Abstract: A motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve is configured to operatively couple to a vent port of a solid-fueled cooker. The vent port is in series with both a flow of air into a combustion region of the cooker, and a flow of resulting combustion gases from the cooker, the flow of air being responsive to a position of the actuated-vent-valve. A first controller adapted to receive a sensed-temperature signal responsive to a temperature within a cooking region of the cooker, and operatively coupled to an externally-located actuator motor of the motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve, provides for automatically electronically controlling the position of the actuated-vent-valve to a continuum of positions within a range of the positions, thereby substantially regulating the first temperature within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to the sensed-temperature signal by controlling an exclusively-naturally-occurring flow of air into the combustion region of the cooker.

Abstract: A motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve is configured to operatively couple to a vent port of a solid-fueled cooker. The vent port is in series with both a flow of air into a combustion region of the cooker, and a flow of resulting combustion gases from the cooker, the flow of air being responsive to a position of the actuated-vent-valve. A first controller adapted to receive a sensed-temperature signal responsive to a temperature within a cooking region of the cooker, and operatively coupled to an externally-located actuator motor of the motor-actuated actuated-vent-valve, provides for automatically electronically controlling the position of the actuated-vent-valve to a continuum of positions within a range of the positions, thereby substantially regulating the first temperature within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to the sensed-temperature signal by controlling an exclusively-naturally-occurring flow of air into the combustion region of the cooker.

Abstract: An actuated vent valve external of, and in series with a vent port of, a solid-fueled cooker is automatically controlled by controlling a flow of air into a combustion region of the solid-fueled cooker so as to substantially regulate a first temperature within a cooking region of a solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to a first temperature signal measured within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker.

Abstract: A diffuser (10) comprises first (10.1) and second (10.2) annular portions bounded by forward (32) and aft (26) annular walls, wherein the first annular portion (10.1) is vaneless and radially within the second annular portion (10.2), and the second annular portion (10.2) is radially relatively compact and incorporates a plurality of vanes (48) with relatively high solidity, wherein the forward (32) or/and aft (26) annular walls is/are sloped so as to provide for meridional divergence within the second annular portion (10.2) of the diffuser (10), and the vanes (48) are shaped so as to substantially conform to the flow field within the second annular portion (10.2).

Abstract: An actuated vent valve external of, and in series with a vent port of, a solid-fueled cooker is automatically controlled by controlling a flow of air into a combustion region of the solid-fueled cooker so as to substantially regulate a first temperature within a cooking region of a solid-fueled cooker to a user-defined temperature level responsive to a first temperature signal measured within the cooking region of the solid-fueled cooker.

Abstract: A diffuser (10) comprises first (10.1) and second (10.2) annular portions bounded by forward (32) and aft (26) annular walls, wherein the first annular portion (10.1) is vaneless and radially within the second annular portion (10.2), and the second annular portion (10.2) is radially relatively compact and incorporates a plurality of vanes (48) with relatively high solidity, wherein the forward (32) or/and aft (26) annular walls is/are sloped so as to provide for meridional divergence within the second annular portion (10.2) of the diffuser (10), and the vanes (48) are shaped so as to substantially conform to the flow field within the second annular portion (10.2).

Abstract: An automated temperature control system for a barbecue grill or other structure comprises an automated damper assembly coupled to a vent of said grill, which damper assembly opens and closes selectively to adjust the flow passage area of the grill's vent. The system further comprises an operating area temperature probe for communicating the temperature of the operating area of the grill to the automated damper assembly, such that the automated damper assembly may maintain a user-specified target operating temperature by way of affecting combustion rates within the grill. A remote control may also be provided to allow the user to input a desired temperature for the system to obtain and/or to change temperature information for the grill or other structure.