Cooking apparatus for use with a plurality of fuels

Abstract

A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a cooking device and a cooking device having a convertible fuel apparatus are disclosed, wherein the convertible fuel orifice apparatus includes a body, a fuel passage extending through the body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet, an insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects the fuel passage, a first orifice extending through the insert, wherein the first orifice is configured for a first fuel, and a second orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second orifice is configured for a second fuel, wherein the insert is adjustable by a user to select between the first orifice and the second orifice.

1 . A convertible fuel orifice apparatus for a portable cooking device, comprising: 
 a body;    a fuel passage extending through the body, wherein the fuel passage includes an inlet and an outlet;    an insert disposed within the body, wherein the insert intersects the fuel passage;    a first orifice extending through the insert, wherein the first orifice is configured for a first fuel; and    a second orifice extending through the insert, wherein the second orifice is configured for a second fuel;    wherein the insert is adjustable by a user to select between the first orifice and the second orifice.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel is natural gas and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve cap coupled to the insert to hold the insert in the body.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body and the insert includes indicia configured to enable a user to align the fuel passage with at least one of the first orifice and the second orifice.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the fuel passage is configured to be aligned to one of the first and the second orifice by rotating the insert in relation to the body.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to be adjusted by a tool that is operated by the user.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first orifice is approximately orthogonal to the second orifice.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a cross-section of the first orifice is a different size than at least a portion of a cross-section of the second orifice.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is further configured to restrict rotational motion of the insert to a range defined by the first orifice and the second orifice.  
   
   
       10 . A cooking device having a fuel transport system comprising: 
 a fuel passage configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and a fuel destination; and    an adjustable orifice disposed within the fuel passage, wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by a user between at least a first orifice and a second orifice, wherein at least a portion of the first orifice has a different cross-sectional area than the second orifice.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first orifice is configured for natural gas and the second orifice is configured for liquid petroleum.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to receive a tool, wherein the tool enables a user to vary the adjustable orifice between the first orifice and the second orifice.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by rotation of the adjustable orifice in relation to the fuel passage by the user.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel destination is at least one burner.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable orifice is configured to be varied by a user between more than two orifices.  
   
   
       16 . A method of operating an outdoor grill configured to utilize a plurality of fuel types, wherein the grill includes a fuel passage configured to transport fuel between a fuel source and at least one burner, and an adjustable orifice structure disposed within the fuel passage, wherein said adjustable orifice structure is configured to be adjusted by a user between a first orifice configured for a first fuel and a second orifice configured for a second fuel, the method comprising: 
 attaching a fuel source containing a selected fuel type to the fuel passage; and    adjusting the adjustable orifice structure in response to the selected fuel type.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said adjusting the adjustable orifice structure includes rotating the adjustable orifice to align one of the first orifice and the second orifice with the fuel passage.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first fuel is natural gas and the second fuel is liquid petroleum.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said adjusting the adjustable orifice may be performed without disassembling the grill.