A pellet fueled apparatus having a continuous spark ignition system and swing-away warming rack is disclosed. The apparatus may include a power supply controller configured to cause a spark generator to create a continuous spark in a gap space between two electrodes for a duration greater than 2 seconds and up to 20 minutes uninterrupted. The apparatus, when embodied as a grill may include a warming rack that swings away from an underlying cooking surface when the grill lid is opened.

The present invention provides a cooking embodiment and method for cooking food through the manipulation of the distance between a food product and a heat source. Also, food temperature auxiliary systems used in conjunction with the aforementioned embodiment and method. The embodiment and method involve continuously measurement of cooking surface's temperature and system's humidity. The embodiment and methods also include optionally using multiple of the same embodiment if cooking more than one type of food is required at the same time. The auxiliary systems relate to build material supply hating and cleaning diagnostics, and monitoring operation of the embodiment.

A barbeque grill scraper and related methods of use that utilize a scraping end formed of a heat-responsive material to remove char and other debris from the grilling surface. The grill scraper includes a conformable scraping edge formed of the heat-responsive material. As the conformable scraping edge is drawn back and forth along the heated grilling surface, a combination of pressure applied by a user as well as the heat of the grill surface results in the formation of individual grooves along the conformable scraping edge, wherein each groove is formed to match an upper profile of the grilling surface. Over time, the grooves fully conform to the upper profile of the grilling surface such that an entire cooking surface can be scraped clean of char and debris.

Methods and devices to enhance cooking are described. A device to enhance cooking includes a shaft. The shaft has one end that is adapted to be outside an object and a second end to be inserted into the object. The shaft includes at least one opening that is coupled to the second end. The at least one opening of the shaft is configured to output at least a portion of the heat that travels through the first end of the shaft into the object to reduce a cooking time of the object.

A remote temperature monitoring system includes a first unit operatively connected to one or more temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of one or more materials or food items being cooked or heated. The first unit transmits the sensed temperature to a second unit that is located remotely from the first unit during heating. The second unit is programmable with the desired temperature and/or heating parameters of the item. By monitoring the temperature status of the item over time, the system determines when the food has reached the desired temperature or degree of cooking, and notifies the user.

Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.

Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.

Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.

Collapsible combustion containers are disclosed and described. Such combustion containers generally include a first pair of vertically oriented panels joined by a hinge and a second pair of vertically oriented panels joined by a hinge. The pairs of panels are hinged to one another to form a closed perimeter with a box like shape.

One panel of the first pair may further include a relief space feature that creates a relief space so that the second pair of panels may be folded flat between the panels of the first pair when the container is collapsed for storage. Such combustion containers may burn a variety of fuels, including wood and other combustible matter, and be used as a portable stove or heating device and are especially useful during activities such as camping or backpacking, and for emergency preparedness reasons.

A solar barbeque and solar oven combination that provides for solar cooking, grill-style or oven-style, outdoors. The grill portion sits on top and has a glass cooking surface. Beneath the cooking surface are a series of louvers that can be open and closed to control temperature. A volume of space below the louvers has mirrored surfaces for the collection of solar energy. A side table is foldable and attached to the grill portion for additional mirrored surfaces and grilling surface area. Below the grill is a solar oven being enclosed on three sides and having doors in the front made of glass that are openable with wooden handles. Inside of the solar oven are mirrored surfaces and a grill/ surface for cooking. On the bottom of the interior of the oven is a heat capturing and/or storing device such as a heating stone or metal heat battery. The entire apparatus includes support legs with wheels and a handle for easy transport.