Chip fuel feeder

Abstract

An apparatus for feeding a fuel, characterized as irregularly shaped fuel chips, from a storage bin to a burner of a cooking grill, includes a conveyance having a plurality of vanes movable from a first position proximate to a fuel source to a second position proximate to a fuel delivery chute leading to the burner. A fuel supply is arranged to feed the fuel to the first position. A chute is arranged having a first end proximate to the second position and a second end proximate to the burner for delivery of the fuel from the vanes at the second position to the burner. The vanes are arranged to scoop up the fuel from the fuel source at the first position, and to deposit the fuel at the second position into the first end of the chute.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for feeding a fuel, characterized as irregularly shaped fuel chips, from a storage bin to a burner of a cooking grill, comprising:
 a conveyance having a plurality of vanes movable from a first position proximate to a fuel source to a second position proximate to a fuel delivery chute leading to the burner;   a fuel supply arranged to feed the fuel to said first position; and   a chute having a first end proximate to said second position and a second end proximate to said burner;   wherein said vanes are arranged to scoop up the fuel from said fuel source at said first position, and to deposit said fuel at said second position into said first end of said chute.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said conveyance comprises a wheel having an outer periphery, wherein said vanes are movable along a path of said outer periphery. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said wheel is a rotating wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said fuel supply comprises a fuel hopper having a storing portion adapted to contain a supply of fuel, and a delivery portion having an outlet from which fuel is fed to said first position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the fuel hopper comprises a bumping plate arranged to momentarily shake or disturb the fuel within said hopper. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said bumping plate comprises a flexible or hinged side wall of said hopper. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drum housing surrounding said conveyance, wherein fuel fed from said fuel supply is collected within the drum housing proximate to vanes in said first position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said vanes are formed as upstanding walls, scoops, or vanes adapted to collect, transport and release the fuel chips along a path of the conveyance.