Roller grill

Abstract

A roller grill includes a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubular heating surfaces mounted between a first end of the housing structure and a second end of the housing structure; a first side housing coupled to the first end of the housing structure; a second side housing coupled to the second end of the housing structure, at least one of the first side housing or the second housing including a pressurized plenum maintainable at a plenum air pressure that is greater than a tubular air pressure of an inner volume of the plurality of tubular heating surfaces; and a drive assembly at least partially enclosed in the first side housing or the second side housing, the drive assembly configured to rotatably drive the plurality of tubular heating surfaces.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a roller grill, the roller grill comprising:   a housing structure adapted to support the roller grill; a plurality of tubular heating surfaces mounted between a first end of the housing structure and a second end of the housing structure, and to a drive assembly; a first side housing coupled to the first end of the housing structure; and a second side housing coupled to the second end of the housing structure;   rotatably driving the plurality of tubular heating surfaces with the drive assembly; pressurizing a plenum enclosed within one of the first or second side housings; and maintaining, based on the pressurization, a plenum air pressure greater than a tubular air pressure of an inner volume of the plurality of tubular heating surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing a plenum enclosed within one of the first or second side housings comprises:
 circulating an airflow into the plenum with a fan coupled to the housing structure and in airflow communication with the plenum and an ambient environment that surrounds the roller grill.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 mounting a cover plate mountable to the one of the first or second side housings that encloses the plenum; and   at least partially sealing against an airflow between the plenum and the ambient environment independent of the airflow into the plenum.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: providing at least one relief opening in the cover plate; and flowing a portion of the airflow from the plenum through the relief opening. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adjusting an opening area of the relief opening based on at least one of the plenum air pressure or the tubular air pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 circulating a second airflow into a second plenum enclosed within the other of the first or second side housings; and   maintaining, based on the second airflow circulation, a second plenum air pressure greater than the tubular air pressure of the inner volume of the plurality of tubular heating surfaces.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein circulating a second airflow into a second plenum enclosed within the other of the first or second side housings comprises:
 circulating the second airflow into the second plenum with a second fan coupled to the housing structure and in airflow communication with the second plenum and the ambient environment that surrounds the roller grill.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a surface temperature measured along a length of a first tubular heating surface of the plurality of tubular heating surfaces is within a range of between ±2° F. and ±5° F. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotatably driving the plurality of tubular heating surfaces with the drive assembly comprises:
 driving a drive gear with a motor;   driving at least one transfer gear with the drive gear;   driving at least one idler gear with the transfer gear; and   driving at least one tube gear with the idler gear.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the drive gear, the transfer gear, the idler gear, or the tube gear comprises a non-metallic gear, and the drive assembly comprises a beltless and chainless drive assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotatably driving the plurality of tubular heating surfaces with the drive assembly comprises:
 driving a drive gear with a motor;   moving a belt or chain with the drive gear;   driving at least one tube gear with the moving belt or chain.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotatably driving the plurality of tubular heating surfaces with the drive assembly comprises driving the plurality of tubular heating surfaces with a slip clutch motor.