Patent ID: 7895942

Claim:
A barbecue cooking apparatus comprising: a firebox comprising: a vented charcoal tray disposed within a housing; an upper chamber above the vented charcoal tray configured to hold wood and charcoal; a first vent located at an upper position of the upper chamber configured to prevent a buildup of smoke in the upper chamber; a second vent located at a lower position in the upper chamber and adjacent to the vented charcoal tray, the second vent configured to admit fresh combustion air directly to the charcoal tray; a lower chamber within the housing below the charcoal tray configured to provide for the collection of wood ash; and a horizontal duct attached to a sidewall of the lower chamber and forming a passageway from the lower interior chamber for combustion gases; wherein the firebox is configured to force combustion gases withdrawn via the duct to first pass downward, in opposition to natural upward draft, through the vented charcoal tray.