Oven for cooking food by a hot smoke process

Claim 1

An oven for cooking food by a hot smoke process comprising: a base having an open top and side walls including an opening in one end for receiving fuel for combustion purposes; a grate in said base adjacent the opening on which solid fuel is placed for furnishing heat to the oven; a removable pan beneath said grate for receiving the residue resulting from combustion of the fuel; supplementary heat means including a gas burner mounted near the grate for initially igniting the solid fuel and reigniting portions thereof in the event it becomes extinguished, said burner comprising an arm mounted between a pair of parallel bars in said base, said arm and attached burner being movable beneath and along the width of said grate; hood means covering the top opening in said base and thereby providing an enclosure for the oven; a grill supported by the base side walls and located in said top opening, the arrangement being such that when food is placed on the grill, the space bound by the hood and base walls establishes a closed circuit for the circulation of heat over the food and in a closed path in the oven; a grease pan mounted beneath said grill; a smoke exhaust pipe having a damper therein connected to a thermostat in the oven for controlling the temperature level in the oven; and a second smoke exhaust pipe connected with said oven, a blower in said pipe, and switch means for energizing said blower when it is desired to vent hot gases from the oven to the atmosphere prior to opening said hood means.