WO2007031035A1

WO2007031035A1 - Mechanised rotating grill system for grilling foodstuffs

Info

Publication number: WO2007031035A1
Application number: PCT/CY2005/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Angelides; Panicos Angelidis
Original assignee: Andreas Angelides; Panicos Angelidis
Priority date: 2005-09-14
Filing date: 2005-09-14
Publication date: 2007-03-22

Abstract

A rotating grill system consists of a double barbecue grill mounted onto a shaft or axle and the whole grill-axle assembly is rotated by a simple drive assembly over a live charcoal fire or a heat source in general. The rotating grill system is suitable for grilling whole fish or large flat chunks of meat or foodstuffs in general, placed between the two grills. Continuous or intermittent uniform rotation of the grill assembly by electrical or mechanical means assures uniform grilling hence enhanced flavour and does away with the necessity of hand manipulation and all-time attendance.

Description

MECHANISED ROTATING GRILL SYSTEM FOR GRILLING FOODSTUFFS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to cooking implements and more specifically to a grill assembly holding fish or meat or other foodstuffs, which is rotated continuously during cooking by a motorized drive assembly.

The rotating grill may be of rectangular, oval, circular or of any other shape and may be fitted to any fire source and drive system.

Antecedents of the invention

It has been known and widely accepted, that enhanced flavour and uniformity of cooking is achieved by continuous rotation of the item being grilled as opposed to static grilling over a charcoal fire or, in fact over fire from any source. Centuries ago, the Greeks used to roast, for example, a whole lamb on a spit which was rotated by hand over a live charcoal fire. Nowdays, there are several types of mechanized rotating spit systems for grilling small pieces of meat which have been passed onto the spit.

Where it comes to grilling large whole fish or large flat pieces of meat e.g. cutlets, the general practice is to place such items between two flat grills which are then tied together and place the double sided flat griller over the fire or the heat source in general. The griller is then periodically turned over by hand. Apart from the inconvenience, this practice suffers from the disadvantage of non-uniformity of grilling and, in many cases burning the foodstuffs if left for a prolonged period of time without turning over.

An object of this invention is to provide a grill system that lends itself to fully mechanized rotation for grilling uniformly and conveniently, fish or meat or in fact any other foodstuffs desired to be grilled.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a grill mounted on an axle for grilling fish, meat and or any other foodstuffs, suitable for mechanized, continuous or intermittent but uniform, rotation. The grilling system comprises an ordinary double barbecue grill, which may be of any shape e.g. oval, rectangular, circular, onto which an axle is affixed. The grill itself may be comprised of two planar grills in between which the foodstuffs are placed and secured by suitable butterfly nuts or clips or may be of special contour e.g. dish-shaped suitable for whole fish.

The driven axle may be made in two parts affixed one part on either of the two ends of the grill assembly along the centerline forming a straight line or in one single line continuous axle. One end of the axle has a spear-shaped tip for passing through an aperture in the drive assembly whereas the other part of the axle is grooved to facilitate resting securely onto a notch made on a support plate placed at the opposite end. The grill assembly is generally driven at low speed continuously or intermittently by a suitable AC or DC motor. The rotating grill system may be adapted to various types of systems of heat source e.g. specially made portable steel briers, brick-built briers or even the kitchen stove.

From the aforementioned it will be appreciated that it is the object of the present invention to provide a rotating grill system different from the antecedents and offering several advantages over the known techniques for grilling foodstuffs, such as the following: a) It is suitable for any kind of foodstuffs that can be grilled including whole fish of large size b) Grilling can be continuous and assures uniform cooking throughout the full body of the fish, meat or any other foodstuff and does away with the risk of burning. c) It is simple to construct and to use. d) The grill is suitable for continuous, or intermittent but uniform, rotation by simple drive mechanisms and does not require the cumbersome hand manipulation of the conventional barbecue techniques, e) Low in cost. f) It is well suited for economical mass production fabrication.

With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in various combinations of elements, arrangements of parts or grilling systems by which the aforesaid aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features and considerations are attained, or with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention,

FIG.1 is a general arrangement drawing showing the complete rotating grill system with the double sided grill at the particular instant that is in the vertical position.

FIG.2 is an elevational view of the bottom grill in its vertical position and showing the two parts in line comprising the driven axle whereas FIG.3 is a top plan view of the top grill showing the notched braces for fastening to the bottom grill by means of swing bolts and butterfly nuts. FIG.4 is a side view of the complete double grill package system in its horizontal plane position whereas FIG.5 is an end view of the same. FIG.6 shows the details of the parts comprising the support of the driven end of the axle.

FIG.7 shows an alternative version of a rotated double grill of oval shape, suitable for grilling fish, in its vertical position and FIG.δ is a side view of the same grill in the horizontal plane position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG.1 shows a general arrangement of a rotating grill system constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The system includes a rectangular steel fire box 11 , mounted on legs and bearing the support plates onto which are mounted the drive mechanism 12, and the rotating grill axlei .

FIG.2 shows the one part of a typical version of the rotated double grill, bearing the driven axle, of a rectangular frame 2 made of steel rod or square bar onto which a number of lateral steel rods or square bars 3 are welded at suitable spacings. The driven axlei, which is made of steel rod or square bar, consists of two parts welded at the mid points of the short sides of the rectangular frame of the grill, one on either side but in a precise straight line. The one end of the axle, bearing a wooden handle for ease of handling, is grooved at a suitable position so as to be secured when placed on the support plate shown in FIG.1 and while rotating. The other end of the axle has a spear-shaped tip to facilitate passing through an aperture in the support plate of the drive mechanism as shown in FIG.1.

FIG.3 shows the other half of the double grill, which is identical to the other half of the grill described above so that when placed on top of the latter it matches precisely.

The meat, fish or any foodstuffs to be grilled are placed flat in between the two grills.

Four notched steel braces 5 are welded at suitable positions onto the grill frame and the bolts 6 which are affixed to the bottom grill are passed through these notches when the two halves are put together after loading the meat, fish or other foodstuffs, and the two halves of the grill are secured by means of butterfly nuts 7 screwed on the swing bolts 6. FIG.4 is a side view of the double grill system showing clearly the swing bolts and butterfly nut arrangement for securing the two part grills.

FIG.5 is an end view of the double grill in its closed position secured by the said swing bolts and butterfly nuts. The swing bolt is made of a small cylindrical bush which is welded to the frame 2 of the grill and through which passes a small piece of rod 4 forming the head of the swing bolt 6.

FIG.6 shows in detail the assembly for supporting the drive mechanism. This assembly consists of one plate 8 welded to a flat bar 9 which forms the pillar of the support plate and is welded to the fire box as shown in the general arrangement drawing FIG.1. The drive support plate 8 is suitably drilled to allow the driven axle of the grill to pass through and rest in the opening on the face plate of the geared motor 12 as shown in fig.1. The support plate is notched on the upper edge to facilitate securing the geared motor device.

FIG.7 and FIG.8 exhibit an alternative version of a rotated double grill system. The two grill halves are of oval shape suitable for grilling large whole fish. The two halves of the grill system are fastened together and secured by means of a slitted bush 13 welded onto the driven part of the axle and a U-shaped clamp 14 welded at the other end.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed and desired to be secured by patent:

1) A rotating grill system for grilling fish, meat and any other foodstuffs constructed from two planar or contour grills fastened together by suitable bolts and nuts or any form of clamps, the double grill assembly affixed to an axle made either in two parts affixed one part on either of the two ends of the grill assembly forming a straight line, the whole grill-axle combination assembly being supported by supports of any kind over a live charcoal fire or any heat source system or in the kitchen stove that lends itself to continuous or intermittent uniform rotation by mechanical means from any drive mechanism.

2) A rotating grill system as constructed in accordance to claim 1 with the grills being of rectangular, oval, circular or any other geometric shape.

3) A rotating grill system as constructed in accordance to claim 1 with the driven axle made of round, square or any other shape cross section, solid steel bar or hollow tube. 4) A rotating grill system a constructed in accordance to claim 3 with the driven axle made in one continuous piece onto which the grill assembly is affixed.

5) A rotating grill system as constructed in accordance to claim 1 with the two grills forming the double grill assembly made of rods or hollow tubes of any fire resistant material and forming any pattern of apertures.

6) The application of the rotating grill system as constructed in accordance to claim 1 to any type of fireplace or heat source system including the kitchen stove. 7) The use of the grill system as constructed in accordance to claim 1 with any type of drive mechanism or assembly that can produce continuous or intermittent uniform rotation at any speed by any electrical or mechanical means or combinations thereof or otherwise.