Temperature control apparatus and method for a barbeque grill

摘要

A temperature control system for controlling the rate of flow of a flammable fluid at generally constant pressure is disclosed. The system may include a flow control apparatus that is free of a regulator mechanism, for affecting the flow of the fluid. The flow control apparatus may be operable between at least a first flow rate and a second flow rate, and may have at least one upstream opening and at least one downstream opening. The system may also include a first burner in fluid communication with the downstream opening of the flow control apparatus and a conduit in fluid communication at one end thereof with the upstream opening of the flow control apparatus, and configured at the other end thereof for connection to a fuel supply. A thermocouple may be located in the vicinity of the burner, for converting a sensed thermal state into an electrical signal. An electronic controller, in communication with the flow control apparatus, for activating the flow control apparatus to one of said first and second flow rates, and being in communication with the thermocouple for receiving the electrical signal from the thermocouple is also provided. An interface connected to the controller for manually inputting a desired temperature may be included, wherein the controller is operable to automatically cycle the flow control apparatus between the first and second flow rates until the temperature sensed by the thermocouple is similar to the desired temperature.

主权项

1. A method for controlling the rate of flow of a flammable fluid at generally constant pressure using a flow control apparatus, the flow control apparatus being free of a pressure regulator mechanism and settable exclusively at one of a first non-zero flow rate and a greater second flow rate, to achieve a desired temperature within a cooking apparatus having at least one volume defined therein, the method comprising the steps of:
assessing whether the flow control apparatus is to be automatically controlled; when the flow control apparatus is to be automatically controlled:
assessing the temperature within the cooking apparatus;maintaining the non-zero flow state of the flow control apparatus when the temperature within the cooking apparatus is within the range of about:
(i) an upper threshold value, which upper threshold value is greater than the desired temperature, and(ii) a lower threshold value, which lower threshold value is less than the desired temperature;assessing whether the temperature within the cooking apparatus is generally lower than the lower threshold value; andsetting the flow control apparatus to the second flow rate when the temperature within the cooking apparatus is generally lower than the lower threshold value.