An actuated vent valve external of, and in series with a vent port of, a solid-fueled cooker is automatically controlled by controlling a flow of air into a combustion region of the solid-fueled cooker so as to substantially regulate a first temperature within a cooking region of a solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to a first temperature signal measured within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker.

A cooking apparatus can include an enclosure defining a heating chamber configured to be heated and used for cooking food, a burn box proximate to the enclosure and which is configured to provide heat to the heating chamber, a hopper fluidly coupled to the burn box and configured to hold fuel, and a fuel conditioner disposed between the hopper and the burner to condition the fuel prior to burning in the burner. The fuel conditioner can be, for example, a wood chipper configured to reduce the size of the fuel.

A cooking apparatus having a cooking chamber, a cooking drawer, a solid fuel support drawer, gas burners, and an ash drawer. One of the cassettes positionable in the cooking drawer can be a belt conveyor which can transport food between end doors of the cooking chamber. A front door of the chamber, when open, allows for the cooking drawer with a partially-cooked food item to be removed and moved to another location for inspection/manipulation of the food item, and then returned to the cooking chamber. Infrared burners on the ceiling of the cooking chamber are directed down to the cooking drawer. Hot exhaust gases in the cooking chamber pass through the housing to a top area for food cooking/warming. A flickering flame assembly creates flickering flames in the back of the chamber which are visible from both the front and the back of the cooking apparatus.

The present invention relates to a cooking hob (10) with at least two one-piece fastening elements (20) arranged at outer portions of the cooking hob (10). The fastening element (20) comprises a first portion (22) being permanently connected or connectable to an upper part (12) of the cooking hob (10). The fastening element (20) comprises a second portion (24) being detachably connected or connectable to a lower part (14) of the cooking hob (10), so that the upper part (12) and the lower part (14) form the cooking hob (10). The second portion (24) of the fastening element (20) comprises at least one spring element (26) at a sidewall of the cooking hob (10) in order to clamp the cooking hob (10) within a cutout (34) enclosing circumferentially the cooking hob (10). At least two fastening elements (20) are arranged at opposite sidewalls of the cooking hob (10). Further, the present invention relates to a one-piece fastening element.

A work table is provided for a pickup truck tailgate. The work table is received in a pocket defined in a rear portion of the truck bed and is deployed to overlie an inner surface of the tailgate. Guide members and followers provided on a pivot connector guide the work table as it is lowered into and raised from the pocket. Right and left panels are provided on either side of the main panel to cover right and left portions of the tailgate. The pocket is disposed between the spare tire and bumper and between the right and left frame rails at the rear sill of the truck bed.

A work table is provided for a pickup truck tailgate. The work table is received in a pocket defined in a rear portion of the truck bed and is deployed to overlie an inner surface of the tailgate. Guide members and followers provided on a pivot connector guide the work table as it is lowered into and raised from the pocket. Right and left panels are provided on either side of the main panel to cover right and left portions of the tailgate. The pocket is disposed between the spare tire and bumper and between the right and left frame rails at the rear sill of the truck bed.

An automated self-contained pellet grill includes a base housing that defines a heat distribution chamber with a cooking grid supported in an opening at the top of the base for supporting food to be cooked. A pellet burning mechanism, located within the housing, includes a pellet feeder driven by an electrical motor. Electrical power is provided for the motor by a thermoelectric generator having a hot side that is heated by burning pellets and a cold side that is cooled by flowing ambient air.

A cooking system includes a housing having a hollow interior, a heating element operable to heat to said hollow interior, a food support surface arranged within said hollow interior, and a combustible substrate module removably positionable in said housing. When positioned in the housing, the combustible substrate module is arranged in fluid communication with the hollow interior and the combustible substrate module is disposed remote of the food support surface.

Cooking apparatus comprises an oven. The oven comprises a cooking chamber, a heated air source and two or more vents through which, in use, heated air can vent from the cooking chamber. The two or more vents comprise at least one lower vent and at least one upper vent. The at least one lower vent is provided at a lower height than the at least one upper vent. The at least one upper vent is controllable to regulate a flow of heated air therethrough.

A cooking appliance has a combustion zone air flow path which includes a combustion zone. A first cooking zone is positioned in thermal communication with the combustion zone. During operation of the cooking appliance, combustion products produced in the combustion zone indirectly heat air whereby heated air is produced that is then introduced into the combustion zone and/or the first cooking zone.