AU541883B2

AU541883B2 - Barbecue spit

Info

Publication number: AU541883B2
Application number: AU71565/81A
Authority: AU
Inventors: L.P. Whelan
Original assignee: WHELAN L IND Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Laurie Whelan Industries Aust Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-20
Filing date: 1981-05-19
Publication date: 1985-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2001-05-19
Also published as: AU7156581A

Description

BARBECUE SPIT This invention relates to a barbecue spit.

Conventionally, known forms of spit usually comprise a trough into which charcoal wood or other combustible material is placed so as to provide the heat for cooking. The housing has a pair of uprights at either end which support a spit, a small drive motor being provided to rotate the spit so that meat on the spit is cooked evenly.

There are some situations where it is inappropriate to use solid fuels as a source of heat for the spit. For instance, such spits could not normally be used indoors and sometimes solid fuels are unavailable or time consuming to use.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a barbecue spit which has an alternative source of heat in the spit of the invention the alternative source of heat may comprise a radiant heat source such as a gas burner or an electric element. Normally, the spit and meat is located directly above the hot coals so that fat or juices from the meat being cooked drips onto the coals and is quickly burned and/or evaporated. However, where a radiant source is used it would be inappropriate to have the source located where the fat or juices drip onto the source.

According to the present invention there is provided a spit for barbecuing meat, said spit comprising a housing, a spit shaft which is rotatable relative to the housing, radiant heating means located in said housing, said radiant heating means having parts thereof distributed along the length of the housing but spaced laterally relative to the, spit shaft.

In the preferred form of the invention the radiant heating means comprises a pair of elongate gas burners which extend substantially the full length of the housing on either side of the spit shaft, the burners being located somewhat below the spit shaft but not directly beneath the spit shaft so that juices from meat on the spit do not drip onto the gas burners.

Another important aspect of the invention concerns the provision of removable covers for the top of the housing. Such covers serve to retain heat in the housing and so improve the efficiency of operation of the spit.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gas-fired barbecue spit constructed in accordance with the invention; and

,^*vJl c: Figure 2 is a transverse section through the spit shown in Figure 1.

The spit illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a trough 2 supported at one end by legs 4 and at the other b.y wheels 5. The trough 2 has a bottom 6 symmetric side walls 8 and end walls 10. A removable tray 7 is placed within the trough to facilitate cleaning. Each side wall 8 comprises a lower portion 12 which flares outwardly from the base 6, an intermediate portion 14 which diverges inwardly somewhat towards the centre of the trough and upper portion 16 which diverges further inwardly towards the centre of the trough. At least the inner faces of the intermediate and upper portions 14 and 16 are reflective so as to reflect heat towards the centre of the trough. The portions 14 and 16 may be made from stainless steel or comprise chrome-plated steel. Connected to the end walls 10 are respective uprights 18, the uprights 18 including brackets 20 located near their centres for supporting a rotatable spit 22 upon which meat to be cooked is placed. A small electric motor 23 is provided to rotate the spit in accordance with known practice.

The spit may be provided with one or a pair of covers 24 which generally speaking provide a cover for the top of the housing 2. In Figure 1 one of the covers 24 is removed whilst in Figure 2 both are shown in their operative position. One or both of the covers maybe provided with a viewing window 25. The

f o^**rι covers are preferably supported at their upper ends by the uprights 18 and one simple arrangement is to provide a pair of outwardly directed fingers 26 on the upper ends of the cover 24, the fingers 26 being located within yokes 28 formed on the tops of the uprights 18. The lower portions of the cover 24 may conform generally to the shape of the portions 14 and 16 of the housing but this is not essential. As best seen in Figure 2, the lower edge is held away from the housing by means of elongate rails 30 which project outwardly from the intermediate^'portions 14.

Extending longitudinally within the housing 2 is a pair of gas burners 32. Each burner 32 preferably comprises an elongate burner body such as a square black iron pipe formed with a multiplicity of orifices 35 thereby providing elongate rows of gas flames 36. The ends of the burners pass through and are supported by the end walls 10 of the housing. The ends of the burners are provided with valves 33 and gas couplings.

It is important to note that the burners 32 are not located directly beneath the spit 22. In fact the burners are located reasonably closely adjacent to the side walls of the housing. In the illustrated arrangement, the burners are located approximately 10.9 cms. below the level of the spit and 23.5 cm. laterally of the spit. It has been found that this location of the burners gives excellent cooking and little interference to the burners by the juices and/or fat dripping from the meat being cooked. It has been found that with the covers 24 in position, it is possible to barbecue a whole pig weighing 50 Kgms in about 4 hours.

Many further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

1. A spit for barbecuing meat comprising a housing (2), a spit shaft (22) which is rotatable relative to the housing, radiant heating means (32) said radiant heating means having parts thereof distributed along the length of the housing but spaced laterally relative to the spit shaft.

2. A spit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiant heating means comprises a pair of elongate gas burners which extend substantially the full length of the housing on either side of the spit shaft, the burners being located somewhat below the spit shaft but not directly beneath the spit shaft so that juices from meat on the spit do not drip onto the gas burners.

3. A spit as claimed in .claim 2 wherein said burners comprise pipes which extend through the housing and are provided with orifices (35).

4. A spit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is provided with reflective faces (14, 16) on its interior to reflect radiant heat from said heating means towards the spit 22.

5. A spit as claimed in claim 4 wherein said reflective faces include upper faces (16) which are located generally above respective heating means.

6. A spit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing has an open top and is provided with removable covers (24).

7. A spit as claimed in claim 6 including uprights (18) located adjacent to respective end walls (10) of the housing said uprights (18) being provided with means (28) to support the covers.

8. A spit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said uprights include brackets (20)which support the spit shaft.

9. A spit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the end walls are formed with slots and the ends of the spit shaft pass through the slots.

10. A spit shaft as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein at least one of the covers is provided with a window (25).