Pellet grills

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248800-B2
Application number	US-201916677959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The main body includes a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends. The main body has a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends. The example pellet grill further includes a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body. The hopper includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pellet grill, comprising:
a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends, the main body having a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends;
a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body, the hopper including a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second location being on a first side of the main body;
a user interface mounted on a front wall of the hopper, the user interface located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body; and
a side table coupled to the main body, the side table located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the side table further located forward of the front wall of the hopper and below the user interface.

2. The pellet grill of claim 1 , further comprising a first end cap and a second end cap, the first end cap defining the first end of the main body, the second end cap defining the second end of the main body.

3. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes a lid, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively cover the fuel intake opening.

4. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the fuel intake opening includes a first portion located within the lateral extent of the main body and a second portion located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second portion of the fuel intake opening located above the side table and above the user interface.

5. The pellet grill of claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the fuel intake opening is accessible to a user from a front of the pellet grill without requiring the user to reach over the main body.

6. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes an interior wall, the interior wall separating the hopper into a first volume configured to contain pellet fuel and a second volume configured to contain an electronic component of a control system of the pellet grill.

7. The pellet grill of claim 1 , wherein the hopper further includes a rear wall located opposite the front wall of the hopper, the front wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body, the rear wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body and aligned with the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the opening of the rear wall of the hopper being selectively covered by an access door.

8. The pellet grill of claim 7 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an auger assembly located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the auger assembly configured to receive pellet fuel from a feed duct of the hopper, the auger assembly including an auger and an auger motor, the auger motor configured to rotate the auger, the auger extending through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the auger assembly being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

9. The pellet grill of claim 7 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an ignitor carrier located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the ignitor carrier configured to carry an ignitor, the ignitor carrier being slidable through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the ignitor carrier being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

10. A pellet grill, comprising:
a main body defining a cooking chamber, the main body including a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends, the main body having a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends; and
a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body, the hopper including a front wall and a rear wall located opposite the front wall, the front wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body, the rear wall of the hopper having an opening located within the lateral extent of the main body and aligned with the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the opening of the rear wall of the hopper being selectively covered by an access door.

11. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an auger assembly located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the auger assembly configured to receive pellet fuel from a feed duct of the hopper, the auger assembly including an auger and an auger motor, the auger motor configured to rotate the auger, the auger extending through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the auger assembly being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

12. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising an engine located within the lateral extent of the main body and forward of the rear wall of the hopper, the engine including an ignitor carrier located partially within the main body and partially outside of the main body, the ignitor carrier configured to carry an ignitor, the ignitor carrier being slidable through the opening of the front wall of the hopper, the ignitor carrier being removable from the main body through the opening of the rear wall of the hopper when the access door is open, and while the hopper remains mounted to the main body.

13. The pellet grill of claim 10 , further comprising a first end cap and a second end cap, the first end cap defining the first end of the main body, the second end cap defining the second end of the main body.

14. The pellet grill of claim 10 , wherein the hopper further includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second location being on a first side of the main body.

15. The pellet grill of claim 14 , further comprising a user interface mounted on the front wall of the hopper, the user interface located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body.

16. The pellet grill of claim 15 , further comprising a side table coupled to the main body, the side table located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the side table further located forward of the front wall of the hopper and below the user interface.

17. The pellet grill of claim 16 , wherein the fuel intake opening includes a first portion located within the lateral extent of the main body and a second portion located on the first side of the main body outside of the lateral extent of the main body, the second portion of the fuel intake opening located above the side table and above the user interface.

Assignees

• Weber Stephen Products Llc

Inventors

• Donnelly Brian C
• Lundberg Ryan P
• Albrecht Ethan
• Larson David A

Classifications

• A47J37/0704 Primary

  with horizontal fire box · CPC title

• F23G2205/121

  Screw conveyor · CPC title

• G05B23/027

  Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm · CPC title

• A47J37/0786

  Accessories · CPC title

• F23B50/12

  the fuel being fed to the combustion zone by free fall or by sliding along inclined surfaces, e.g. from a conveyor terminating above the fuel bed · CPC title