A motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve is configured to operatively couple to a vent port of a solid-fueled cooker. The vent port is in series with both a flow of air into a combustion region of the cooker, and a flow of resulting combustion gases from the cooker, the flow of air being responsive to a position of the actuated-vent-valve. A first controller adapted to receive a sensed-temperature signal responsive to a temperature within a cooking region of the cooker, and operatively coupled to an externally-located actuator motor of the motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve, provides for automatically electronically controlling the position of the actuated-vent-valve to a continuum of positions within a range of the positions, thereby substantially regulating the first temperature within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to the sensed-temperature signal by controlling an exclusively-naturally-occurring flow of air into the combustion region of the cooker.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A fire pit assembly having a combustion area along an upper portion of a base, wherein a fan is within the base. An overhanging hood is disposed upward of the combustion area, wherein a passageway fluidly connects the hood and the base so that airflow urged by the fan urges air above the combustion area into the hood, through the passageway, and out exhaust vents in the base disposed below the combustion area.

A universal device for the automation of solid fuel barbecues and ovens is provided that includes an automated draft butterfly-type valve housed in a chimney module. The chimney module can be installed at the smoke exhaust of the oven or barbecue over which control is intended. An electronic board is housed in a control module linked to a motor. The motor rotates the butterfly-type valve that in turn drives the exit of the gas flow via an exit signal that supplies the butterfly-type valve. The electronic board is in connection with at least a room temperature probe located within the chamber of the oven or barbecue. The control module has a control means and a power supply. A solid fuel barbeque can be fitted with the universal device.

A floor and an upright sidewall formed from two vertically coaxial components, each component having a floor baffle with a plurality of floor openings defined therein, each floor retained within a respective upright sidewall with a plurality of sidewall openings defined therein. The floor openings and the sidewall openings cooperate between the two coaxial components such that flow of gases through the floor and upright sidewall of the baffle structure is controlled by rotation of the two vertically coaxial components relative to one another.

A floor and an upright sidewall formed from two vertically coaxial components, each component having a floor baffle with a plurality of floor openings defined therein, each floor retained within a respective upright sidewall with a plurality of sidewall openings defined therein. The floor openings and the sidewall openings cooperate between the two coaxial components such that flow of gases through the floor and upright sidewall of the baffle structure is controlled by rotation of the two vertically coaxial components relative to one another.

A heat and flame control assembly for a grill or other cooking appliance. The heat and flame control assembly includes a main heat plate and a slider plate disposed above the main heat plate. The main heat plate includes openings that allow direct heat to be provided to the food. The slider plate is movable with respect to the main heat plate, and also includes opening. When direct heat is desired, the slider plate is movable to align the openings in the slider plate with the openings of the main heat plate. However, when indirect heat is desired, the slider plate is movable to cover the openings of the main heat plate.

A grill apparatus includes a bottom portion, a lid portion, a firebox and an ash bucket. The lid portion is coupled to the bottom portion forming a cooking chamber. The bottom portion receives the firebox. A support structure of the firebox rests on an inner surface of the bottom portion. An inner surface of the bottom port, the support structure of the firebox and a firebox lower opening define a first air path from a lower portion of the cooking chamber to a heat chamber. The ash bucket includes an air vent extending from a base of the ash bucket base into an internal ash receptacle and has an upper vent aperture with a vent cover connected to the air vent. The cover is disposed over an upper vent aperture to further define the first air path.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A grill apparatus includes a bottom portion, a lid portion, a firebox and an ash bucket. The lid portion is coupled to the bottom portion forming a cooking chamber. The bottom portion receives the firebox. A support structure of the firebox rests on an inner surface of the bottom portion. An inner surface of the bottom port, the support structure of the firebox and a firebox lower opening define a first air path from a lower portion of the cooking chamber to a heat chamber. The ash bucket includes an air vent extending from a base of the ash bucket base into an internal ash receptacle and has an upper vent aperture with a vent cover connected to the air vent. The cover is disposed over an upper vent aperture to further define the first air path.