Patent Publication Number: US-2010116262-A1

Title: barbeque cooker

Description:
THIS INVENTION relates to a barbeque cooker. It more particularly relates to a barbeque cooker assembly, and to a kit for forming such a barbeque cooker assembly. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a barbeque cooker assembly which includes: 
     a base for location on a surface above which the cooker is to be used; 
     a drum or kettle assembly supported on the base; 
     a fuel receptacle support comprising an upright shaft having a lower end which is rotatably supported on the base below the drum or kettle assembly and an upper end which is located in the drum or kettle assembly, and at least one fuel receptacle mounting formation fast with the shaft at or adjacent its upper end for releasably mounting a fuel receptacle on the shaft; 
     at least one generally wedge-shaped open-topped fuel receptacle releasably mounted, via a said fuel receptacle mounting formation, on the fuel receptacle support for receiving fuel for cooking food, each fuel receptacle projecting laterally from and radiating away from the shaft of the fuel receptacle support; 
     an electric motor supported on the base below the drum or kettle assembly and rotatingly drivingly connected to the shaft of the fuel receptacle support for rotating the fuel receptacle support and, accordingly, each fuel receptacle mounted thereon; and 
     a grid seat formation provided by the drum or kettle assembly for seating a grid above and over each fuel receptacle. 
     The cooker assembly may also include a grid seated on the grid seat formation, the grid seat formation being located such that the grid seated thereon is located in the drum or kettle assembly. 
     Thus, in use, the grid and, accordingly, food received thereon, are stationary, with each fuel receptacle and, accordingly, burning fuel located therein, rotating about an upright axis relative to the food. 
     The drum or kettle assembly may include a tray located on and resting on the base, a peripheral skirt located on and projecting upwardly from the tray, and an openable and removeable lid located on an upper edge of the skirt. The tray may be shaped for receiving and retaining water, which water in use, on the one hand, serves to shield the electric motor from heat generated by burning fuel in each fuel receptacle and, on the other hand, serves to catch liquids, e.g. fat, dripping from food on the grid past each fuel receptacle. Naturally, the tray is provided with an opening for passing through the shaft of the fuel receptacle support. The tray may further define at least one ventilation opening. The grid seat formation may be fast with the skirt. The grid seat formation may comprise a plurality of spaced grid brackets fast with the skirt and projecting radially inwardly therefrom below its upper edge.
         The lid of the drum or kettle assembly may be provided with a handle and with at least one ventilation opening. The lid may also include an adjustment arrangement associated with each ventilation opening for permitting adjustment of the size of each ventilation opening.       

     The base may include a support portion for more or less horizontally supporting the drum or kettle assembly, i.e. the tray of the assembly, and at least one leg fast with and projecting downwardly from the support portion. Each leg may be releasably secured to the support portion, thereby permitting, on the one hand, collapsing of the cooking assembly to facilitate handling, transport and stowage thereof and, on the other hand, depending on the height of a surface above which the cooking assembly is to be used, securing of legs of different lengths to the support portion. The cooker assembly may include two sets of legs, the legs of one set being relatively short, and the legs of the other set being relatively long. 
     The base may include at least one electric motor support supporting the electric motor, each electric motor support being moveably mounted on the support portion of the base, for permitting for alignment of the motor relative to the fuel receptacle support. Advantageously, each electric motor support and its moveability relative to the remainder of the base will be such that the electric motor and the fuel receptacle support are self-aligning. The motor may be pendulously suspended from the electric motor support by way of flexible tethers which allow for torsional movement of the electric motor about a vertically extending axis of the cooker when the electric motor is activated. 
     Each fuel receptacle may include a floor which, by virtue of the shape of the receptacle, is generally wedge shaped when seen face-on, a peripheral side wall fast with and projecting operatively upwardly from edges of the floor, and a mounting formation fast with the side wall and releasably interacting with a said fuel receptacle mounting formation of the fuel receptacle support. Each fuel receptacle may be provided with a grid located above the floor of the receptacle for receiving fuel and for passing ashes as the fuel burns, the grid typically being fast with the side wall of the receptacle. Further, the side wall of each fuel receptacle may be provided with a plurality of ventilation openings spaced below the grid. The ventilation openings may also, if desired, be spaced somewhat above the floor, to permit for receipt of water in the fuel receptacle below its grid. In another embodiment, ventilation may be accomplished by at least one horizontally extending hollow cross-bar extending across the interior of the or each fuel receptacle, the or each said cross-bar having terminal openings serving as air inlets and longitudinally spaced air outlets in the interior of the or each fuel receptable through which air may be ventilated into the or each fuel receptacle. As such, the or each cross-bar may be dimensioned internally to provide a venturi effect to ensure sufficient ventilation of the interior of the or each fuel receptacle. 
     The cooker assembly may, in some embodiments, also include a worktop releasably connected to the base, the worktop projecting radially outwardly from and surrounding at least part of the support portion of the base of the drum or kettle. The worktop may include at least one worktop connector connected to the base and at least one flat and planar worktop panel connected to a said at least one worktop connector. In addition, the or each leg may also include an attachment formation to which further trays or worktops may be connected. 
     The cooker assembly may also include a carrier member for connection to the fuel receptacle support, to permit easy handling of the fuel receptacle support and, accordingly, each fuel receptacle mounted thereon, even when fuel in each receptacle is still burning, or when each fuel receptacle is still hot, the carrier member comprising an elongated stem for connection to the fuel receptacle support and a handle fast with the stem. 
     In a further embodiment the cooker may be provided with a horizontal rotisserie-style rotator, which can be used to cook or grill meat on a rotisserie. The rotator may similarly be electrically driven. In addition, the grid may be provided with additional radially spaced handles, typically four, which may serve to support a second, elevated grid thereupon. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for forming a barbeque cooker as hereinbefore described, the kit comprising, in disassembled form, the parts or components of the barbeque cooker assembly as hereinbefore described. 
     The kit, with all its parts or components assembled together as hereinbefore described with reference to the barbeque cooker assembly, thus forms the barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     
       The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows, schematically and in part, an exploded three-dimensional view of a barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with one aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows, schematically, a sectional side elevation of the barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with the invention, the cooker being formed from a kit in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of a carrier member forming part of the barbeque cooker assembly; 
         FIG. 4  shows a three-dimensional view of a work top connector; 
         FIG. 5  shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of a worktop connector forming part of a worktop of the barbeque cooker assembly; 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of a partially assembled barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows another exploded view of a partially assembled barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows yet another exploded view of a partially assembled barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a further exploded view of a partially assembled barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of a partially assembled barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention, including a tabletop; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of a fuel bucket forming part of a barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  shows a sectional side view of a barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     With reference to the drawings in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a first embodiment of a barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with the invention is generally designated by reference numeral  12 . The cooker  12  is formed from a kit in accordance with the invention and the cooker  12 , as will become more apparent hereunder, is collapsible to facilitate handling, transport and stowage thereof. 
     The cooker  12  includes a framework-like base or stand  14  for location on a surface, e.g. the ground, where the cooker  12  is to be used. A drum or kettle assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  16 , is located on top of and supported by the base or stand  14 . The drum assembly  16  includes a circular tray  18  that rests on the base  14 , a circular cylindrical skirt  20  located on and resting on the tray or base  18 , and a dome-shaped lid  22  for location on an upper edge of the skirt  20  to close the drum assembly  16 . In this embodiment, the skirt  20  is of one-piece construction. In other embodiments (not shown), the skirt  20  can be diametrically split, to facilitate location thereof. In such a case, the skirt  20  can be provided with a clamp or clamps for retaining the skirt  20 , at each split, together. 
     The cooker  12  further includes two fuel receptacles in the form of truncated wedge-shaped fuel buckets  24  for receiving fuel, and an elongated fuel receptacle support  26  supporting the fuel buckets  24  in the drum assembly  16 , as described in more detail hereunder. 
     The cooker  12  further includes an electric motor  28  ( FIG. 2 ) for rotating the fuel receptacle support  26  and, accordingly, the fuel buckets  24  secured thereto and supported thereby about an upright, typically vertical, axis. The motor  28 , as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , is secured to the base  14  by means of two motor supports  30 ,  32  fast with the base  14 . 
     The cooker  12  further includes a circular grid  34  provided with two handles  35  for facilitating handling thereof, the grid  34  in use, as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , being received above the fuel buckets  24 , into an upper end of the skirt  20 . To provide for location of the grid  34  in the skirt  20 , the skirt  20  is provided with four grid brackets  36  projecting radially inwardly from the skirt  20 . 
     Referring now in particular to the base  14 , it includes a support portion comprising a central crosspiece  38  provided with a circular central opening  40  for passing, as will be described in more detail hereunder, the fuel receptacle support  26 , four elongated arms  42  fast with and radiating outwardly from the central crosspiece  38 , and a T-piece connector  44  fast with a free end of each of the arms  42 . The base  14  further includes a leg  46  connected to each of the T-piece connectors  44 , the legs  46  projecting operatively downwardly from the arms  42 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the legs  46  are relatively short, thereby permitting the cooker  12  to be located in a built-in fireplace or braai. In turn, the legs  46  forming part of the cooker  12  shown in  FIG. 2 , are relatively long, thereby permitting location of the cooker  12  on the ground. Typically, the cooker  12  will include two sets of legs  46 , the legs of one set being relatively short, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the legs of the other set being relatively long, such as shown in  FIG. 2 . To provide for levelling of the tray  18  once the cooker  12  is operatively positioned on a surface, each of the legs  46 , at a free end thereof, is provided with an adjustable foot  48 . 
     To assemble the cooker  12  from the kit in accordance with the invention, the stand  14  is operatively located on a surface, for example in the case of  FIG. 2  the ground, above which food is to be cooked. The electric motor  28  is now located on the motor supports  30 ,  32 . To provide for self-alignment of the motor  28  and the fuel receptacle support  26 , the motor support  30  is pivotally secured to its associated arm  42 , and the motor support  32  is also pivotally secured to its associated arms  42 . The motor support  32  is generally in the form of a stirrup, with an upwardly facing ball bearing  50  being fast with a base of the stirrup. The tray  18  is now located on top of the stand  14 . Drum or kettle assemblies of various sizes can be supported by the base  14 . Trays  18  with various diameters can thus be accommodated by the stand  14 . Naturally, the skirt  20 , the lid  22 , the fuel buckets  24  and the grid  34  will be selected in accordance with the size of the tray  18 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the tray is provided with a number of downwardly depending indentations or ridges by means of which it rests on the arms  42  of the base  14 . 
     The tray  18  is provided with an upwardly projecting rim  52  which together with a floor of the tray  18  defines four circumferentially spaced ventilation recesses  54 , the purpose of which will become more apparent hereunder. At its centre, the tray  18  is provided with a central rim  56  defining a central opening  58  for passing a stem  60  of the fuel receptacle support  26 . As can be seen, the stem  60  has a square cross-sectional profile. Two opposing crossbars  62  are secured to an operatively upper end of the stem  60  and two shorter crossbars  64  are secured, in similar opposing fashion, to the stem  60  below the crossbars  62 . In use, as will be described further hereunder, the fuel buckets  24  are releasably secured to the fuel receptacle support  26  by means of the crossbars  62 ,  64 . At its upper end, the stem  60  is provided with an internally screw-threaded passage  66 , the purpose of which will be described hereunder. 
     Referring now to the fuel buckets  24 , each of them has a flat fuel bucket floor  24 . 1 , which is generally truncated wedge-shaped, and a fuel bucket side wall  24 . 2  extending along and projecting operatively upwardly from edges of the floor  24 . 1 . By virtue of its truncation, an operatively inner end of each fuel bucket  24  is flat, and each fuel bucket  24  is provided with a lip  70  projecting away from the flat part of the side wall  24 . 2  extending along said flat inner end of the fuel bucket  24 . Further, each fuel bucket  24  is, in its wall  24 . 2 , provided with a series of ventilation openings  72  spaced upwardly from the floor  24 . 1  of the bucket  24 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , if desired, each fuel bucket  24 , in its side wall  24 . 2 , can be provided with a further series of ventilation openings spaced above the ventilation openings  72 . A grid  74  of expanded metal construction is located in each fuel bucket, the grid  74  being spaced above the ventilation openings  72 , and if applicable below said further series of ventilation openings, and being secured to the wall  24 . 2  of the associated fuel bucket  24 . In order to secure the fuel buckets  24  to the fuel receptacle support  26 , the lip  70 , which is longitudinally interrupted, of each fuel bucket  24  is received over one of the crossbars  62  of the support  26 . An inner lower edge of each fuel bucket  24 , when its lip  70  is received over the crossbar  62 , rests on the associated crossbar  64 , thereby to ensure that the floor  24 . 1  of each fuel bucket  24  is more or less perpendicular to an axis of the stem  60  of the support  26 . 
     The stem  60  of the fuel receptacle support  26  is now received through the central opening  58  of the tray  18  and through the central opening  40  of the central crosspiece  38 . The electric motor  28  is provided with a through passage having a square cross-sectional profile through which the lower end of the stem  60  is received. Further, at its lower end, the stem  60  is provided with a concave seat (not visible) which engages and rests on the ball bearing  50 , thereby facilitating rotation of the fuel receptacle support  26 , about the axis of its stem  60 , by means of the electric motor  28 . As briefly mentioned above, because of the pivotal connection of the motor supports  30 ,  32  to the stand  14 , and by virtue of the ball bearing  50  and the concave seat there is no need for accurate alignment of the through passage of the motor  28  and the stem  60  of the fuel receptacle support  26 , in that they are self-aligning. 
     Once the fuel buckets  24  are in place, the skirt  20  is received on top of the tray  18 , i.e. over the fuel buckets  24 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the skirt  20 , at its operatively lower end, is provided with a shoulder by means of which it is seated on the rim  52  of the tray  18 . 
     Fuel, for example wood, coal, or charcoal in briquette form, is now received, on top of their grids  74 , in the fuel buckets  24 . The fuel is generally designated by reference numeral  82 . The fuel  82  can now be ignited or set alight. Water or wood chips, typically flavoured chips for creating a smoked food flavour in the food on the grid  34 , can, if desired, be received in each fuel bucket  24  below its grid  74 . Further, in order to provide for easy cleaning of the tray  18 , and to provide for easy levelling of the cooker  12 , water can be received in the tray  18 . The grid  34  is received in the upper end of the skirt  20  and located on the grid brackets  36 . Food, for example meat, vegetables, or the like, to be cooked, in particular grilled, can now be received on the grid  34 . When food is received on the grid  34 , the electric motor  28  is energised such that it rotates the fuel buckets  24  about a central, vertical, axis of the cooker  12 . Thus, food located on the grid  34 , which is stationary, is not permanently exposed to direct heat from the burning fuel  82  located in the fuel buckets  24 . By virtue of the generally wedge-shape of each of the fuel buckets  24 , food located at or adjacent a centre of the grid  34  is exposed to more or less the same heat as food located at or adjacent a periphery of the grid  34 . In another embodiment (not shown), the fuel bucket is hexagonal or octagonal, and allows a user to place foodstuffs which have been cooked but need to remain warm towards an outer edge of the grill, away from the fuel buckets  24 . If required, the lid  22  can be used to close the top of the drum or kettle assembly  16 , by location thereof on an upper edge of the skirt  20 . To facilitate handling of the lid  22 , it is provided with a handle  84 . In use, even with the lid  22  closing the drum assembly  16 , air can still enter the drum assembly  16  by means of the ventilation recesses  54 . To regulate air circulation through the drum assembly  16  when it is closed, the lid  22  is provided with a ventilation arrangement  86 , which arrangement  86  is mounted on the lid  22 . The ventilation arrangement  86  is of conventional construction and, accordingly, is not described further. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, a carrier member forming part of the kit in accordance with the invention and, accordingly of the cooker  12 , is generally designated by reference numeral  88 . The carrier member  88  includes a handle or handle portion  90  and an elongated stem or stem portion  92  fast with and projecting form the handle  90 . A free end of the stem  92  is provided with an external screw-thread  94 . In use, especially when the fuel buckets  24  and the fuel receptacle support  26  are still hot, they can be removed from the remainder of the cooker  12  by screwing the lower end of the stem  92  of the carrier member  88  into the screw-threaded passage  66  of the fuel receptacle support  26 . The fuel receptacle support  26  and the fuel buckets  24  are then removed by means of the carrier member  88 , which permits easy handling thereof. 
     In certain embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIG. 2 , the cooker  12  can also include a worktop  96  at least partially surrounding the support portion of the base  14  and, accordingly, the drum assembly  16 . The worktop  96  includes four worktop connectors  98  ( FIG. 4 ) which are secured, as described hereunder, to the base  14 , and four flat planar worktop panels  108  supported by the connectors  98 . 
     Each worktop connector  98  includes an elongated shaft  100  which, at one end thereof, is provided with a spigot-type connector formation, which in this example is provided with an external screw-thread  102 , by means of which the connector  98  is secured to one of the T-piece connectors  44  forming part of the stand  14 , and two opposing longitudinally extending flat plates  104  secured to the shaft  100 . As can be seen, the plates  104  define between them two sidewardly opening channels  106  within which edges of the worktop panels  108 , en example of which is shown in  FIG. 5 , are received. At operative free ends of the worktop connectors  98 , at least one of them, can be provided with a hook or the like for hanging of cooking utensils such as thongs and the like. 
     With reference to the drawings in  FIGS. 6 to 13 , a second embodiment of a barbeque cooker assembly in accordance with the invention is generally designated by reference numeral  112 . Similarly, this embodiment of a cooker  112  can be formed from a kit in accordance with the invention and the cooker  112  is collapsible to facilitate handling, transport and stowage thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the cooker  112  includes a framework-like base or stand  114  for location on a surface, e.g. the ground, where the cooker  112  is to be used. The base  114  and assembly thereof is described hereinafter. A drum or kettle assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  116 , is located on top of and supported by the base or stand  114 . The drum assembly  116  includes a circular tray  118  that rests on the base  114 , a circular cylindrical skirt  120  located on and resting on the tray or base  118 , and a dome-shaped lid  122  for location on an upper edge of the skirt  120  to close the drum assembly  116 . In this embodiment, the skirt  120  is of unitary construction. In certain embodiments, the skirt is octagonal or hexagonal in shape to allow a user to place food which is cooked, but which needs to be kept warm, in the corners of the skirt. 
     The cooker  112  further includes two fuel receptacles in the form of truncated wedge-shaped fuel buckets  124  (shown in greater detail in  FIG. 11 ) for receiving fuel, and an elongated fuel receptacle support  126  (best seen in  FIG. 7 ) supporting the fuel buckets  124  in the drum assembly  116 , as described in more detail hereunder. 
     As before, the cooker  112  includes an electric motor  128  ( FIG. 12 ) for rotating the fuel receptacle support  126  and, accordingly, the fuel buckets  124  secured thereto and supported thereby about an upright, typically vertical, axis. The motor  128  is suspended in a motor support cradle  115  from the base  114  by means of three chains  130 ,  131 ,  132  tethered to the base  114 . Advantageously, the Inventor has found that the chains  130 ,  131 ,  132  provide a clutch-like twist effect when the electric motor  128  is activated, which makes rotational operation of the fuel buckets  124  smoother and places less strain on the motor  128 . 
     The cooker  112  further includes a circular grid  134  (which may be hexagonal or octagonal when the skirt  120  is of a corresponding shape) provided with handles  135  for facilitating handling thereof, the grid  134  in use, as can be seen in  FIG. 12 , being received above the fuel buckets  124 , into an upper end of the skirt  120 . To provide for location of the grid  134  in the skirt  120 , the skirt  120  is provided with four grid brackets  136  projecting radially inwardly from the skirt  120 . The provision of four handles on this grid allows a user to place another grid (not shown) on top of the handles of the lower grid, thereby effectively doubling the amount of grid area available for cooking food. 
     Referring now in particular to the base  114 , best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , it includes a support portion comprising a central crosspiece  138  provided with a circular central opening  140  for passing, as will be described in more detail hereunder, the fuel receptacle support  126 , four elongated arms  142  fast with and radiating outwardly from the central crosspiece  138 , and a terminal stanchion  144  fast with a free end of each of the arms  142 . The crosspiece comprises two elongate sections (not illustrated), which engage each other with a central joint, making the assembly easy to assemble or disassemble and which also results in space-savings when shipped or stored. The base  114  further includes a slightly curved leg  146  connected to each of the terminal stanchions  144 , the legs  146  projecting operatively downwardly from the arms  142 . As such, the base  114  can be supported on the stanchions  144 , thereby permitting the cooker  112  to be located in a built-in fireplace. The stanchions  144  have adjustable turnscrews  144 . 1  (best seen in  FIG. 8 ) attached thereto which allow the base  144  to be levelled. As before, the turnscrews  144 . 1  are dimensioned to be receivable inside each of the legs  146 . In turn, the legs  146  forming part of the cooker  112  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are relatively long, thereby permitting location of the cooker  112  on the ground. Typically, the cooker  112  will include two sets of legs  146 , the legs of one set being relatively short and the legs of the other set being relatively long. To provide for levelling of the tray  118  once the cooker  112  is operatively positioned on a surface, each of the legs  146 , at an operatively upper end thereof, is provided with an adjustable turnscrew  145  which abuts an underside of each arm  142 . Further fasteners  147  are provided transverse to the adjustable turnscrew  145  to secure the legs  146  to the stanchions  144  once the cooker  112  is level. A further tray  149  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ) for holding food to be cooked is securable to an end of each arm  142  by way of a turnscrew  149 . 1 . In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , additional T-pieces  200  may similarly be slotted into the ends of the arms  142 . 1  which, when secured via further fasteners  200 . 1 , provides a stable base on which a collapsible worktop unit  202  is attachable. The worktop is in the form of four sections,  202 . 1 ,  202 . 2 ,  202 . 3 ,  202 . 4 , which are hinged in pairs using piano hinges, shown generally by  204 , and, in use, define a central aperture  206  which is snugly receivable about the collar formation  153 . This is best seen in the cross-section shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     To assemble the cooker  112  from the kit in accordance with the invention, the stand  114  is operatively located on a surface. The electric motor  128  is now located on the motor support cradle  115 . The provision of the chains  130 ,  131 ,  132  ensures self-alignment of the motor  128  and the fuel receptacle support  126 . The motor support cradle  115  is generally in the form of a stirrup, with an upwardly facing ball bearing  151  being fast with a base of the stirrup. The tray  118  is now located on top of the stand  114 . Drum or kettle assemblies of various sizes can be supported by the base  114 . Trays  118  with various diameters can thus be accommodated by the stand  114 . Naturally, the skirt  120 , the lid  122 , the fuel buckets  124  and the grid  134  will be selected in accordance with the size and shape of the tray  118 . This is best seen in  FIGS. 6 to 10 . 
     The tray  118  is provided with an upwardly projecting peripheral rim  152 . A collar formation  153  with four circumferentially spaced ventilation recesses  154  is used as a central locating formation for ensuring the tray  118  is securely fitted to the base  114 . The collar formation  153  has a central, hollow, threaded shaft  153 . 1  fast therewith, with which the collar formation  153  is secured to the base  114  using a nut  153 . 2  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). In embodiments where the base  114  is in two sections (as described hereinbefore), the two sections are also secured to one another using the collar formation  153  and nut  153 . 1 . The ventilation recesses  154  and hollow shaft  153 . 1  ensure that sufficient air is drawn into the cooker  112 , towards the grill  134 , when cooking food. At its centre, the tray  118  is provided with a central rim  156  defining a central opening  158  which fits snugly over the collar formation  153  and provides an aperture for the stem  160  of the fuel receptacle support  126  to pass through. The provision of a central air intake lessens the chances of children burning themselves on hot coals through peripheral air openings. As can be seen, the stem  160  has a square cross-sectional profile. Two opposing crossbars  162  are secured to an operatively upper end of the stem  160  and two shorter crossbars  164  are secured, in similar opposing fashion, to the stem  160  below the crossbars  162 . In use, as will be described further hereunder, the fuel buckets  124  are releasably secured to the fuel receptacle support  126  by suspending them cantilever fashion from the crossbars  162 ,  164 . 
     Referring now to the fuel buckets  124  shown in  FIG. 11 , each bucket  124  has a flat fuel bucket floor  124 . 1 , which is generally truncated wedge-shaped, and a fuel bucket side wall  124 . 2  extending along and projecting operatively upwardly from the edges of the floor  124 . 1 . By virtue of its truncation, an operatively inner end of each fuel bucket  124  is flat, and each fuel bucket  124  is provided with a lip  170  projecting away from the flat part of the side wall  124 . 2  extending along said flat inner end of the fuel bucket  124 . Further, each fuel bucket  124  is, in its wall  124 . 2 , provided with a series of ventilation openings  172  through which rectangular tubing  173  is passed. Each ventilation tube  173  has open termini  173 . 1  and a plurality of openings or foraminae  173 . 2  spaced equidistantly along the length of each tube  173 . In use, heat given off by the fuel in each fuel bucket  124  heats the air inside and above each tube  173 , with air then being drawn in from the open termini  173 . 1  of the tubes and being channelled under and through the fuel in each bucket  124  via the opening  173 . 2 . The Inventor has found that this is a particularly effective method of ensuring sufficient ventilation within an interior of the cooker  112 , due to the accelerative/venturi effect of the air entering the tubes  173  and being fed directly to the fuel in an even, dispersive manner. As before, a grid  174  of expanded metal construction is located in each fuel bucket, with each grid  174  being spaced above the ventilation openings  172 , resting on the tubes  173 , and furthermore being secured to the wall  124 . 2  of the associated fuel bucket  124 . In order to secure the fuel buckets  124  to the fuel receptacle support  126 , the lip  170 , which is longitudinally interrupted, of each fuel bucket  124  is received over one of the crossbars  62  of the support  26 . An inner lower edge of each fuel bucket  124 , when its lip  170  is received over the crossbar  162 , rests on the associated crossbar  164 , thereby to ensure that the floor  124 . 1  of each fuel bucket  124  is more or less perpendicular to an axis of the stem  160  of the support  126 . 
     The stem  160  of the fuel receptacle support  126  is now received through the central opening  158  of the tray  118  and through the central opening  40  of the central collar  153 . The electric motor  128  is provided with a passage extending therethrough (see  FIG. 12 ), the passage having a square cross-sectional profile through which a lower end of the stem  160  is passed. At said lower end, the stem  160  is provided with a concave seat (not visible) which engages and rests on the ball bearing  151 , thereby facilitating rotation of the fuel receptacle support  126 , about the axis of its stem  160 , by means of the electric motor  128 . As discussed hereinbefore, because of the suspensive connection of the motor support chains  130 ,  131 ,  132  to the stand  114 , and by virtue of the ball bearing  151  and the concave seat there is no need for accurate alignment of the through passage of the motor  128  and the stem  160  of the fuel receptacle support  126 , in that they are self-aligning. 
     Once the fuel buckets  124  are in place, the skirt  120  is received on top of the tray  118 , i.e. over the fuel buckets  124 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 12 , the skirt  120 , at its operatively lower end, is provided with a shoulder  120 . 1  by means of which it is seated on the rim  152  of the tray  118 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 12 , fuel, for example wood, coal, or charcoal in briquette form, is now placed on top of the grids  174  inside the fuel buckets  124 . The fuel is generally designated by reference numeral  182 . The fuel  182  can now be ignited or set alight as before. Food to be cooked or grilled, is then placed on the grid  134 . When food is received on the grid  134 , the electric motor  128  is activated such that it rotates the fuel buckets  124  about a central, vertical, axis of the cooker  112 . Thus, food located on the grid  134 , which is stationary, is not permanently exposed to direct heat from the burning fuel  182  located in the fuel buckets  124 . By virtue of the generally wedge-shape of each of the fuel buckets  124 , food located at or adjacent a centre of the grid  134  is exposed to more or less the same heat as food located at or adjacent a periphery of the grid  134 . In another embodiment (not shown), the fuel bucket  124  is hexagonal or octagonal. If required, the lid  122  can be used to close the top of the drum or kettle assembly  116 . To facilitate handling of the lid  122 , it is provided with a handle  184 . In use, even with the lid  122  closing the drum assembly  116 , air can still enter the drum assembly  116  by means of the ventilation recesses  154 . To regulate air circulation through the drum assembly  116  when it is closed, the lid  122  is provided with a ventilation arrangement  186 , which arrangement  186  is mounted on the lid  122 . The ventilation arrangement  186  is of conventional construction and, accordingly, is not described further. 
     In a further embodiment, not shown herein, the cooker  12 ,  112  is provided with a horizontal rotisserie-style rotator, which can be used to cook or grill meat on a rotisserie. The rotator is also electrically driven in similar fashion to the fuel receptacle support  26 ,  126 . 
     The invention as described and illustrated thus provides a cooker which can easily be disassembled, and by virtue of legs of various lengths can either be used on the ground or can be located in a built-in barbeque or fireplace. Further, by virtue of the tray  18 ,  118  of the cooker  12 ,  118  being fillable with water, the electrical motor  28 ,  128  is shielded from heat generated by burning fuel used to cook food and fat which has dripped into the water can easily be thrown out with the water, making the installation easy to clean A further advantage of the invention is that, because of the good ventilation provided, less coals are required, resulting in less fossil fuels being used to cook food. Furthermore, spent coals cannot fall out of the cooker and remain enclosed within the cooker until such time as the cooker is cleaned.