Cooking device

Abstract

A cooking device is provided herein that includes a trailer having one or more frame members and configured to couple with a vehicle. A housing is supported by the frame members and defines a heating chamber. A heat source is disposed within the heating chamber. A controller is operably coupled with an auger assembly to direct fuel to the heat source for heating the heating chamber. A power actuator is operably coupled with the controller and configured to accept electrical power from two or more power supplies and provide power to the controller from one of the two or more power supplies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking device comprising:
 a trailer having one or more frame members and configured to couple with a vehicle;   a housing supported by the frame members and defining a heating chamber;   a heat source disposed within the heating chamber;   a controller operably coupled with an auger assembly to direct fuel to the heat source for heating the heating chamber; and   a power actuator operably coupled with the controller and configured to accept electrical power from two or more power supplies and provide power to the controller from one of the two or more power supplies.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a lower portion, an upper portion, and a lid operably coupled to the upper portion by a hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hopper operably coupled with an auger assembly, the auger assembly including a channel and an auger disposed within the channel; and   a motor operably coupled with the auger and electrically powered by the power actuator.   
     
     
         4 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more power supplies includes a cooking device power supply, a vehicle power supply disposed within and a vehicle and separable from the cooking device, and an external power supply that supplies power from an electrical power grid. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inverter disposed between the power actuator and the controller and configured to convert DC power from the power actuator to AC power to operate at least one of a motor and a fan.   
     
     
         6 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit, wherein power is delivered to the control unit from the power actuator as AC power through a first conductive lead and as DC power through a second conductive lead.   
     
     
         7 . The cooking device of  claim 4 , wherein the power actuator includes a repository having guidelines to determine which power supply supplies power to the controller based on an availability of inputted power supplies. 
     
     
         8 . The cooking device of  claim 7 , wherein the guidelines provide that the external power supply is utilized as a primary power supply when electrically coupled to the power actuator, the vehicle power supply may be used as a secondary power supply when coupled to the power actuator, and the cooking device power supply is a tertiary power supply. 
     
     
         9 . A cooking device comprising:
 a control unit configured to operate a heat source; and   a power actuator electrically powering at least one of the control unit or the heat source at a set power, the power actuator configured to couple to a cooking device power supply and a vehicle power supply, wherein the power actuator provides power to the control unit from the cooking device power supply when a vehicle is in motion and from the vehicle power supply when the vehicle is stationary.   
     
     
         10 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , wherein a first branch, a second branch and a third branch are electrically connected in parallel to the power actuator, the first branch connected with the cooking device power supply, the second branch configured to connect with the vehicle power supply, and the third branch configured to couple with an external power supply and a rectifier. 
     
     
         11 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a transceiver operably coupling the control unit with a remote electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an overcurrent protection device operably coupled with the power actuator.   
     
     
         13 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a display electrically coupled with the control unit and configured to provide a visual indication of a currently utilized power supply.   
     
     
         14 . A cooking device comprising:
 a housing defining a heating chamber;   a trailer operably supporting the housing and including a coupler configured to attach to a hitch assembly of a vehicle;   a control unit electrically coupled with a heat source, the heat source configured to heat the heating chamber; and   a power actuator configured to electrically coupled to first and second independent power supplies, wherein the first power supply electrically powers the control unit when the second power supply is unavailable and is charged by the second power supply when the second power supply electrically powers the control unit.   
     
     
         15 . The cooking device of  claim 14 , wherein the first power supply is supported on the trailer and the second power supply is a vehicle power supply disposed within the vehicle and separable from the cooking device. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking device of  claim 14 , wherein the first power supply is supported on the trailer and the second power supply is an external power supply powered by an electrical grid having a connection point that is separable from the cooking device. 
     
     
         17 . The cooking device of  claim 14 , wherein the power actuator supplies DC power to the control unit and AC power to a motor within an auger assembly, the auger assembly configured to provide fuel to the heat source. 
     
     
         18 . The cooking device of  claim 15 , wherein the first power supply provides power to the control unit when the vehicle is in motion and the second power supply provides power to the control unit when the vehicle is stationary. 
     
     
         19 . The cooking device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a latch configured to maintain a lid in a closed position when engaged with the lid.   
     
     
         20 . The cooking device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a jack coupled to a tongue of the trailer and configured to level the housing.