Rotary-vertical Axis Patents (Class 126/41A)
  • Patent number: 6148668
    Abstract: An apparatus for indicating the amount of fuel in a fuel tank for a barbecue grill is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first housing member having indicator marks on an indicator wall thereof, a second housing member slidably engaging the first housing member and further securing the fuel tank, and a spring member connected to the first and second housing members to provide a resistive force to oppose the downward movement force of the fuel tank. The second housing member has a gauge wall with openings such that the gauge wall at least partially overlies the indicator wall of the first housing member to progressively expose indicator marks through the openings. The exposed indicator marks provide a readout of the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventor: Ewald Sieg
  • Patent number: 6037569
    Abstract: An automatic heating oven system employs a cabinet containing a heating chamber with radiant heating elements and a turntable rotatable at a fixed slow angular speed. A thermocouple controls the heating elements to maintain the turntable above a minimum elevated temperature at all times. An entry chute with proximity switch extends into the chamber, and passage of a food-laden tray down the chute to the turntable triggers the switch, activating the turntable and an exhaust fan and, if not already on, the heating elements. A guide bar extending across the turntable at an oblique angle to all possible paths of travel of the food item on the turntable directs the food out an exit to a receiving rack outside the oven, before the food item completes a complete revolution on the turntable. A retriggerable timer turns off the heaters, fan and turntable a fixed time period after the most recent activation of the proximity switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: McFarlin Supply Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Lincoln, Steven R. Lincoln
  • Patent number: 5983882
    Abstract: A barbecue grill apparatus is provided for cooking food items, including a housing having a housing bottom wall and a housing side wall, an upright grill support member extending centrally within the housing, and at least two food supporting grid sections mounted one above the other on the grill support member, at least one of the food supporting grid sections being mounted rotatably relative to the other food supporting grid section, so that one of the grid sections is rotatable to a position underneath another of the food supporting grid sections. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a fuel supporting grid mounted to the grill support member below the at least two food supporting grid sections and spaced above the housing bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Frank J. Ceravolo
  • Patent number: 5975073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven structure including a set of baking cylinders, an outer barrel and an inner barrel, wherein the baking cylinders are mounted in an interior of the inner barrel; and a gas burner is mounted between the inner and outer barrels such that use the gas burning to heat the baking cylinders and bake the food which are put in the interior of the baking cylinders. It is full of practical value to keep the best taste of food by the indirect and dry ways of evenly heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Chung Chin Kuo
  • Patent number: 5906855
    Abstract: A method pertaining to the baking of products (B) in a baking oven (1) in which the products are supported by at least one rotary oven trolley (17) comprises rotating the trolley through a number of revolutions in one direction (R1) during the baking process, and thereafter reversing the direction of rotation and continuing rotation of the trolley through several revolutions in the opposite direction (R2) before again reversing the direction of rotation of the trolley. The trolley (17) keeps the same axial position in both directions of rotation. An arrangement for carrying out the method includes a drive device (20-26) for alternating rotation of the oven trolley through an equal number of revolutions in both directions during the baking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Sveba-Dahlen AB
    Inventors: Jonas Persson, Lennart Larsson
  • Patent number: 5787873
    Abstract: A retro-fit barbecue grill grid gear drive assembly (36) is provided for attaching to a prior art barbecue stand (20) comprises an electric 110V gear drive motor (48) or 12V reversible gear drive motor (118) attached to a heat-sink perforated plate (58 or 124) and protected in a housing (62). Housing extension pipe (65) is fitted into hole (44) made in fire bowl (22). Motor turns a drive shaft (54) and a clamp type drive head (56), or other drive head (90) or (108) and a grill grid (30) at about 1 RPM. Grid (30) can be fully loaded with food, lid (26) replaced until food is cooked to perfection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Jack Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 5119719
    Abstract: An automated pizza oven comprising a massive oven enclosure with a fire brick liner about a baking chamber and a massive fire brick turntable disposed in the baking chamber an forming the bottom surface thereof. A variable speed drive motor is connected with and slowly rotates the turntable. A pair of doors are provided for the baking chamber and a fire chamber employes coal or other natural fuel in open communicaation with the baking chamber. A pair of temperature sensors and a drive motor speed sensor respond respectively to baking chamber temperature and turntable speed and are fed to a control means for the regulation of turntable speed as a function of baking chamber temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: George B. DePasquale
  • Patent number: 5101715
    Abstract: An improved structure of a rotisserie, the improvement comprising, a rearrangement of the infra-red heaters to a position not in direct view of the operator, so as to not expose him to its infra-red rays, and the provision of a plurality of circular food holders adjustably positionable on a vertically oriented rotisserie spit on which small items of food can be supported with the aid of food stakes. Small drip dispensors can also be disposed on the circular food holders to supply cooking fluids to food articles hung below them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Chi-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 4924763
    Abstract: The present invention is a compact pizza oven which includes a baking chamber and a means for heating air. A fan means is provided for impelling the heated air through a top and bottom orifice toward the pizza. The oven also includes an oven door for closing and opening the baking chamber and a turntable upon which the pizza is rotated about its center while it is baked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Pizza Hut
    Inventor: Lynn R. Bingham
  • Patent number: 4805588
    Abstract: An oven having at least one and preferably upper and lower burner radiants protected from food splatterings and drippings by transparent tiles coextensive with and separating the burner radiants from the oven chamber, the transparent tiles being of heat resistant material and spaced from the plane of the burner radiants to define a combustion plenum separate from the over chamber, all of which is vented through a flue, the food or the like being spaced within the over chamber on a rack for over and under, or surrounding, subjection to radiant heat in the infra-red range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Connerton Appliance Company
    Inventor: Howard S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 4717802
    Abstract: A portable rotisserie assembly for use in a microwave oven. The assembly comprises a base adapted to rest on a turntable or directly on the floor of the oven cavity, a rotor mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a drive motor mounted on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Colato
  • Patent number: 4643163
    Abstract: A rotating shelf barbecue oven for commercial establishments is shown. Meats being barbecued are located on shelves in an upper compartment while heat and smoke for barbecuing comes from a lower compartment. Flues in the side walls provide for flow of heat and smoke from the lower compartment to the upper compartments. A shaft extends through the upper and lower compartments and connects to the shelves for rotating the shelves and meats thereon during barbecuing. The compartments, including the flues and the shaft, are constructed to allow for steam cleaning of the upper compartment without the water getting into the lower compartment. Also cooking grease is prevented from dripping into the lower compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Roto-Flex Oven Co.
    Inventor: Cesar G. Martinez
  • Patent number: 4619607
    Abstract: A baking oven heated by circulation of hot-air comprising a baking compartment with a turntable at the bottom thereof adapted for receiving a multiple rack cart which carries the material to be baked and which is rotated around a vertical axis. The turntable is provided with a drive gear therebelow coupled to a chain which in turn is coupled to a pinion on a vertical shaft extending outside the baking compartment and driven by a drive motor. A chain box surrounds the chain and includes a portion extending outside the baking compartment which is air-tight to prevent escape of vapor thereat from the baking compartment. The vertical shaft extends into the air-tight portion of the chain box via a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer
    Inventor: Helmut Schroder
  • Patent number: 4590848
    Abstract: A cooker for cooking food such as bar-b-que or the like. The cooker has a cooking tower with a rotating carrousel therein and various means for holding the food as it is being cooked. There is a heat source offset from beneath the cooking tower and positioned below a warming tower located alongside the cooking tower. Both the warming tower and the cooking tower are movably supported by a wheel carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Inventor: John H. Willingham
  • Patent number: 4539901
    Abstract: A portable barbecue grill includes an upwardly open container, legs pivotally connected to the container which can be positioned to support the container above the ground or folded up against the container, a mounting element having upwardly-extending sockets positionable within the container, tubular pipes positionable on the upwardly-extending sockets, and rack elements rotatably mounted on the upper ends of the tubular pipes, each rack element including a circular food-supporting grate, each grate having teeth extending outwardly of its periphery which are engageable with the teeth of at least one adjacent grate, such that rotation of one rack element will cause rotation of the adjacent rack elements with which its grate is interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Inventor: Ming-Tang Chen
  • Patent number: 4512248
    Abstract: An improved rotisserie cooker having a multi-sided base, a vertical spit mounted for rotation thereon and upstanding tapered wall sections and a roof section forming a cooking area, heating means on the rear walls of the cooker and a pair of bifold closure doors for the front opening of a cooking compartment, each bifold door comprising a solid side panel and a front panel having a window therein, each side and front panel tapering upwardly to define with the base and wall sections of the cooker an external shape of generally hexagonal cross-section throughout the height of the cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Inventor: Dinos G. Volakakis
  • Patent number: 4506652
    Abstract: An oven for heating foodstuffs, i.e. cooking pizza, has a heated enclosure substantially L-shape in plan to leave an exposed sector. A rotor is turned intermittently by power to carry pizzas from the exposed sector, through the heated enclosure and back to the exposed sector. In the heated enclosure the pizzas are baked by a stream of heated and reheated air circulated in a closed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Nieco Corporation
    Inventors: Edward D. Baker, Nils Lang-Ree, Ralph K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4469019
    Abstract: A barbecue grill comprising a fire bowl, legs for supporting the fire bowl, a cooking grill above the fire bowl rotatable about a generally vertical axis, and a rod which is selectively mountable in a generally horizontal position above the cooking grill for use as a spit and in a generally vertical position for use in rotating the cooking grill. A single motor is used to turn the rod, the motor being selectively mountable in two different locations on the barbecue grill depending on whether the rod is being used as a spit or to rotate the cooking grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Inventor: Helen W. Baer
  • Patent number: 4305329
    Abstract: A gas-fired turntable oven for baking food such as pizza pies for fast food operations comprises a lower baking chamber and an upper holding chamber. Fresh pies are placed onto the turntable in the baking chamber and are baked to completion as they travel one revolution on the turntable. Partially baked pies having completed a predetermined fraction of a revolution on the turntable, may be removed from the baking chamber and kept warm in the holding chamber, to be later returned to the baking chamber and baked to completion while travelling the remaining fraction of a revolution on the turntable. This oven enables the cook to serve many pies in a short time during periods of peak demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Inventor: Bernard F. Fenoglio
  • Patent number: 4286133
    Abstract: A bi-rotational microwave oven turntable/rotisserie having a turntable which is moved in a closed path within the oven cavity while being concurrently rotated about a central axis of the turntable. A rotisserie device is associated with the turntable and includes a spit portion which is caused to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof as an incident of rotation of the turntable about its central axis. The rotisserie, in turn, is rotated about a fixed axis defined by an input drive shaft. The turntable may be rotated by a gear meshing with a tooth portion of a hub journaling the drive shaft. The gear defines an axis of rotation of the turntable which may be rotatably carried on a support portion of the rotisserie device. The turntable may have a toothed periphery meshing with a tooth member fixed to the rotisserie spit portion for effecting rotation of the spit portion as an incident of rotation of the turntable relative to the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eystein Einset, James R. Hageman
  • Patent number: 4210794
    Abstract: A microwave oven comprising a turntable adapted to rotate a foodstuff mounted thereon, said turntable being disposed at the base portion of the microwave oven. The turntable includes a circularly formed geared portion provided at the peripheral portion of the lower surface thereof. A turntable drive mechanism is associated with the geared portion of the turntable to rotate the turntable at a fixed speed. The turntable drive mechanism comprises a motor, a drive gear associated with the geared portion of the turntable, and a metal gear box and a metal reflector secured around and within said drive gear for protecting the drive gear from the microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Oguri