Abstract: Disclosed is an ash or debris management system for an appliance such as a charcoal grill. The system includes a sifter tray with openings that can be exposed by manually or automatically oscillating the sifter tray back and forth. The sifter tray can include ridges with angled faces that push the debris toward the sifter openings to better facilitate movement of the debris. In this manner, debris such as ash can be removed from the appliance with ease.

Abstract: A radiant area heater includes a columnar base with a hollow compartment and a heating column disposed on the columnar base. The heating column includes a control portion with at least one controller, a burner, and a sparker and a flame portion that includes a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is disposed on a cylindrical member that has at least one vent allowing air to circulate to the burner and within the combustion chamber. The heating column further includes at least one heat emitting screen disposed above the flame portion that radiates heat outwards from the heater. A cover is disposed over the heating column to direct heat outwards and away from the heater.

Abstract: A quick-disconnect gas pipeline comprises a quick-disconnect device (QDD) which comprises a QDD male end and a QDD female end, and a gas hose. The QDD male end is connected to the gas pipeline inside the heating system and the QDD female end is connected to the gas hose outside the heating system. When the heating system is not used, it is easy to disconnect the QDD to prevent people from tripping over the long gas pipeline.

Abstract: A solid fuel burning fire pit is described. The fire pit includes a bowl with an aperture that receives a burner. A fuel source integrated with the fire pit and in fluidic communication with the burner is used to ignite solid fuel disposed in the bowl of the fire pit. Once the solid fuel is ignited, the fuel source may be turned off by a user, or automatically turn off based on temperature or time thresholds.

Abstract: A mechanism for maintaining and controlling optimal burning conditions in a dual fuel burner involving electrical circuitry which includes pressure detection of a fuel source pressure to determine if an incorrect fuel source has been utilized.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking device having cooking surfaces that move with respect to the device or one another. The cooking surfaces can slide or otherwise move on, for example, rails to allow access to portions of the cooking device that would otherwise be obstructed by the cooking surfaces.

Abstract: A selector valve and shutter mechanism for use with a gas burner unit is disclosed. The valve includes a pilot gas manifold which is in communication with two pilot flames and associated ODS for two different kinds of gas fuel. The shutter mechanism opens or closes an opening to a burner mixing chamber to thereby adjust the flow of air into the mixing chamber depending on the fuel selected, and preferably is in the form of a sleeve that in one approach is rotatably mounted on a part of the burner mixing chamber, with a part of the sleeve covering the mixing chamber opening in one orientation and opening it to airflow in another orientation. A first gear is mounted on the sleeve which is engageable with a second gear mounted on part of the valve which is rotatable to one position or another depending on the gas fuel selected, the sleeve thereby adjusting the airflow to the mixing chamber in response to the valve position. In another approach, the cover moves linearly along the burner tube between orientations.

Abstract: A mechanism for maintaining and controlling optimal burning conditions in a dual fuel burner involving electrical circuitry which includes pressure detection of a fuel source pressure to determine if an incorrect fuel source has been utilized.

Abstract: A selector valve and shutter mechanism for use with a gas burner unit is disclosed. The valve includes a pilot gas manifold which is in communication with two pilot flames and associated ODS for two different kinds of gas fuel. The shutter mechanism opens or closes an opening to a burner mixing chamber to thereby adjust the flow of air into the mixing chamber depending on the fuel selected, and preferably is in the form of a sleeve that in one approach is rotatably mounted on a part of the burner mixing chamber, with a part of the sleeve covering the mixing chamber opening in one orientation and opening it to airflow in another orientation. A first gear is mounted on the sleeve which is engageable with a second gear mounted on part of the valve which is rotatable to one position or another depending on the gas fuel selected, the sleeve thereby adjusting the airflow to the mixing chamber in response to the valve position. In another approach, the cover moves linearly along the burner tube between orientations.