VERTICAL BARREL COOKER FOR EVEN-TEMPERATURE COOKING AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

The present invention provides improved outdoor cooking systems and methods in various styles for cooking food in an efficient and consistent manner, with little required monitoring or action by the user. Embodiments of the cooker of the present invention include an upper cooking vessel which may be removably engaged with a separate base, a removable fuel basket, and a bottom air intake opening having a diffuser cap above it that not only disperses incoming air flow to the perimeter of the vessel for a more even burn and consistent cooking chamber temperature, but also directs ash and drippings from the food being cooked away from the intake opening. This prevents the intake opening from being clogged, and makes the drippings available for evaporation to provide moisture inside the cooker. The intake opening is adjustable allowing a user to control the amount of air flowing into the cooking chamber.

Claims

1. A cooking device comprising: a. a vessel for holding food items; b. a base having a lower air intake, wherein the vessel is removably positioned over said base; c. a deflection mechanism over said central air intake for deflecting air into the vessel; and d. a removable basket for holding a heat source, the basket having a grate for holding the heat source over the central air intake and the deflection mechanism.

2. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a convex plate positioned above said central air intake such that the convexity of the convex plate is directed upward.

3. The cooking device of claim 2, further comprising a retaining wall surrounding said central air intake for preventing the passage of ash and other material through said central air intake from the interior of the cooking device.

4. The cooking device of claim 1, further comprising a damper for adjusting the rate of air flow into the vessel.

5. The cooking device of claim 4, wherein the damper is adjustably positioned below said central air intake and is operable to occlude a variable portion of the area of the central air intake.

6. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein said basket has an adjustable volume for holding a fuel.

7. The cooking device of claim 1, further comprising at least one exhaust hole near an upper end of the vessel.

8. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein said vessel includes a plurality of support rims for supporting a grill or frame for positioning food inside said vessel.

9. The cooking device of claim 1, further comprising a lid operable to create an air-tight seal with an upper end of said vessel.

10. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a vertically extending wall near an outer perimeter thereof.

11. The cooking device of claim 10, wherein said vessel includes an angled peripheral flange at a bottom end thereof for engagement against said vertically extending wall of said base to support said vessel above said base.

12. The cooking device of claim 11, wherein said vessel includes a gasket on said angled flange for creating a seal between the angled flange and the vertically extending wall of the base.

13. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the central air intake is a single hole having an isoperimetric quotient of 0.7 or higher.

14. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the central air intake comprises a plurality of holes and/or slots arranged in a compact pattern.

15. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the basket is removable to facilitate loading and dumping of the fuel.

16. The cooking device of claim 7, wherein said vessel includes four exhaust holes spaced at 90 intervals around the perimeter of the vessel.

17. The cooking device of claim 8, wherein said support rims comprise at least one bead protruding inwardly from the perimeter of the vessel.

18. The cooking device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of legs for supporting said base.

19. The cooking device of claim 5 wherein said damper further comprises a handle which protrudes beyond the outer perimeter of said base.

20. The cooking device of claim 11 further comprising a peripheral rim at the bottom edge of said vessel for nesting over said vertically extending wall of said base.

21. A portable cooker comprising: a. a hollow vertically oriented vessel having an open upper end, an open lower end, at least one vent opening in an upper region thereof, and an angled peripheral flange at said lower end; b. a corresponding base for receiving the lower end of said vessel, said base having a generally horizontal lower surface and an upwardly extending wall along a peripheral edge of the surface for engagement against the peripheral flange of said vessel; c. an air intake opening in the generally horizontal surface of said base, said opening having an upwardly extending lip along a peripheral edge thereof; d. a diffuser provided above the air intake opening, a gap between said diffuser and said opening, the diffuser being supported by at least one leg and having a perimeter that is larger than said opening; e. a movable damper provided below said air intake opening; f. a removable fuel basket for placement on said base; and g. a lid for closing the upper end of said vessel.

22. The cooker of claim 21 further comprising a gasket provided on said peripheral flange for creating a seal between the flange and the upwardly extending wall of the base.

23. The cooker of claim 21 further comprising a peripheral rim at the bottom edge of said vessel for nesting over said vertically extending wall of said base.

24. The cooker of claim 21 wherein said damper further comprises an opening and a handle wherein said opening is adjustably positioned below the air intake opening in said base and is operable to occlude a variable portion of the area of said air intake opening.

25. The cooker of claim 21 wherein said coal basket further comprises a movable grate for supporting fuel in said basket above said diffuser.

26. A portable cooker comprising: a. a hollow cylindrical vertically oriented drum having an open upper end, an open lower end, at least one vent opening in an upper region thereof, and an angled annular flange at said lower end; b. a circular base for receiving the lower end of said drum, said base having a generally horizontal surface and an upwardly extending outer cylindrical wall along a peripheral edge of the surface for engagement against the annular flange of said drum; c. an air intake opening in the generally horizontal surface of said base, said opening having an upwardly extending circumferential wall along a peripheral edge thereof such that a basin is formed between said cylindrical rim and said lip; d. a dome shaped diffuser provided above the air intake opening, a gap between said diffuser and said opening, the diffuser being supported by at least one leg and having a diameter that is larger than said opening; e. a movable damper provided below said air intake opening; f. a removable fuel basket for placement on said base; and g. a lid for closing the upper end of said drum.

27. The cooker of claim 26 further comprising an annular gasket provided on said annular flange for creating a seal between the flange and the upwardly extending wall of the base.

28. The cooker of claim 26 further comprising a peripheral rim at the bottom edge of said vessel for nesting over said vertically extending wall of said base.

29. The cooker of claim 26 wherein said damper further comprises an opening and a handle wherein said opening is adjustably positioned below the air intake opening in said base and is operable to occlude a variable portion of the area of said air intake opening.

30. The cooker of claim 26 wherein said coal basket further comprises a movable grate for supporting fuel in said basket above said diffuser.

31. A method for cooking food on a portable vertical cooker comprising the steps of: a. placing fuel in a basket having a grate for supporting said fuel; b. placing said basket on a base, said base comprising i. a generally horizontal lower surface and an upwardly extending wall along a peripheral edge of the surface; ii. an air intake opening in the generally horizontal surface of said base, said opening having an upwardly extending lip along a peripheral edge thereof; iii. a diffuser provided above the air intake opening, a gap between said diffuser and said opening, the diffuser being supported by at least one leg and having a perimeter that is larger than said opening; and iv. a movable damper provided below said air intake opening; c. adjusting said damper; d. lighting said fuel; e. engaging said vessel with said base, said vessel comprising an open upper end, an open lower end, at least one vent opening in an upper region thereof, and an angled peripheral flange at said lower end for engagement with said upwardly extending wall of said base; f. closing the upper end of said vessel with a lid; g. allowing the interior of said vessel to reach a desire temperature; h. opening the lid; i. placing said food on a hook or grill suspended in said vessel; and j. closing the lid.

32. The method of claim 31 comprising the additional steps of: l. leaving the food in the closed vessel for a predetermined period of time; m. after said time period, opening the lid; and n. removing the cooked food.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a base for a barrel cooker of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a base for a barrel cooker of the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a barrel portion of an embodiment of a cooker of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a portion of a sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a barrel portion engaged with a base portion.

[0060] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a base of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a base for a barrel cooker of the present invention supporting an embodiment of a coal basket.

[0062] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a base for a barrel cooker of the present invention supporting an embodiment of a coal basket.

[0063] FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away side view of an embodiment of a cooker of the present invention showing interior features.

[0064] FIG. 8 includes several perspective views of embodiments of accessories for a cooker of the present invention, including some uses thereof.

[0065] FIG. 9 includes several perspective views of embodiments of a barrel portion of the present invention showing different configurations of grills and support structures.

[0066] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a barrel portion of an embodiment of the present invention with a grill and handles shown in phantom lines.

[0067] FIG. 11A is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0068] FIG. 11B is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0069] FIG. 12A is a left side elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0070] FIG. 12B is a left side elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0071] FIG. 13A is a right side elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0072] FIG. 13B is a right side elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0073] FIG. 14A is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0074] FIG. 14B is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0075] FIG. 15A is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0076] FIG. 15B is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0077] FIG. 16A is a top plan view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0078] FIG. 16B is a top plan view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0079] FIG. 17A is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0080] FIG. 17B is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention with surface shading and showing handles and support legs in phantom lines.

[0081] FIG. 18 is a front perspective exploded view of an embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing separation between the barrel portion and the base, with surface shading and no coal basket.

[0082] FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the base of FIG. 18, with surface shading.

[0083] FIG. 20 is a front perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a barrel cooker of the present invention showing separation between the barrel portion and the base without coal basket.

[0084] FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the base of FIG. 20.

[0085] FIG. 22 is a left side elevational view of an embodiment of a base of the present invention with surface shading and showing the legs in phantom lines.

[0086] FIG. 23 is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 22 with surface shading and showing the legs in phantom lines.

[0087] FIG. 24 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 22 with surface shading and showing the legs in phantom lines.

[0088] FIG. 25 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 22 with surface shading and showing the legs in phantom lines.

[0089] FIG. 26 is a bottom plan view of a barrel portion of an embodiment of the present invention with surface shading, and showing a grill and handles in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] Various elements of the outdoor cooking systems of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings submitted herewith. It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention may vary in the particular arrangement of one or more of the elements described herein.

[0091] In some embodiments, the present invention may be drawn to a cooker 100 that may include a vessel 101 in the shape of a drum or barrel in which the food items may be suspended and cooked during operation of the cooking system. See FIG. 1. In barrel-shaped embodiments, the vessel 101 may be a barrel-like chassis sub-assembly having multiple accessory beads (annular concave intrusions into the vessel) at various positions in the vessel that allow cooking grates and other structures to be supported within the vessel. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to a round barrel-shaped body. For example, and without limitation, other embodiments of the vessel 101 of the invention may include a chassis sub-assembly that may have an elliptical cross-section, a squircle (rounded rectangular) cross-section, and other appropriate shapes. The vessel 101 may include exhaust holes 110, sometimes referred to as ports or vents, located in an upper region of the vessel below the upper end thereof for allowing a controlled amount of air, heat, smoke, and moisture to escape the vessel 101. The exhaust ports may be located on or about the same cross-sectional plane.

[0092] The vessel 101 may also be equipped with heat resistant handles 105 to allow the user to lift and move the barrel without risk of burn. The vessel 101 may further include a lid 106 that may be closed over the upper end of the vessel 101 to provide a tight seal to prevent the loss of air, heat, moisture, or smoke from the top of the cooker. The lid 106 may be convex in shape, and may have sufficient weight to prevent hot air, moisture, or smoke from escaping. A heat insulating gasket may be present on the outer perimeter of the lid 106 where the lid contacts the upper edge or rim of the vessel body, and may help to seal the system and retain air, heat, moisture, and smoke in the system.

[0093] The vessel 101 may sit atop a separate base sub-assembly 120 when the cooker 100 is fully assembled. The vessel 101 may simply sit on top of the outer wall 121 of the base sub-assembly 120. The vessel 101 may include a lip or protrusion 115 at its lower perimeter that may serve to overlap with the outer wall 121 of the base sub-assembly 120, to provide a nested fit between the two sub-assemblies. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the vessel 101 may also include sloped peripheral flange (e.g., an annular ring) 116 positioned on the inner side of the lip 115 at the lower end of the sidewall of the vessel 101. By way of example and without limitation, the peripheral flange 116 may be sloped downward relative to the horizontal at an angle in a range of about 10 to about 60 (e.g., about 15 to about 45, or any value or range of values therein). The vessel 101 may further include a peripheral gasket 117 that is attached to the bottom side of the sloped peripheral flange 116 to provide a contact surface for the outer wall 121 of the separate base assembly 120, and may provide a seal therebetween. The gasket 117 may be a polymeric or composite material having sufficiently high heat resistance to prevent deterioration of the gasket for an extended period of use. For example, the gasket material may be vulcanized rubber, fluoro-silicone rubber, polysiloxane, a composite of polymer (e.g., nitrile, carboxylated nitrile, chloroprene, etc.) and a ceramic (e.g., aluminosilicates, etc.), and other polymer or composite heat-resistant materials.

[0094] The lip 115 may have a snug fit over the vertical sidewall 121 of the separate base assembly 120, but the vessel 101 may be quickly and easily removed from the base simply by lifting the vessel 101 upward using the handles 105. This quick and easy disassembly allows the user to add fuel and/or clean out ash or drippings easily.

[0095] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the separate base may include a plurality of legs 123 and a centrally positioned air intake on a generally horizontal bottom surface thereof that is positioned concentrically with the vertical axis of the vessel 101 and is operable to direct the flow of incoming air outward from center and lateral to the central axis of the vessel 101. The legs 123 provide a space below the air intake to allow air to enter the vessel through the intake, and supply air to the perimeter portions of the fuel basket and provide a wide heat column and circulation within the vessel 101. The air intake may include at least one central intake vent 129. In some embodiments, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, the intake vent 129 may include a single central hole in the generally horizontal surface 125 of the base, the vent having a diameter in the range of about 1 inch to about 6 inches (e.g., about 2-3 inches, or any value or range of values therein). In other embodiments, the intake vent may include two or more holes on surface 125 arranged in a pattern that has a geometric center that is aligned with the central vertical axis of the barrel or vessel, as discussed herein. The air intake may be calibrated to allow an appropriate volume of O.sub.2 (oxygen) gas into the separate base sub-assembly to support a consistent interior convectional heat flow that maintains a temperature in a pre-determined narrow range (e.g., a range that varies by about 40 F. or less, such as, without limitation, about 275 F. to about 300 F.). The central air intake 129 may further include a peripheral wall 127 that encircles the air intake hole 129 and prevents ash and drippings from falling out of the bottom of the cooker. The peripheral wall 127 may be of sufficient height to retain a substantial amount of ash and drippings in the separate base, without any significant obstruction of air flow through the central air intake 129.

[0096] Above the centrally positioned air intake, a diffuser 128 may be positioned concentrically with the centrally positioned air intake hole 129. The diffuser 128 preferably has a convex or dome shape as shown in FIG. 2A, but may also have a concave shape as shown in FIG. 2B, or another suitable shape. Diffuser 128 should preferably have a sufficient diameter to completely cover the central hole 129 and prevent ash and drippings from falling through and/or clogging up the central air intake. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the dome shape of convex diffuser 128 directs ash and drippings away from opening 129 and into a basin on surface 125 formed between walls 127 and 121 of base 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the concave or bowl shape of diffuser 128 collects ash and drippings, and when filled, also directs ash and drippings away from opening 129 and into basin 125. The diffuser 128 may be suspended above the central air intake hole 129, providing a gap 126 for air flow between the diffuser 128 and the circumferential wall 127 of the air intake 129. The diffuser 128 may be connected to the circumferential wall 127 or the floor of the separate base 120 by vertical brackets, legs or other supports 124.

[0097] The separate base subassembly 120 may include a specialized damper 130 for regulating the airflow through the central air intake 129. The damper 130 may be an adjustable mechanism operable to cover the central air intake 129 to varying extents, allowing the user to adjust the amount of air flowing through the central air intake 129. The damper 130 may be operable to adjust the area of the central air intake 129 with continuous discrete settings between 0% and 100% of the area of the air intake vent. Referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, it is seen that in this embodiment the damper 130 may include a slidable plate 131 having a damper hole 132 therein that has the same or substantially the same diameter as the central air intake vent 129. The centers of the central air intake hole 129 and the damper hole 132 may be aligned along the sliding path of the damper plate 131. The damper plate 131 may be slidably mounted in a receiver 135 having slots that overlap and engage with the lateral edges of the damper plate 131. An end pin 139 may be provided to prevent plate 131 from exiting receiver 135. The damper 130 may have a handle 133 that protrudes laterally from the bottom of the assembled cooker 100 (see, e.g., FIG. 11A) to allow the user easy access to adjust the position of the damper plate 131 and the proportion of the air intake hole 129 occluded by the damper plate 131.

[0098] The handle 133 of the damper 130 may have markings 136 thereon to indicate the position of the damper hole 132 in the damper plate 131 relative to the central air intake hole 129. For example and without limitation, the handle 133 may include markings 136 that indicate the fraction or percentage (e.g., a range of 1/10 to 1/1, a range of 0% to 100%, etc.) of the central air intake that remains open as the damper handle is pushed toward or pulled away from the barrel cooker, where the proportion of the air intake that is occluded is indicated by the number marking that is visible immediately adjacent to the outer perimeter of the barrel cooker.

[0099] The cooker 100 includes a heat source or heat source container, which may be a removable coal basket having an outer wall and a grate held therein. FIGS. 6A and 6B show embodiments of a coal basket 150 having a cylindrical outer wall or shroud 151 and a coal grate 152 positioned horizontally therein. The coal basket may hold various fuels (e.g., charcoal, wood, etc.) as a heat source for cooking. The amount of the fuel may be provided in particular amounts by the user for the purpose of providing a particular length of cooking time, depending on the food to be cooked (e.g., a longer cooking time and more fuel may be required for a roast or turkey, in contrast to carved steaks).

[0100] In some embodiments, and without limitation, the volume within the coal basket 150 above the grate may be configured to hold a pre-determined discrete amount of a fuel (e.g., charcoal, wood, etc.) that allows for a particular cooking duration. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the coal basket has two distinct coal basket volumesone on either side of the coat grate 152. The user need only flip the coal basket 150 over to switch between the volumes. For example and without limitation, the first volume (the larger volume) may be calibrated to provide a consistent temperature within the system for a longer duration (in a range of about 5 to 7 hours, e.g., about 6 hours) in a relatively tight, controlled range that may vary, for example, by about 50 F. or less (e.g., in a range of about 275 F. to about 325 F.), for cooking meats and other foods that require high cooking temperatures. Such an exemplary cooking time is consistent for the pre-determined amounts with deviations of about 30 minutes or less that may result the fuel quality and the shape of the fuel (e.g., briquettes vs. wood lump charcoal), which may affect the mass of fuel that can be added to the coal basket. In this example, the second volume (the smaller volume) is calibrated to provide a consistent temperature within the system for a shorter duration (in a range of about 3 to 5 hours, e.g., about 4 hours) in a relatively tight, controlled range that may vary by about 50 F. or less (e.g., in a range of about 275 F. to about 325 F.) for cooking fish and other foods that can be prepared in a shorter cooking time. It is to be appreciated that other variations in the volume of heat producing fuel are possible by changing the location of grate 152, by adding more or less fuel to the basket 150, etc.

[0101] The coal basket 150 may be configured such that the shroud 151 holds the grate 152 above the diffuser 128 with a vertical gap in the range of about 1 inch to about 5 inches (e.g., about 2 inches to about 4 inches, or any value or range of values therein). The diffuser 128 may deflect air entering the vessel outward from center in a controlled manner, such that a widened column of air (e.g., having a diameter in a range of about 10 inches to about 20 inches) passes through fuel held in the coal basket 150. The air is then heated, providing a widened column of hot air to evenly cook food in the vessel.

[0102] The coal basket 150 may be positioned within the cooker 100 on the separate base, such that it can be easily accessed by removing the vessel 101 so that basket 150 may be removed for cleaning or flipped over such that either side of the coal grate 152 may be positioned in an upward facing manner within the cooker, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0103] The present invention also includes a system of modular and adjustable grill racks, smoking hooks, and cooking surfaces that allow the user more control and variation of the placement and cooking methods for various food items. The cooking system of the present invention offers multiple cooking options, in contrast to conventional outdoor cooking systems that have a single grill or only meat hangers. The adjustable modular cooking surface or hanger components are removable and can be arranged and adjusted within the cooking system for specific and customized cooking purposes. The accessories include multiple circular support racks that are operable to rest on the accessory beads within the body of the system. The support racks may have detents along their perimeters that reduce the radius of the rack at the detent so that the racks can be lowered into the body of the cooking system through the top of the body. The modular grills, grates, and other accessory structures can be positioned on the support racks once the racks are positioned on the accessory beads. The accessories may also include a specialized wand have an angled distal end and a loop at the distal end that can be used to install and remove the support racks, and the other accessories in the body. The accessories of the presently disclosed outdoor cooking system can then be easily removed from the vessel and washed due to their modular, adjustable configuration and relatively small size and easily cleaned (e.g., in a dishwasher).

[0104] Embodiments of vessel 101 may also include accessory beads 109 at various cross-sectional planes of the vessel 101. The accessory beads 109 are concave grooves that may run all or part of the circumference of the vessel 101 and intrude into the interior circumference of the vessel 101 at various cross-sectional planes for the purpose of mounting structures for holding food items within the cooker 100 during cooking operation. The frames, grates, and other accessories that are engaged with the accessory beads 109 are discussed in detail below.

[0105] FIGS. 8-9 show accessory structures that may be included in exemplary barrel-shaped embodiments of the cooking system of the present invention. The accessory system may include an H-frame 160, which is a spread H-shaped device that allows for the suspension hooks 161 to be hung therefrom in multiple locations. The suspension hooks 161 can be used to suspend racks of ribs and other meats and food items. A turkey hanger assembly may also be suspended on the H-frame 160. The H-frame 160 includes D shaped detents on opposing outer edges that may act as handles but also allow the H-frame 160 to be lowered in the barrel vessel 101 to multiple levels.

[0106] As discussed above, the barrel-shaped versions of vessel 101 may include multiple accessory beads 109 that may support the H-frame 160. In order for the H-frame 160 to be operable to be lowered into the interior of the barrel vessel 101 past one or more accessory beads, and yet have a sufficient diameter to be supported by the accessory beads, H-frame cannot have a round perimeter. The H-frame 160 includes the detents so that it can be lowered past one or more accessory beads to the desired level in the barrel vessel 101.

[0107] The accessory system may also include an open frame 170, which may be a circular frame sufficiently large that it can rest on and be supported by one of the accessory beads. The open frame 170 may be configured to mate with one or two half-moon-shaped grill grates 165 or other modular accessories (e.g., a half-moon griddle surface, etc.). The open frame 170 may also include D-shaped detents on the opposing outer edges that allow it to be lowered to any of the accessory beads 109. FIG. 9 shows several cut-away views of the interior of a barrel vessel 101, such that the H-frame 160 and the open frame 170 are shown supported in various positioned within the interior of the barrel vessel 101 on the accessory beads 109. The H-frame 160 and the open frame 170 may be used separately or together and can be moved to various heights in the barrel vessel 101 where accessory beads 109 are provided. The H-frame or a grill may also be used to support coal basket 150 at a location within the body of vessel 101.

[0108] The H-frame 160 and open frame 170 may have circumferences that are slightly smaller than the diameter of the barrel vessel 101 but sufficiently larger than the diameter of the inner circumference of the accessory beads 109, allowing the frames to rest on and be supported by the accessory beads. For example, the largest dimension of the H-frame 160 and open frame 170 (determined by the diameter of the barrel) may be in a range of about 8 to about 18. The detents provide areas of smaller diameter that allow the frames to fit inside the barrel below at any interior accessory beads 109.

[0109] The accessory system may also include several other D-shaped accessory pieces that fit into and/or engage with the H frame 160 and open frame 170. Such accessories can be used in pairs or singularly at various heights within the barrel vessel 101 either separately or simultaneously.

[0110] The half-grill grates 165 may be wire-form, nickel-plated grates that can suspend various foods in the interior of the barrel vessel 101. The accessory system may also include slotted half-grill grates, which may be stainless steel (or other appropriate materials) and have a semi-solid surface that may temper the heat flow in the barrel vessel 101, while the slots allow for sufficient heat passage and sufficiently drain excessive moisture from the grate that develops during the cook process. The grill grates may also contain detents for easy removal with a hook and modular accessory wand 166.

[0111] The accessory system may include a hook accessory wand 166 for engaging, manipulating, and moving the accessories into and out of the barrel vessel 101 and to disengage modular accessories from the open frame 170 or the H-frame 160 while avoiding any hot surfaces. The wand 166 may include a closed or partially closed loop at the distal end thereof for engaging with meat hangers or other accessories that can be slotted into the wand loop. The distal loop of the wand 166 may also be slotted into the wires or slots on the accessory grates to allow the user move the grates without the need to touch any hot surfaces. The wand 166 may have an obliquely angled distal end to allow the user to easily lift and lower the grates, once the distal loop of the wand 166 is slotted into the grates. The wand 166 may be made from a rigid material that is durable, and optionally having a relatively low thermal conductivity to prevent the transfer of significant heat from the distal end thereof to the handle or an insulative material over the handle portion of the wand 166.

[0112] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.