Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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RADIANT HEAT BROILER ASSE~BLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in broiler assemblies, particularly broiler assemblies
designed for use in commercial fast food cooking although it
should be understood that the invention is not limited to this
use.
Conventionally, charcoal broilers, gas fired broilers
or electrical broilers are used for this purpose. Foods gener-
ally cooked by this method include steaks, chicken, shish-
kabobs, Souvlaki or any other edible food product. Such food
may either be cooked flat upon a grill of this nature or,
alternatively, may be rotated above the source of heat.
In either case, fat and the like is rendered from
the food during the cooking process and with an open type grill,
this fat normally drips downwardly onto the source of heat
with the subsequent danger of fire occurring.
A closed surface grill is sometimes used but once
again difficulty is encountered in collecting the fat from
the surface of the grill.
Other disadvantages of such types of cooking include
extravagance in the use of the fuel, slow start up, particularly
with solid plate type grills and difficulty in maintaining
cleanliness of the cooking surfaces.
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The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
and in accordance with the invention there is provided a
radiant heat broiler assembly comprising in combination an
enclosure, supporting structure within said enclosure, at
least two radiant heat components within said enclosure in
operative spaced apart, substantially vertical relationship
with one another defining a broiling space therebetween,
said heat components including means to support means within
said enclosure, said radiant heat components each including
a radiant heat element, means for connecting said radiant
heat element to a source of energy for said radiant heat,
said means to support said radiant heat elements including
a frame for said elements, said elements being mounted within
said frame and a support for said frame extending rearward-
ly and downwardly therefrom, means to adjustably support said
frame and hence said radiant heat element, within limits,
thereby varying the inclination of said radiant heat ele-
ments from the vertical, means to detachably and vertically
support food being broiled within said broiler space and
means to collect fat and the like from the food being broil-
ed, below the lower sides of said heat component.
Another advantage of the present invention is
that the source of heat may be electrical or gas such as
natural propane, mixed or manufactured gas.
Yet another advantage of the invention is to pro-
vide a device of the character herewithin described which
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provides lower operating costs,ancl is more efficient than
a conventional gas or electrical burner.
Yet a further advantage of the invention is to
provide a device of the character herewithin described
which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture
and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is
designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this
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invention relates as this specification proceeds, the inven-
tion is herein described by reference to the accompanying
drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description
of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the
present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.
Figure 2 is a rear view thereof.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the inner liner
or enclosure.
Figure 4 is a schematic elevational view of the two
burners showing the adjustable relationship therebetween.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the radiant
heat components.
Figure 6 is an isometric view of the drip trough.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefoxe to describe the invention in
details, a supporting framework collectively designated 10 is
provided with a metal enclosure collectively designated 11,
surrounding the upper portion thereof.
In detail, the supporting framework includes four
vertical members 12 maintained in spaced apart rectangular
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relationship by means of cross members 13 adjacent the lower
ends thereof and other cross members 14 spaced above the
members 13.
Similar members (not illustrated) are situated ad-
jacent the upper end of the vertical members 12 to form a
substantially rigid open frame structure.
The enclosure consists of a pair of side panels 15,
an upper panel 16 and inturned rear panel portions 17, all of
which are secured to the framework 10 by conventional means
such as nut and bolt assemblies (not illustrated).
A substantially rectangular planar rear cover 18
detachably encloses the open portion of the back and is secured
to the inturned flanges 17 by any conventional means such as
nut and bolt assemblies (not illustrated).
The upper panel 16 is provided with a centally located
vent collar 19 connectable to a conventional flue or other
form of external discharge (not illustrated).
Situated within the enclosure 11 is an inner liner
component collectively designated 20 and supported within the
framework by means of nut and bolt assemblies (not illustrated)
or other conventional means. It includes a substantially
vertical rear panel 21, a pair of spaced and parallel side
panels 22 extending from the vertical edges of the rear panel
21 and a pair of vertically situated front panel portions 23
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extending inwardly from the front edges of the side panels
22 and terminating with inner vertical edges 24 in spaced and
parallel relationship as clearly shown in Figure 3. The upper
sides of the side panels 22 curve over to form spaced and
parallel upper panel portions 25 which also terminate with
inner edges 26 as continuation of the inner edges 24 and
define a spaced and vertical opening therebetween as clearly
shown and vent 19 is situated above this vertical opening
formed between edges 24 and 26.
Supported within the enclosure 11 adjacent the lower
end thereof, is a drip trough component collectively designated
27 and shown in detail in Figure 5. It includes a pair of
opposed downwardly and inwardly sloping bases 28 having
vertically extending side edges 29 extending upwardly from the
outer edges thereof, end walls 30 and upstanding extensions 31
extending from the end walls to enclose the sloping bases and
end walls as clearly shown in Figure 6. The lower edges 32 of
the inwardly and downwardly sloping bases 28, terminate in
spaced apart relationship to define a discharge slot 33. Down-
wardly extending spaced and parallel portions 34 extend down-
wardly from the edges 32 and are closed at the ends thereof
to form a discharge channel for fat and the like. A detachable
drip pan 35 slidably engages rails 36 suspended upon vertical
posts 37, said drip pan being situated immediately below the
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discharge slot 34 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Radiant heat components collectively designated 36
are provided and at least two such components are desirable
although more can be used under different circumstances. In
the present embodiment, each of these components include a
conventional radiant heat element 37 connectable to a source
of heat energy such as gas, via gas inlet pipes 38 although
it will be understood that electrical energy can be used to
power the radiant heat elements 37.
Means are provided to support these heat elements
in spaced apart substantially vertical relationship, said
means taking the form of a frame collectively designated 38
and shown in detail in Figure 5.
This frame includes a pair of spaced and parallel
side frames 39 with cross members 40 and a substantially
rectangular front frame (not illustrated) to which the outer
perimeter 41 of the radiant heat element 37 may be secured by
conventional means (not illustrated).
A stand 42 extends rearwardly and downwardly from
one of the cross members specifically designated 40A at the
rear of the side frames and this stand is preferably adjustable
within limits via notches 43 in arcuate members 44 extending
rearwardly from the side frames 39 engageable by a pin 45
extending from the stand 42, it being understood that the stand
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is pivotally secured to the cross member 40A. Needless to
say other forms of adjustment can be provided as desired.
The purpose of this adjustable stand 42 is to vary the inclin-
ation of the vertical plane of the radiant heat elements 37
as illustrated schematically in Figure 4. They may either be
situated in spaced apart vertical relationship from one
another or inclined at an angle inwardly or outwardly from
the vertical up to approximately 30 from the vertical as
shown, depending upon design parameters and the cooking
characteristics required.
We have found that it is desirable to have the
vertical planes of the radiant heat elements 37 inclined
outwardly from one another approximately 20 from the vertical
as illustrated schematically in Figure 1.
Other methods of supporting the components 36 may
be provided but we have found it desirable to support them
within the drip trough 27 with the support frames 38 resting
on the sloping bases and the stands 42 extending therebehind.
Once again as shown schematically in Figure 1.
The area between the two opposing radiant heat
elements 37 is defined as the broiling space and designated
by reference character 46 and this of course may be varied
within limits once again depending upon the food being cooked.
We have found that the distance of the vertical planes of the
radiant heat elements may vary between 12 and 37 inches but
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in the present embodiment, a distance of approximately 12
inches is desired.
Means are provided to detachably suspend food in a
vertical position between the radiant heat components 36 and
within the broiling space 46, such means taking the form of
a rail 47 extending from adjacent the front of the enclosure
towards the rear thereof and situated within the space defined
by the vertical edges 24 and the horizontal edges 26 of the
inner liner 20. This rail is secured adjacent the upper side
of the enclosure to the supporting framework and is provided
with a fore and aft extending slot 48 within the undersurface
thereof. This receives a conventional roller assembly 49 to
which the hook 50 of a basket component 51 may be detachably
engaged.
The basket component is relatively conventional in-
asmuch as it is hinged to open and close similar to a food
basket used on conventional barbecues and the dimensions of
the basket are of course varied depending upon the food being
held therebetween. With food clamped within the basket, the
basket hangs vertically and is moved inwardly into the broiler
space 46 substantially equidistantly between the two radiant
heat or infrared burners or components as shown in Figure l.
Any fat or the like which drips therefrom is collected by
the drip trough 27 and discharged via the discharge slot 34
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into the drip pan 35 so that any danger of fire is reduced
considerably.
Advantages of this type of broiling with infrared
or radiant heat is the fact that it is directional heat and
of course the surface temperature of the infrared components
may be varied by conventional methods and controlled, if
desired, thermostatically within a thermostatic sensor 50
being provided at the upper side of the broiler space below
the vent l9. It has been found that it is more efficient
than a conventional gas burner thus lowering the operating
costs and that extremely fast warm up is obtained. Because
of the rapid cooking process, the loss in shrinkage is
negligible and, as mentioned previously, possibilities of
fire are reduced considerably. In this connection it has been
found that wooden skewers can be used without any danger of
fire occurring.
Although the principle use of the device is for
the cooking of such foods as shish-kabobs, Souvlake, chicken,
steaks and the like, nevertheless any edible food products
can be cooked that can be placed within the basket 51.
Since various modifications can be made in my in-
vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely
different embodiments of same made within the spirit and
scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and
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scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the
accompanying specification shall ~e interpreted as illus-
trative only and not in a limiting sense.
