Automatic cleaning gas barbecue grill

Abstract

An automatic cleaning gas barbecue grill comprising a main container and a cover, with the interior surfaces of both being coated with a coating that includes an oxidizing catalyst. The grill has valve means for controlling the flow rate of cooking gas, with at least one predetermined rate of flow for the principal cooking mode of operation of the grill and at least one predetermined higher rate of flow for an automatic cleaning mode of operation. The temperature along the interior surfaces of the main container walls and of the cover is maintained, at substantially all points along the surfaces, at a level at least high enough to cause substantially complete oxidation of waste materials that accumulate on the interior surfaces during ordinary use. The tips of flame jets that project from the burner exit ports extend to locations adjacent the main container walls without damaging the coating on the interior surfaces of the walls. A horizontal positioning plane for the gas burner, the main container side walls, and a horizontal plane in which the top surface of the grate on which pieces of refractory materials are supported define a main combustion chamber having a specified volume and vertical position. The grill has exhaust outlet means for the automatic cleaning mode of operation to permit the escape of exhaust mixture and avoid the accumulation of carbon monoxide above safe levels, while limiting the escape of the exhaust mixture to maintain the necessary waste material combustion temperature along the inner surfaces of the main container walls and cover. Specific values of the cross-sectional area of the exhaust outlet means for the automatic cleaning mode of operation are provided.