Abstract: Grills and charcoal-containing fuel blocks are disclosed. A grill may include a housing at least partially defining a cooking chamber, a combustion chamber having a support surface configured to support a charcoal-containing fuel block, the combustion chamber may be fluidically and thermally connected to the cooking chamber, an igniter configured to heat a charcoal-containing fuel block positioned on the support surface, a stoke chamber positioned under and fluidically connected to the combustion chamber, stoke ducting having a first end fluidically connected to the stoke chamber and a second end fluidically connected to a stoke fan, the stoke fan configured to flow air from outside the housing and into the stoke chamber through the stoke ducting, cooling ducting fluidically connecting the cooking chamber to a cooling fan, and the cooling fan configured to flow air from outside the housing and into the cooking chamber through the cooling ducting.

Abstract: A burner assembly for a gas grill has a venturi tube for conveying gas to a burner. A burner tube has front and back manifolds, with the venturi tube connected to the front and back manifolds. A flow restrictor is placed at a connection interface between the burner tube and front manifold.

Abstract: Cooking grates and grills incorporating such cooking grates are provided. A representative cooking grate includes: a plurality of elongate elements of heat resistant material, the elements being V-shaped in transverse cross-section, each of the elements having a first lower edge, a second lower edge and a vertex, the first lower edge and the second lower edge being spaced from each other with the vertex being located therebetween, the vertex being operative as a cooking surface to support food during cooking on the cooking grate; corresponding adjacent lower edges of adjacent ones of the elements being oriented to define gaps therebetween such that a first of the gaps, defined by a first lower edge of a first element and a second lower edge of a second element, exhibits a width of between approximately 5% and approximately 18% of a distance between the first lower edge and the second lower edge of the first element.

Abstract: A firebox for a gas grill with an infrared re-emitter surface at the top, at least one heat shield at the bottom, and sidewalls intermediate between the heat shields and the emitter plate forming a box like structure in which multiple small cross sectional area tubes with gas burner ports on the top or sides are disposed in an array between the heat shield and the emitter plate. The heat shield below the burner tubes has openings disposed below the burner tubes to admit secondary combustion air and provide cooling of the burner tubes preventing pre-ignition.

Abstract: An emitter tube has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines a cavity of the emitter tube, and the cavity of the emitter tube is adapted for receiving food. An outer tube has an inner surface that defines a cavity of the outer tube, and the emitter tube is positioned in the cavity of the outer tube. A heating unit is for heating the outer surface of the emitter tube so that heat energy is transferred by conduction from the outer surface of the emitter tube to the inner surface of the emitter tube, and the inner surface of the emitter tube emits infrared radiant energy into the cavity of the emitter tube so that a majority of the energy that is transferred to the food within the emitter tube is in the form of infrared radiant energy.

Abstract: A barbecue grill and a burner assembly are disclosed, the burner assembly having a venturi tube for conveying gas to the burner, a burner tube having front and back manifolds, with the venturi tube connected to the front and back manifolds and having flow restrictors at the connection interface to at least partially inhibit entry of gas into the front manifold.

Abstract: An infrared emitter at least partially defines an interior space that at least partially contains convective products of combustion. A burner provides a mixture of combustible gas and primary air to the combustion, while secondary air is also provided to the combustion. A first side of the infrared emitter is in opposing face-to-face relation with the interior space so that the first side of the infrared emitter is exposed to, and heated by, the convective products of combustion. As a result, a second side of the infrared emitter emits infrared radiation. Static gauge pressure, measured at a location that is within the interior space and adjacent to the first side of the infrared emitter, may not exceed about 0.009 inches water column while the burner is operating. Excess air present in gasses exhausted from the interior space may be less than 300% while the burner is operating.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a heating source and a cooking surface disposed above the heating source. A temperature sensing probe is located between the heating source and the cooking surface for indicating to a user the temperature at or near the cooking surface.

Abstract: An emitter tube has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines a cavity of the emitter tube, and the cavity of the emitter tube is adapted for receiving food. An outer tube has an inner surface that defines a cavity of the outer tube, and the emitter tube is positioned in the cavity of the outer tube. A heating unit is for heating the outer surface of the emitter tube so that heat energy is transferred by conduction from the outer surface of the emitter tube to the inner surface of the emitter tube, and the inner surface of the emitter tube emits infrared radiant energy into the cavity of the emitter tube so that a majority of the energy that is transferred to the food within the emitter tube is in the form of infrared radiant energy.

Abstract: An emitter tube has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines a cavity of the emitter tube, and the cavity of the emitter tube is adapted for receiving food. An outer tube has an inner surface that defines a cavity of the outer tube, and the emitter tube is positioned in the cavity of the outer tube. A heating unit is for heating the outer surface of the emitter tube so that heat energy is transferred by conduction from the outer surface of the emitter tube to the inner surface of the emitter tube, and the inner surface of the emitter tube emits infrared radiant energy into the cavity of the emitter tube so that a majority of the energy that is transferred to the food within the emitter tube is in the form of infrared radiant energy.

Abstract: An emitter may be positioned for absorbing energy from a burner, and the emitter may include a substantially concave surface for emitting infrared radiant energy so that a substantially uniform distribution of infrared radiant energy is provided at a predetermined plane. The predetermined plane can be referred to as a plane of absorption because, for example, an article for absorbing at least some of the infrared radiant energy may be positioned at the plane of absorption. For example, food can be cooked at the plane of absorption. A support member for supporting the food to be cooked may be proximate the plane of absorption. The support member for supporting the food may be a cooking grid, rotisserie, or other suitable device for supporting the food. In one particular example, the support member is a cooking grid that may be proximate the plane of absorption, or more specifically the cooking grid may be substantially coplanar with the plane of absorption.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food with infrared radiation includes an infrared energy emitter for emitting the infrared radiation, and a grid in close proximity to the infrared energy emitter. A first side of the grid can be for supporting the food at a position so that at least some of the infrared radiation will cook the food. A second side of the grid can be sufficiently close to the emitting side of the emitter for substantially restricting any airflow in any space between the second side of the grid and the emitting side of the emitter. Partitions of the grid can operatively segregate the emitting side of the emitter into segments, which can provide a substantially uniform distribution of infrared radiation.

Abstract: A gas-fired burner unit for providing combustion and infrared radiation includes at least one plenum for receiving at least the gas, and at least one perforated metal plate mounted for receiving at least the gas from the plenum and supplying at least the gas to the combustion so that the combustion is proximate the perforated metal plate.

Abstract: A firebox for a gas grill with an infrared re-emitter surface at the top, at least one heat shield at the bottom, and sidewalls intermediate between the heat shields and the emitter plate forming a box like structure in which multiple small cross sectional area tubes with gas burner ports on the top or sides are disposed in an array between the heat shield and the emitter plate. The heat shield below the burner tubes has openings disposed below the burner tubes to admit secondary combustion air and provide cooling of the burner tubes preventing pre-ignition.

Abstract: Cooking grates and grills incorporating such cooking grates are provided. A representative cooking grate includes: a plurality of elongate elements of heat resistant material, the elements being V-shaped in transverse cross-section, each of the elements having a first lower edge, a second lower edge and a vertex, the first lower edge and the second lower edge being spaced from each other with the vertex being located therebetween, the vertex being operative as a cooking surface to support food during cooking on the cooking grate; corresponding adjacent lower edges of adjacent ones of the elements being oriented to define gaps therebetween such that a first of the gaps, defined by a first lower edge of a first element and a second lower edge of a second element, exhibits a width of between approximately 5% and approximately 18% of a distance between the first lower edge and the second lower edge of the first element.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a heating source and a cooking surface disposed above the heating source. A temperature sensing probe is located between the heating source and the cooking surface for indicating to a user the temperature at or near the cooking surface.

Abstract: A grill handle and light assembly is disclosed, the handle being attached to the lid of the grill and the light being detachably secured to the handle for use while grilling or, when detached, as an auxiliary light.