wood chips container for containing wood chips, wherein the wood chips container is positioned in between the water container and the burner element. A slide bracket supports the containers, the slide bracket positioned generally in between the burner element and the shelves. An access door is provided that is much smaller than the cabinet door, the access door extending vertically a distance at least spanning the vertical dimension of the containers. Either container can be removed laterally from the cabinet at least a partial distance by sliding it laterally upon the slide bracket and at least partially through the access door.