Retrofit apparatus for a cooking device

Abstract

A retrofit apparatus for a preexisting cooking device comprises a hood that defines a liquid removal section, a motor disposed within the hood, and a motor gear rotatable by the motor to facilitate rotating a centrifugal liquid removal device. The motor gear may comprise a plurality of teeth configured to engage a motor gear coupling on a shaft of the centrifugal liquid removal device, and the motor gear may be configured to automatically engage the motor gear coupling to facilitate rotating the centrifugal liquid removal device. In other embodiments, a lifting mechanism in the preexisting cooking device is configured to move the centrifugal liquid removal device from a cooking section to the liquid removal section.

1 . A retrofit apparatus for a preexisting cooking device, comprising:
 a hood defining a liquid removal section;   a motor disposed within the hood; and   a motor gear rotatable by the motor to facilitate rotating a centrifugal liquid removal device.   
     
     
         2 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor gear comprises a plurality of teeth configured to engage a motor gear coupling on a shaft of the centrifugal liquid removal device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a lifting mechanism in the preexisting cooking device is configured to move the centrifugal liquid removal device from a cooking section to the liquid removal section. 
     
     
         4 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the motor gear is configured to automatically engage the motor gear coupling to facilitate rotating the centrifugal liquid removal device. 
     
     
         5 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hood comprises a housing. 
     
     
         6 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a basket well locatable within the housing and moveable between a cooking section and the liquid removal section, wherein the centrifugal liquid removal device is disposable within the basket well. 
     
     
         7 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the basket well comprises a bearing surface and a basket well gear, and wherein the basket well gear comprises a plurality of teeth disposed around the circumference of the basket well. 
     
     
         8 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the motor comprises a spinning gear configured to interface with the basket well gear at the circumference of the basket well. 
     
     
         9 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the motor gear is configured to interface with the basket well gear, wherein the basket well gear and the motor gear comprise an axis of rotation substantially the same as an axis about which the basket well is configured to rotate, and wherein the basket well gear and the spinning gear comprise substantially the same diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising means for moving the basket well between the liquid removal section and the cooking section. 
     
     
         12 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a slidable drawer, wherein the centrifugal liquid removal device is locatable within the slidable drawer. 
     
     
         13 . The retrofit apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a heating element is disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A retrofit apparatus for a preexisting cooking device, comprising:
 a hood defining a liquid removal section;   a motor disposed within the hood;   a motor gear rotatable by the motor to facilitate rotating a centrifugal liquid removal device; and   a plurality of motor gear teeth configured to automatically engage a motor gear coupling on a shaft of the centrifugal liquid removal device in response to a lifting mechanism in the preexisting cooking device moving the centrifugal liquid removal device from a cooking section to the liquid removal section.   
     
     
         15 . A retrofit apparatus for a preexisting cooking device, comprising:
 a hood defining a liquid removal section;   a housing disposed within the hood, wherein the housing includes the liquid removal section;   a centrifugal liquid removal device disposable and rotatable within the housing;   a motor disposed within the hood; and   a motor gear rotatable by the motor to facilitate rotating a centrifugal liquid removal device.