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US 12,745,876 B2Granted
Pellet grills having pellet level detection systems and related methods
AssigneeTraeger Pellet Grills, LLC
InventorDaniel A. Altenritter
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Abstract
A pellet grill includes a detection system configured to detect at least one pellet level in a hopper of the pellet grill. The detection system can include at least one sensor that is configured to detect at least one condition in the hopper of the pellet grill. The detection system may optionally include a communications module that is configured to notify a user of the at least one pellet level in the hopper of the pellet grill.
Claims15
A pellet grill, comprising:
- a main grilling cavity;
- a hopper configured to contain particulate fuel prior to combustion of the fuel;
- an auger system including an auger located and configured to convey particulate fuel away from the hopper and toward the main grilling cavity;
- and
- a detection system configured to detect multiple threshold pellet levels in the hopper of the pellet grill and configured to estimate the time left until the hopper is empty, the multiple threshold pellet levels positioned above a bottom of the hopper and above the auger, the detection system including:
- at least one light-emitting device positioned at each of the multiple threshold pellet levels in the hopper and configured to emit a different wavelength of light at each of the multiple threshold levels;
- and
- at least one light sensor positioned in another portion of the hopper, the at least one light sensor configured to detect light from the at least one light-emitting device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.