Live Charcoal Supply Generator

Abstract

Apparatus for igniting solid fuels and storing ignited solid fuels, comprising a housing having a first chamber containing a burner, a second chamber separated from the first chamber, for storing ignited solid fuel, and a fluid fuel supply chamber containing a replaceable fluid fuel supply and a flow control regulating flow of fluid fuel to the burner. A removable grate supports the solid fuel above the burner to effect ignition. Ignited solid fuel is stored in the second chamber, and has an air supply restricted in flow to less than that serving the first chamber. The first and second chambers may have a removable cover. The housing may have legs of adjustable length. The fluid fuel supply may comprise a butane canister releasably retained in place by a spring biased retainer. The housing may comprise a pull-out drawer for holding a supply of unignited solid fuel for replenishment.

1 . Apparatus for igniting solid fuels and storing ignited solid fuels, comprising:
 a combustion system comprising a burner for generating live flame from a fluid fuel, a supply of fluid fuel for serving the combustion system, a flow control for controlling flow of the fluid fuel from the supply of fluid fuel to the burner, and a grate for supporting the solid fuel above the burner; and   a housing defining an ignition chamber for igniting the solid fuel, a storage chamber for storing ignited solid fuel, which said storage chamber is substantially closed to the ambient environment such that combustion of ignited solid fuel is impeded but not entirely deprived of combustion air, and a support compartment, wherein the.   the storage chamber is adjacent the ignition chamber, the housing comprises a partition separating the storage chamber from the ignition chamber and an openable cover which is disposed to close the storage chamber to the ambient environment.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the housing is manually removable from the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grate is manually removable from the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel supply chamber located outside and adjacent to the ignition chamber, and wherein the fluid fuel supply and the flow control are disposed within the fuel supply chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the combustion system comprises a manually removable canister for storing fluid fuel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel contained within the removable canister is butane. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a retainer disposed to retain the canister in place within the fuel supply chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising first air openings formed in a wall of the ignition chamber for admitting combustion air to the ignition chamber, and wherein the partition of the housing has second air openings for admitting combustion air from the ignition chamber to the storage chamber, and the storage chamber is devoid of openings elsewhere in any wall of the storage chamber other than the partition, whereby combustion air for the storage chamber is obtained only from the ignition chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first air openings of the ignition chamber have a total cross sectional area, and the second air openings of the partition of the housing have a second total cross sectional area which is less than the total cross sectional area of the first air openings of the ignition chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises legs which project from the housing and are disposed to space the housing above a horizontal environmental surface when the apparatus is in use. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the legs are adjustable in length. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage drawer supported on the housing, for holding solid fuel supply. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one handle for lifting and maneuvering the housing.