An apparatus for feeding a fuel, characterized as irregularly shaped fuel chips, from a storage bin to a burner of a cooking grill, includes a conveyance having a plurality of vanes movable from a first position proximate to a fuel source to a second position proximate to a fuel delivery chute leading to the burner. A fuel supply is arranged to feed the fuel to the first position. A chute is arranged having a first end proximate to the second position and a second end proximate to the burner for delivery of the fuel from the vanes at the second position to the burner. The vanes are arranged to scoop up the fuel from the fuel source at the first position, and to deposit the fuel at the second position into the first end of the chute.

An assembly for reducing excess piping pressure in a fluid distribution system. The assembly includes a fluid regulator including a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet, a first control element movable relative to a valve seat in the fluid passageway to control fluid flow therethrough, a valve stem coupled to the first control element, and an actuator assembly operatively coupled to the valve stem to control a position of the first control element. The assembly also includes a solenoid valve coupled to the fluid regulator at a position upstream of the outlet, the solenoid valve adapted to receive a control signal indicative of zero demand downstream of the fluid regulator, and having a second control element that is movable, responsive to the control signal, from a first position to a second position to reduce fluid flowing through the fluid passageway.

A pellet hopper for use in a pellet grill includes a first bottom panel, a second bottom panel, and a third bottom panel. Each bottom panel has an inner edge that partially defines a pellet evacuation opening. The first, second, and third bottom panels form respective first, second, and third nonzero angles relative to a horizontal plane. In this way, each bottom panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening.

The present invention relates to a self-powered time sharing reaction system and method for organic materials pyrolysis and combustion. The system comprises a time sharing reactor for pyrolysis and combustion, a feeder, a recovery apparatus for pyrolysis volatility products and a flue gas purifier. The whole process mainly consists of two time sharing stages of pyrolysis and combustion: organic materials are sent into the time sharing reactor for pyrolysis and combustion, and solid thermal carrier rapidly heats the organic materials and the pyrolysis reaction takes place. The produced pyrolysis volatility products enter the recovery apparatus for the recycling of the pyrolysis gas and pyrolysis oil; when the pyrolysis reaction is over, fill air into the time sharing reactor for pyrolysis and combustion to combust with the rest of the pyrolysis volatility products and the pyrolysis residue in the reactor. The heat produced during the combustion heats the solid thermal carrier, the flue gas is released after being purified, the heated solid thermal carrier is left in the time sharing reactor for pyrolysis and combustion to provide energy for the next organic materials pyrolysis. The process is thus repeated. The system has the advantages of cascade utilization of energy, short time of pyrolysis reaction and high efficiency of heat transfer.

A downflow hearth furnace includes a refractory-lined furnace lid. A burner is thermally coupled through the lid. A combustible material conveyor system communicates with an entry port. A variable speed motor driven rotatable combustible material disperser is positioned under the entry port and coupled to a rotation shaft. A refractory-lined furnace shell has a top edge mating with a bottom edge of the furnace lid and can be raised and lowered between an open position and a closed position. A bed of gas-permeable heat resistant material suspended on a layer of filter material defines a bottom end of a hearth disposed above a plenum. An outlet duct communicates with the plenum and has a horizontal outlet flange. A fixed scrubber input duct has an inlet flange positioned to mate with and form a seal with the outlet duct flange when the furnace shell is in the closed position.