Smokeless barbecue

Abstract

A smokeless barbecue including a grill adapted for receiving food to be cooked thereon and at least one radiating element placed underneath the grill. The radiating element is arranged so as to radiate heat mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill. The barbecue further includes at least a reflecting surface facing the radiating element and arranged so as to reflect, towards the grill, the radiating heat coming from the radiating element, and a cover device placed between the grill and the radiating element to shield the radiating element from substances falling from the grill.

Claims

1. A smokeless barbecue comprising: a grill adapted for receiving food to be cooked thereon; a radiating element underneath said grill; a cover device between said grill and said radiating element to shield said radiating element from substances falling from said grill; and a reflecting surface facing said radiating element, said reflecting surface being substantially planar and arranged at an oblique angle to said grill to reflect, towards said grill, heat radiating from said one radiating element, wherein said radiating element comprises a gas burner and a radiating body over said gas burner and under said cover device, said radiating body being adapted, when heated by a flame and by hot fumes produced by said gas burner, to emit heat to irradiate said reflecting surface, wherein said reflecting surface has a bottom edge, wherein said radiating body is arranged at or above the bottom edge of said reflecting surface, and wherein said bottom edge of said reflecting surface is below a bottom of the radiating body, and wherein the one reflecting surface has a top edge above a top of the radiating body.

2. A smokeless barbecue comprising a grill adapted for receiving food to be cooked thereon, a radiating element underneath said grill, and a cover device between said grill and said radiating element, wherein said radiating element comprises: a gas burner; and a radiating body, said radiating body being over said gas burner and under said cover device and being adapted, when heated by a flame and by hot fumes produced by said gas burner, to emit heat by radiation, wherein said radiating body comprises a reverse V-shaped radiating plate comprising two divergent plane branches, wherein free extremities of said two divergent branches enclose said flame produced by said gas burner, wherein said radiating body comprises an opening for flow of said fumes, and wherein said radiating body is arranged so as to irradiate a reflecting surface facing said radiating body and arranged so as to reflect, towards said grill, the heat radiating from said radiating body, said reflecting surface having a bottom edge, wherein said radiating body is arranged at or above the bottom edge of said reflecting surface.

3. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 2, wherein said radiating body is arranged so that heat generated by said gas burner radiates from said radiating body at a relatively small angle with respect to an axis that is parallel to a grid plane of said grill.

4. A smokeless barbecue comprising: a grill adapted for receiving food to be cooked thereon; a reflecting surface; and a radiating element underneath said grill, wherein said reflecting surface is arranged to reflect, towards said grill, heat radiating from said radiating element, said reflecting surface having a bottom edge, wherein said radiating body is arranged at or above the bottom edge of said reflecting surface; and a cover device between said grill and said radiating element to shield said radiating element from substances falling from said grill, wherein said radiating element comprises a gas burner and a radiating body, said radiating body being over said gas burner and under said cover device and being adapted, when heated by a flame and by hot fumes produced by said gas burner, to emit heat by radiation, said radiating body being arranged to radiate said heat in a direction towards said reflecting surface, wherein said radiating body comprises a reverse V-shaped radiating plate comprising two divergent substantially planar branches connected to define a closed apex, wherein free extremities of said two divergent branches enclose said flame produced by said gas burner, and wherein an opening extends through said two divergent branches for allowing fumes to flow therethrough.

5. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein the smokeless barbecue further comprises a reflecting surface facing one of said two divergent substantially planar branches and arranged so as to reflect, towards said grill, heat radiating from said one of said two divergent substantially planar branches.

6. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, comprising a single radiating element under said grill in correspondence to a transverse axis of said grill.

7. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, said radiating element being completely covered by said grill.

8. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein said cover device comprises a reverse V-shaped beam or tile, over said radiating element and having a length equal to or greater than said radiating element, such that said reverse V-shaped beam or tile completely covers said radiating element.

9. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein on the external surface of said two divergent branches there are indentations, each indentation forming a lip protruding from an internal surface of a respective one of said two divergent branches.

10. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein said reflecting surface is substantially planar.

11. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 10, wherein said reflecting surface comprises two reflecting surfaces, each of the two reflecting surfaces having a bottom edge, the two reflecting surfaces being arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the grill, the two reflecting surfaces being arranged such that the two reflecting surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of one radiating element from each other, the bottom edge of each of the two reflecting surfaces spaced apart from each other, such that the one radiating element is accommodated in a space between the two reflecting surfaces.

12. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein said reflecting surface is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to said grill and is arranged under said grill.

13. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 4, wherein said cover device is a single element.

14. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 8, wherein said cover device is a single element.

15. The smokeless barbecue according to claim 14, wherein said cover device hinders fluid flow therethrough.

Description

(1) Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway be more readily understood from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a prospective view of the radiating element of the smokeless barbecue illustrated in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the radiating element of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a prospective view of the radiating element of another embodiment of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the radiating element of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention.

(10) In FIG. 1 it is schematically illustrated a first embodiment of a smokeless barbecue 1 according to the invention.

(11) The smokeless barbecue 1 comprises a grill 2, adapted for receiving the food to be cooked thereon, which can for example comprise a metal board 3 provided of a series of openings 4 preferably rectangular shaped as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1; the grill 2 could alternatively comprise a series of metallic beams, not illustrated, disposed parallel to each other.

(12) The smokeless barbecue 1 comprises at least one radiating element 5 placed underneath the grill 2.

(13) Advantageously, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the radiating element 5 could be an electric heater 6 comprising a core or support 7, around which there are wound some electrical resistors 8, electrically powered by electric cables 9 connected to a suitable power supply, not illustrated.

(14) Preferably the electric heater 6, and therefore also the electrical resistors 8, are, in a plan view, substantially rectangular.

(15) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric heater 6 is placed substantially in correspondence to the medium transversal axis of the grill 2.

(16) Advantageously, the radiating element 5 is arranged to radiate the heat mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill 2, so as to irradiate a reflecting surface 10 facing at least one radiating side of the radiating element 5, and adapted to reflect towards the grill 2 the radiating heat coming from the radiating element 5.

(17) The main direction of the heat radiated from one of the electrical resistors 8, and reflected from the reflecting surface 10, is schematically represented by the arrows indicated by the reference number 11 in FIG. 1.

(18) Advantageously, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are two reflecting surfaces 10, placed in such a way to face two substantially parallel radiating sides of the radiating element 5. The reflecting surfaces 10 are disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the grill 2.

(19) In the case of the electric heater 6 illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the heat is radiated mainly from the longer sides of the electrical resistors 8, each reflecting surface 10 is placed in such a way to face one of said longer sides of the electrical resistors 8.

(20) The presence of the reflecting surfaces 10 increases the area of the grill 2 which can be reached by the radiating heat emitted from the radiating element 5, allowing to radiate a rather wide grill 2 with a single radiating element 5, in a fairly homogeneous way.

(21) Advantageously, each reflecting surface 10 is a plane surface of a plate 12, substantially plane and preferably metallic, disposed oblique with respect to the grill 2, so as to reflect towards the latter the radiating heat coming from the radiating element 5.

(22) Advantageously, two wings 13a, 13b may protrude from the upper and the lower extremities of each plate 12 respectively; these two wings may be substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the grill 2, and may be placed one externally to one lateral side of the grill 2, and the other near the bottom of the radiating element 5.

(23) Advantageously, between the grill 2 and the radiating element 5 there is placed a cover device 14 adapted to shield the radiating element 5 from flammable substances, such as grease, juices, drippings, etc., coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(24) The cover device 14 could opportunely comprise a substantially reverse V-shaped beam or tile, placed over the radiating element 5 and having a length equal or greater than the latter, so as to completely cover it.

(25) Preferably, near to one or both radiating sides of the radiating element 5 there could be placed a screen, not illustrated in FIG. 1, adapted to laterally shield the radiating side from the flammable substances coming out from the food and falling down from the grill 2; this screen would be opportunely transparent to the radiating heat, so as to allow the radiating heat generated by the radiating element 5 to reach the reflecting surface 10.

(26) In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it is illustrated another embodiment of a smokeless barbecue 1 according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 only because of the radiating element 5; in fact in this case the radiating element 5 comprises a gas burner 15, over which it is placed a radiating body 16 adapted, when heated by the flame 17 and by the hot fumes 18 produced by the gas burner 15, to emit heat mainly by radiation.

(27) Advantageously, the radiating body 16 is arranged to radiate the heat mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill 2, so as to irradiate a reflecting surface 10 facing at least one radiating side of the radiating element 5, and adapted to reflect towards the grill 2 the radiating heat coming from the radiating element 5.

(28) The main directions of the heat radiated from two opposite regions of the radiating body 16, and reflected by the reflecting surface 10, are schematically indicated by the arrows indicated by the reference number 11 in FIG. 2.

(29) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the gas burner 15 comprises at least one pipe 19, substantially parallel to the grill 2, and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the latter; preferably the pipe 19 is placed substantially in correspondence to the medium transversal axis of the grill 2.

(30) On the lateral surface of the pipe 19, towards the grill 2, there are provided some openings 20, illustrated in FIG. 3, adapted for emitting the gas to be burned.

(31) To one end of the pipe 19 there is fluidly connected a gas conveying tube 21, protruding outside the area covered by the grill 2, and adapted to deliver the gas to the pipe 19.

(32) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the radiating body 16 advantageously comprises a substantially reverse V-shaped radiating plate 22, preferably metallic, comprising two divergent substantially plane branches, indicated with the reference number 23a, 23b, the free extremities of which are placed over and laterally to the openings 20 obtained in the pipe 19, so as to enclose the flame 17 produced by the gas burner 15.

(33) Advantageously, the length of the radiating plate 22 in the direction of the pipe 19 is substantially equal to the transversal width of the grill 2, and the radiating plate 22 is placed in such a way that it is totally covered by the grill 2.

(34) Opportunely, on the external surface of the branches 23a, 23b, there are obtained some indentations, each forming a lip 25 protruding from the internal surface of the respective branch 23a, 23b, and an opening 24 for the flow of fumes 18.

(35) Also in this embodiment, between the grill 2 and the radiating element 5 there is placed a cover device 14, substantially analogous to which described with reference to FIG. 1, adapted to shield the radiating element 5 from flammable substances, such as grease, juices, drippings, sauces, etc., coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(36) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the hot fumes 18, produced by the flame 17, rise between the two branches 23a, 23b of the radiating plate 22, and collide with the internal surface of the branches 23a, 23b, and with the lips 25, transferring to them the most part of their heat; so the branches 23a, 23b increase their temperature, and starts radiating heat, mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill 2, so as to irradiate the reflecting surfaces 10.

(37) The presence of the lips 25 increases the heat exchanging area with the fumes 18 and the turbulence of the fumes 18, thus improving the heat exchange between the latter and the branches 23a, 23b; in this way a great amount of the heat of the fumes 18 is transferred to the branches 23a, 23b to be subsequently radiated.

(38) The fumes 18, cooled by the contact with the branches 23a, 23b and with the lips 25, exit from the openings 24, at a relatively low temperature, adapted not to overheat the overlying cover device 14.

(39) Also in this embodiment, next to one or both radiating sides of the radiating element 5 there could be placed a screen, not illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, transparent to the radiating heat and adapted to laterally shield the contiguous radiating side from the flammable substances coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(40) In FIG. 5 it is illustrated another embodiment of a smokeless barbecue 1 according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 only because of the radiating body 16, which, in this case, comprises advantageously a series of oblique slabs 27, advantageously metallic, placed, preferably staggered, between the gas burner 15 and the cover device 14 by apposite support devices, not illustrated.

(41) Near to the two radiating side of the radiating element 5, here comprising the gas burner 15 and the oblique slabs 27, there are placed respectively two screens 28a, 28b transparent to the radiating heat and adapted to laterally shield the contiguous radiating side of the radiating element 5 from the flammable substances coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(42) Advantageously, the screens 28a, 28b are not in direct contact with the overlying cover device 14, in such a way that between these elements there is obtained a gap.

(43) Advantageously the screens 28a, 28b could be made of transparent glass.

(44) Also in this embodiment the length of the radiating body 16 in the direction of the pipe 19 is substantially equal to the transversal width of the grill 2, and the radiating body 16 is placed in such a way that it is totally covered by the grill 2.

(45) In this embodiment the hot fumes produced by the flame 17 rise between the two screens 28a, 28b, colliding with the slabs 27 and transferring to the latter the most part of their heat; therefore the slabs 27 increase their temperature, and starts radiating heat, mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill 2, so as to irradiate the reflecting surfaces 10.

(46) The fumes, cooled by the contact with the slabs 27 exit from the gaps between the two screens 28a, 28b and the cover device 14 at a relatively low temperature, adapted not to overheat the overlying cover device 14.

(47) In FIGS. 6 and 7 it is illustrated another possible embodiment of the radiating element of a smokeless barbecue according to the invention, which differs from the radiating elements illustrated with regard to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and with FIG. 5 only because of the radiating body 16.

(48) In fact in this case the radiating body 16 advantageously comprises a substantially vertical plate 29, hanged over a gas burner 15, analogous to the one illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, by means of a suitable hanging device, not illustrated.

(49) The substantially vertical plate 29 is preferably fixed, with its upper extremity, to the overlaying cover device 14.

(50) From the substantially vertical plate 29 there protrude a plurality of fins 30, preferably staggered, cut in the substantially vertical plate 29 and bent outwardly from the substantially vertical plate 29.

(51) Advantageously, in proximity to the upper extremity of the substantially vertical plate 29 there is obtained a overhang 31, adapted to support a bridge 32 connecting two radiating sheets 33a, 33b, advantageously metallic, placed sideways to the substantially vertical plate 29, so as to enclose the latter.

(52) Advantageously the free extremities the radiating sheets 33a, 33b are placed in such a way to enclose the flame 17 produced by the gas burner 15.

(53) In this embodiment the hot fumes 18 produced by the flame 17 rise between the two radiating sheets 33a, 33b, colliding with the latter and also with the substantially vertical plate 29 and with the fins 30; the presence of the fins 30 increases the turbulence of the hot fumes 18, improving the heat exchange with the radiating sheets 33a, 33b. The radiating sheets 33a, 33b increase therefore their temperature, and start radiating heat, mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the grill, so as to irradiate the reflecting surfaces, not illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

(54) The fumes 18, cooled by the contact with the fins 30, the vertical plate 29, and the radiating sheets 33a, 33b, exits from the gaps between the two radiating sheets 33a, 33b and the cover device 14 at a relatively low temperature, adapted not to overheat the overlying cover device 14.

(55) Also in this embodiment, next to one or both radiating sides of the radiating element 5 there could be placed a screen, not illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, transparent to the radiating heat and adapted to laterally shield the contiguous radiating side of the radiating element 5 from the flammable substances coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(56) In a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, underneath the grill 2 of the smokeless barbecue 1 there are placed two radiating elements 5, preferably one parallel to the other, each one covered by a cover device 14 adapted to shield the radiating element 5 from flammable substances, such as grease, juices, drippings, etc., coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(57) In this embodiment the radiating side of each radiating element 5 opposite to the other radiating element 5 faces a reflecting surface 10, adapted to reflect towards the grill 2 the radiating heat coming from the radiating element 5.

(58) Between the two radiating elements 5 there are placed two further reflecting surfaces, numbered 10a, 10b, each one facing another radiating side of one of the radiating elements 5, so as to reflect towards the overlying grill 2 the radiating heat coming from the contiguous radiating element 5.

(59) Advantageously the two further reflecting surfaces 10a and 10b can be fixed to each other, so as to constitute a reverse V-shaped body.

(60) The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 allows obtaining a smokeless barbecue 1 with a wider grilling area, with a good heat distribution and without the production of smoke due to the ignition of the substances coming out from the food.

(61) Also in this embodiment, next to one or more radiating side of each radiating element 5 there could be placed a screen, not illustrated in FIG. 8, transparent to the radiating heat and adapted to laterally shield the contiguous radiating side from the flammable substances coming out from the food and falling from the grill 2.

(62) In another embodiment, not illustrated, under the grill there could be provided a suitable number of radiating elements, substantially parallel to each other so as to constitute a row, each one covered by a cover device; between each couple of contiguous radiating elements there is advantageously placed a couple of reflecting surfaces adapted to reflect towards the grill the radiating heat coming from the faced radiating element. Sideways to the two radiating elements placed at the extremities of the row, externally to said row, there are also placed respectively two reflecting surfaces, adapted to reflect towards the grill the radiating heat coming from these radiating elements. In this way it is possible to obtain a smokeless barbecue with a grill of the whished length.

(63) It is seen therefore how the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, there being provided a barbecue which, thanks to the reflection of the heat radiation obtained by the presence of the reflecting surfaces, and also thanks to the presence of the cover device, allows obtaining an optimal smokeless grilling of the food.

(64) The presence of the reflecting surfaces increase the area of the overlying grill which can be radiated by a single radiating element; this allows to obtain a smokeless barbecue with a fairly wide grilling area using a reduced number of radiating elements, thus reducing the costs of the barbecue with respect to the prior art.

(65) Moreover, using a gas burner and a radiating body according to the invention, it is possible to improve the heat exhange between the fumes and the radiating body, increasing in such a way the fraction of heat which is transmitted by radiation to the food and improving, as a consequence, the cooking of the food.

(66) In addition, the use of the transparent screens to protect the radiating element reduces further on the risk of the formation of smoke, allowing at the same time to the radiated heat to be reflected by the reflecting surfaces towards the grill, so as to obtain an optimal grilling of the food placed on the latter.