Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a roasting and/or grilling apparatus for cooking food which is to be cooked, comprising a cooking chamber, a food holding unit arranged in the cooking chamber and a combustion chamber for the arrangement of a heating apparatus. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating insert for a heating apparatus for arrangement in a roasting and/or grilling apparatus of this kind. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various roasting and/or grilling apparatuses for cooking food which is to be cooked are known from the prior art. Most roasting and/or grilling apparatuses have a combustion chamber arranged below a cooking chamber, wherein the combustion chamber is provided for the arrangement of a heating source, such as, for example, charcoal, and a grilling grate is customarily arranged in the cooking chamber. A disadvantage of said roasting and/or grilling apparatuses is that carcinogens may be produced by fat dripping down and catching fire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to provide a roasting and/or grilling apparatus and a heating insert of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which improved cooking of food is obtainable in an energy-saving manner. 
     This object is achieved for the roasting and/or grilling apparatus in that the combustion chamber at least partially laterally surrounds the cooking chamber, wherein the combustion chamber is open toward the cooking chamber, and in that, in order to produce a chimney effect, an air inlet is assigned to the combustion and/or cooking chamber in a lower region and an air outlet is assigned to the combustion and/or cooking chamber in an upper region. The features used here “laterally”, “at the top” and “at the bottom”, which describe an absolute or relative positioning in space, refer to an orientation in the assembled operating state of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus. The solution according to the invention makes it possible, firstly, to avoid the production of carcinogens and, secondly, to use the heat radiation of a heating source more efficiently. Cooking should be understood as a general term for grilling, roasting or another form of preparing food by heating. For improved and efficient use of energy, the chimney function according to the invention is provided. The cooking chamber is preferably oriented upright and in the form of a column and is surrounded by the combustion chamber in the form of a jacket. It is advantageous if, in this case, the combustion chamber extends over a large part of the circumference of the cooking chamber and particularly preferably over the entire height thereof. The combustion chamber may also extend merely over part of the circumference and/or of the height of the cooking chamber. With the roasting and/or grilling apparatus according to the invention, shorter cooking times, high cooking quality and more efficient use of the heating source can be achieved by the combination of the chimney effect with direct heat radiation. The combustion chamber is closed to the outside in order to shield the combustion chamber and the cooking chamber from the environment. 
     In a preferred refinement of the invention, the cooking chamber is approximately cylindrical, and the combustion chamber surrounds said cylinder in the manner of a jacket. Instead of a cylindrical configuration, the combustion chamber and cooking chamber may also be of slightly conical design. In this case, an upward taper results in an advantageous reinforcement of the chimney effect. 
     In a development of the invention, the roasting and/or grilling apparatus has a heating apparatus arranged in the combustion chamber. In this case, the heating apparatus comprises at least one heating source, wherein the heating source is a fossil fuel, preferably a solid fuel, such as wood or coal, and/or a gas burner and/or a radiant electric heating element. 
     In a development of the invention, the heating apparatus has at least one heating insert for holding at least one heating source. This makes it possible to obtain improved positioning and securing of the heating source. 
     In a development of the invention, the heating insert is replaceable, and preferably without a tool. In an advantageous refinement, the heating insert is deposited on a deposition surface of the combustion chamber without an additional fixing means. Alternatively, a heating insert which is pushable into guide rails or is secured on retaining profiling of a boundary surface of the combustion chamber is provided. It is particularly advantageous if the heating source is also replaceable, either separately or together with the heating insert. For this purpose, the heating insert is preferably arranged so as to be releasable without a tool or by means of a tool. A defective heating source can thus be easily replaced, or a change can be made from fossil fuel to electric operation or to gas operation. 
     In a further refinement of the invention, the food holding unit and/or the heating apparatus is moveable, and therefore a distance between at least one heating source arranged in the combustion chamber and food which is to be cooked and is arranged in the cooking chamber can be changed at least in regions. The heat radiation acting on the food which is to be cooked can thereby be adjusted. In this case, the distance from the food which is to be cooked to the heating source cannot be changed uniformly over the entire extent of the cooking chamber or the internal region thereof but rather only relatively corresponding to the kinematics of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus. In an advantageous refinement, the combustion chamber is mounted moveably, in particular linearly moveably. The combustion chamber is understood as meaning a cavity or a clearance which is bounded on at least one side by a wall surface. 
     In a development of the invention, the combustion chamber is at least partially bounded by at least one door-like wing element. In this case, the wing element is moveable and is designed for the arrangement of the heating device. By movement of the door-like wing element, the distance between the inside door wall and the cooking chamber, and therefore between the heating source and food which is to be cooked and is located in the cooking chamber, can be changed. The wing element is preferably mounted rotatably here about a vertical axis, wherein the axis is preferably arranged outside the cooking chamber. 
     In a further refinement, an air inlet quantity at the air inlet and/or an air outlet quantity at the air outlet can be adjusted, at least within limits, by a mechanical control means. In this case, in particular, the control means is moveable. Corresponding mechanical control means may be operated manually or by motor. Suitable control means are in particular slides, apertures or similar flow conducting means. 
     In a development of the invention, the mechanical control means is a covering which is arranged in the region of the air outlet. In this case, the covering is designed in such a manner that the air outlet quantity is adjustable by changing an overlap of the air outlet by said covering. In an advantageous refinement, the covering is designed as a lid and is arranged above the cooking chamber and/or combustion chamber, wherein the covering is preferably arranged spaced apart from the upper edge of the cooking chamber and/or the combustion chamber. The roasting and/or grilling apparatus is advantageously made of stainless steel. However, it is also conceivable for individual parts to be at least partially composed of a different material. The lid may advantageously be designed as a skillet or as a similar bearing surface for food to be roasted, and may then contain a correspondingly suitable material with good heating properties in order to transmit contact heat. However, it may also be made of glass without a roasting function. The covering may be designed to be liftable or pivotable. 
     In a further refinement of the invention, the food holding unit is configured as a removable insert. In this case, the food holding unit may be of single-part or multi-part design. 
     In a preferred refinement, the food holding unit has at least one grilling grate, preferably a plurality of grilling grates arranged one above another in the form of tiers. In an advantageous refinement, the grilling grates may be removed separately from the food holding unit. The food holding unit may also comprise at least one spit onto which an item which is to be grilled can be placed. The spit or the entire food holding unit may be mounted rotatably. A drive for rotating the spit or the entire food holding unit may also be provided, said drive preferably being located below the cooking chamber. 
     In a further refinement, the combustion chamber is bounded to the outside by at least one lateral wall. In this case, the wall is at least partially heat-insulated by at least one heat insulation layer. In an advantageous refinement, the wall is double-walled and the cavity between the two walls may be filled with an insulating material, such as, for example, rock wool. 
     A heating insert according to the invention for the arrangement of a heating apparatus in an abovementioned roasting and/or grilling apparatus according to the invention is designed to be replaceable, preferably without a tool, and for holding at least one heating source. In this case, the heating source is a fossil fuel, such as, in particular, charcoal or wood, and/or a gas burner and/or a radiant electric heating element. Depending on the availability of the heating source, highly efficient grilling is obtainable. 
     In a development of the invention, the heating insert is designed for holding at least one heating source in the form of a fossil fuel, such as preferably charcoal, or coal, wood or briquettes. For this purpose, the heating insert has at least one basket-like compartment into which the heating source is placed. The heating insert preferably has a plurality of basket-like compartments arranged one above another and/or next to one another. When gas or electricity is used as the energy source, the heating insert is designed as a preassembled heating module which merely has to be inserted into the combustion chamber and connected to the corresponding energy source, such as a gas cylinder or a socket. 
     These and further features emerge not only from the claims but also from the description and the drawings, wherein the individual features can be realized on their own or together in the form of subcombinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other areas, and may represent embodiments which are advantageous and capable of being protected and for which protection is claimed here. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Refinements of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Some of the embodiments shown in the individual figures have features which are not illustrated in all of the embodiments shown or which do not have all of the refinements shown. 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a roasting and/or grilling apparatus according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows, in a front view, a detail of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus from  FIG. 1  in the open state. 
         FIG. 3  shows, in top view, the roasting and/or grilling apparatus from  FIG. 1  in the closed state with an air outlet quantity set virtually to the maximum. 
         FIG. 4  shows, in a rear view, the roasting and/or grilling apparatus from  FIG. 1  in the open state. 
         FIG. 5  shows a heating insert according to the invention in a view obliquely from above. 
         FIG. 6  shows, in top view, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a heating insert for holding a gas burner as a heating source, with heat radiation being output. 
         FIG. 7  shows, in a front view, a gas burner as the heating source. 
         FIG. 8  shows, in a front view, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a heating insert with a radiant electric heating element as the heating source. 
         FIG. 8   a  shows, in top view, two radiant electric heating elements as the heating source for arrangement in a cylindrical combustion chamber. 
         FIG. 9  shows, in a front view, a food holding unit with a plurality of grilling grates arranged one above another in the form of tiers. 
         FIG. 9   a  shows, in a front view, a spit as the food holding unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100  according to the invention. The exemplary embodiment shown has a cylindrical cooking chamber  102  and a combustion chamber  101  surrounding the latter laterally. In this case, the combustion chamber  101  is formed by two door-like wing elements  109 , wherein both of the door-like wing elements  109  surround approximately half of the cooking chamber  102  in the circumferential direction. The two wing elements  109  are mounted pivotably about a common vertical spindle  108 . In this exemplary embodiment, the combustion chamber  101  and the cooking chamber  102  are arranged above a table top  116  which, in turn, is supported by a frame  111 . The food can thus be ergonomically loaded into and removed from the cooking chamber  102 . 
     The roasting and/or grilling apparatus may also be designed as a table grill without an underframe and without a table top integrated into the roasting and/or grilling apparatus. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100  additionally has a storage chamber  112  below the table top  116 , in particular for a gas cylinder or for grilling accessories. The storage chamber  112  is likewise accessible by moving door-like wing elements  113 . The entire roasting and grilling apparatus  100  may be arranged on a base plate  114  with rollers  115  fitted therebelow. The rollers  115  enable the roasting and grilling apparatus easily to be moved from place to place. A food holding unit  103  is arranged in the cooking chamber  102 . The roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100  has an air outlet  105  above the cooking chamber  102  and the combustion chamber  101  in order to discharge an air outlet quantity  135 . Furthermore, for an adequate supply of fresh air, an air inlet  104  is provided between the table top  116  and the wing elements  109 . For this purpose, the wing elements  109  are arranged spaced apart above the table top  116 . It has proven advantageous for the exemplary embodiment shown if the wing elements are guided and supported on rollers  115   a  or similar rolling or sliding supporting elements in order to maintain said distance. However, they may also merely be mounted rotatably on the spindle  108  and moveable in a freely floating manner. Furthermore, the fresh air may flow into the cooking chamber  102  through an air inlet (not illustrated visibly here) below the table top  116 . In order to adjust an air outlet quantity  135  and to cover the cooking chamber  102  a mechanical control means  106  in the form of a covering  106  is provided. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the covering  106  is located above the cooking chamber  102  and the combustion chamber  101  and is mounted in a horizontally rotatable manner on the upright, column-like spindle  108  which acts on the outer edge of the covering  106 . By rotation of the covering  106  about the spindle  108 , an overlap of covering  106  and combustion chamber  101  or cooking chamber  102  can be changed and an air outlet quantity  135  set. In another embodiment, the covering may also be mounted pivotably about a horizontal spindle in the manner of a flap. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a detail of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100  from  FIG. 1  in the open state in a front view. In this figure, the food holding unit  103  can readily be seen. The latter has a plurality of grilling grates  120  arranged one above another in the manner of tiers in order to hold the food which is to be cooked. In this exemplary embodiment, the food holding unit  103  is designed as a removable insert and is simply plugged into a bore in a frame (not depicted here), which bore is arranged below the table top  116 . It is advantageous if a removable collecting trough  122  is provided below the cooking chamber  102 . Said collecting trough serves to collect fat dripping down or other liquids. In this exemplary embodiment, the collecting trough  122  is arranged below the table top  116  which has a corresponding recess. In order to avoid soiling of the storage chamber  112  by fat dripping down, the food holding unit  103  has a drip guard  123  which is of approximately cap-shaped design and is pulled over the bore from above and conducts drops into the collecting trough  122 . 
     The door-like wing elements  109  can readily be seen in this figure. The cooking chamber  102  is surrounded cylindrically by the combustion chamber  101  which is in the manner of a cylinder jacket. However, the cooking chamber may also be rectangular and surrounded by a combustion chamber consisting of two halves which are U-shaped in top view, wherein the combustion chamber halves are then advantageously moveable outward in a translatory manner. 
     In the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , a heating apparatus  119  in the right door-like wing element  109  is provided with a heating insert  117  which is designed to hold fossil fuel, such as wood or coal, as the heating source  118 . The combustion chamber  101  is bounded laterally by an outer wall  110 . In this case, the outer wall  110  is preferably of double-walled design and the cavity between the two walls is filled with an insulating material, such as, for example, rock wool, which is advantageous, firstly, for more efficient use of the heating source  118  and, secondly, for safety reasons. The heat insulation prevents the outer walls of the grilling apparatus, in particular of the wing elements  109 , from heating up too severely. In order to load and unload the roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100 , the door-like wing elements  109  can be moved or rotated about the spindle  108 . It is thereby also possible to change a distance  131  from the cooking chamber  102  to the combustion chamber  101  and therefore to the heating source  118 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the top view of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100  from  FIG. 1  with an air outlet quantity set virtually to the maximum. The spindle  108  and the covering  106  rotated about said spindle  108  can readily be seen. Furthermore, the figure shows the lateral, double-walled outer walls  110  of the combustion chamber  101  and the cooking chamber  102  with the food holding unit  103  arranged therein, and the uppermost grilling grate  120 . The heating apparatus  119  arranged in the combustion chamber  101  has, as heating source  118 , a fossil fuel in the form of charcoal, wherein the latter is held in a basket-like heating insert  117 . A heating insert  117  is arranged in each of the two door-like wing elements  109 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the heating inserts  117  are merely placed into the combustion chamber  101 . They are not screwed or fastened in a different manner, and therefore can be replaced without a tool. In order to hold the heating inserts  117 , the wing elements  109  have side members which project inward to the cooking chamber and flank lateral boundaries of the heating inserts  117 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus  100 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 , in the open state for better understanding. The spindle  108  and the bearings  140  of the wing elements  109  and of the doors  113  of the storage chamber  112  can readily be seen here. The bearings  140  may be designed, for example, as simple plain bearings and held in their position by an axial securing means  141 . The securing means  141  are advantageously height adjustable along the spindle  108  such that, by changing the position of the securing means  141 , the distance from the wing element  109  to the table top  116  and thus to the air inlet  104  can be adjusted. 
       FIG. 5  shows, for better understanding, a heating insert  117  which is designed for holding coal or wood. The heating insert  117  has a plurality of basket-like compartments  121  arranged one above another, wherein the compartments  121  are preferably formed by correspondingly arranged perforated plates. However, lattice grates are also conceivable instead of perforated plates or a closed plate, but this reduces the direct heat radiation into the cooking chamber. 
       FIG. 6  shows, in top view, a heating insert  117   a  with a gas burner  125  as the heating source  118   a , wherein the intensity of the heat radiation  117  is adjustable via a controller  128 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a gas burner  125  with gas outlet nozzles  129 , as an exemplary embodiment of a heating source  118   a.    
       FIG. 8  illustrates, in a front view, a heating insert  117   b  with a radiant electric heating element  126  arranged therein as the heating source  118   b . Of course, different geometries for the radiant heating element are possible.  FIG. 8   a  shows, as the heating source  118   b , a top view of two radiant electric heating elements for a combustion chamber, which is designed in the form of a cylinder jacket. The controller  128  and the power supply  133  including the required lines, etc. are preferably arranged on the rear side and laterally from the outside on the outer wall of the roasting and/or grilling apparatus. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the food holding unit  103  with a plurality of grilling grates  120 , which are arranged one above another in the form of tiers, separately in the removed state. The drip guard  123  can readily be seen here.  FIG. 9   a  shows an alternative food holding unit  103   a  in the form of a spit  136 . An axial securing disk  134  is preferably provided at the bottom. According to an embodiment (not illustrated), said disk may also be provided as a collecting plate for fat and meat juice. In one possible refinement, a drive for rotating the food holding unit  103   a  or also the food holding unit  103  with the grilling grates  120  may also be provided in the roasting and/or grilling apparatus. The rotary drive is advantageously arranged below the cooking chamber, and most optimally below the collecting trough. For this purpose, a force transmission unit between a driving motor and the spit  136  is provided in the form of a belt or gearwheel drive.

Technology Category: 1