US 12,241,627 B2
Hopper cleanout and pellet handling mechanism
Dan Corso, Columbus, GA (US); Brad Gillespie, Midland, GA (US); Anthony Hamilton, Hamilton, GA (US); Ramin Khosravi Rahmani, Columbus, GA (US); Sleiman Abdallah, Columbus, GA (US); and Michael Parsons, Auburn, AL (US)
Assigned to W.C. Bradley Co., Columbus, GA (US)
Filed by W.C. BRADLEY CO., Columbus, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/863,788.
Prior Publication US 2021/0341144 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. F23K 3/14 (2006.01); A47J 37/07 (2006.01)
CPC F23K 3/14 (2013.01) [A47J 37/0704 (2013.01); A47J 37/0786 (2013.01); F23K 2203/202 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a hopper that receives fuel pellets and direct the pellets under gravity feed to an auger that moves the pellets into a firepot inside a cooking chamber of a grill;
a door below the auger that has a closed position that retains fuel pellets in the hopper such that the fuel pellets feed to the auger, and that has an opened position to allows the pellets to empty from the hopper and away from the auger;
a closing mechanism that allows a user to selectively open or close the door.