Method and apparatus for controlled production of a gas
An apparatus is provided to generate a gas by mixing chemicals with water. Typically, the production of gas, particularly oxygen, by combining water with powders and other dry chemicals has not been widely employed. There have existed a number of preexisting barriers such as undesirable flow rates and yields. However, by utilizing multiple reaction chambers the flow rates and yields can be more precisely tailored for a variety of situations that may call for particular flow rates and yields. Additionally, the use of the dry chemicals would allow for a long self-life allowing the apparatus to be particularly useful in emergency situations.
1 . An apparatus for generating gas from a plurality of initially separated chemicals, comprising a plurality of reaction chambers, each containing a set of initially separated chemicals.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the reaction chambers have different proportions of the separated chemicals in each reaction chamber such that, when a gas generating reaction is commenced to generate gas, each chamber will have a different flow rate as a function of time from the other chamber.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas generating apparatus further comprises a relatively movable member configured to cause the initially separated chemicals in each of the plurality of reaction chambers to combine whereby a desired gas is created.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas generating apparatus further comprises a gas transmission channel to carry the gas from the plurality of reaction chambers.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the reaction chambers have different compositions of the separated chemicals in each reaction chamber such that, when a gas generating reaction is commenced to generate gas, each chamber will have a different flow rate as a function of time from the other chamber.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of transmission members, wherein each transmission member is inserted into a reaction chamber to cause combination of the plurality of separated chemicals and to carry away the gas.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the flow rate and a gas production time period of the gas that is generated is varied by inserting the transmission members into each reaction chamber at different times.
8 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a plunger handle for combining the plurality of initially separated chemicals in the plurality of reaction chambers when the relatively movable member is relatively moved, wherein the plunger handle is at least configured to have a gas transmission channel to carry the gas from the plurality of reaction chambers.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the relatively movable member moves linearly.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plunger handle comprises a plurality of transmission members, wherein each transmission member is inserted into a reaction chamber to combine the plurality of initially separated chemicals and to carry away the gas.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein there are two reaction chambers.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a support housing for the two reaction chambers, the support housing having a compartment for each reaction chamber.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a temperature adjustment device configured to vary the temperature of the gas.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the temperature adjustment device further comprises a bubbler wherein the gas that exits is bubbled through a liquid.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bubbler bubbles the gas through water.
16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cooler further comprises a heat exchanger.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of separated chemicals comprise an oxygen rich powder and a catalyst and further comprises water.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas that is generated is oxygen.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the water comprises an additive to depress the freezing point of the water.
20 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one chemical of the plurality of chemicals is contained within a container disposed in each of the reaction chambers.
21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of gas generating chemicals is contained in a container disposed each of the reaction chambers.
22 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each reaction chamber further comprises a container of water.
23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the gas generating apparatus further comprises
a cutting member configured to cut the container of water in at least one reaction chamber.
24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein each cutting member has a gas transmission channel for carrying away the gas generated.
25 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein catalyst is contained within a container in each of the reaction chambers.
26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is water-soluble.
27 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is adjacent the container housing the oxygen rich powder.
28 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is spaced-apart from the container housing the oxygen rich powder.
29 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein each cutting member further comprises:
an actuator for moving the cutting member into the container of water.
30 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein each cutting member further comprises a gas transmission channel.
31 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring.
32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising:
a retainer for holding the spring; and
a trigger mechanism for releasing the spring to drive the cutting member into the container of water to cause mixing of the water with at least one other of the plurality of chemicals
33 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cutting member is a puncturing member and further comprises:
a gas transmission conduit within the puncturing member;
an extension member coupled to one end of the puncturing member for displacing the extension member to cut the container of water in at least one reaction chamber.
34 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein sufficient chemicals are disposed within each reaction chamber such that, when reacted together in an aqueous solution, the chemicals will generate at a yield of at least 2.0 liters per minute (LPM) for at least 2 minutes and at least 0.7 LPM thereafter for at least 8 minutes.
35 . An apparatus for generating gas from a plurality of initially separated chemicals, comprising:
a plurality of reaction chambers, wherein each reaction chamber contains a set of the plurality of initially separated chemicals; and
a plurality of containment housings within each reaction chamber respectively retaining different ones of the initially separated chemicals and having means for permitting mixing of the plurality of initially separated chemicals.
36 . The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the containment housing further comprises:
a water container;
a catalyst container;
an oxygen rich power; and
a plunger having a breakable seal between the water and the catalyst containers, and a breakable seal between the catalyst container and the oxygen rich powder, such that movement of the plunger causes the seals to break and permit water to flow from the water container through the catalyst container to mix with catalyst from the catalyst container.
37 . An apparatus for generating oxygen from a plurality of initially separated chemicals, comprising:
a plurality of reaction chambers;
a plurality of initially separated chemicals contained in each of the plurality of reaction chambers; and
wherein the each set of the plurality of initially separated chemicals produces oxygen when combined within the reaction chamber containing the set of chemicals.
38 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein at least two of the reaction chambers have different proportions of the initially separated chemicals in each reaction chamber such that, when an oxygen generating reaction is commenced to generate oxygen, each chamber will have a different flow rate as a function of time from the other chamber.
39 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the oxygen generating apparatus further comprises a relatively movable member configured to cause the initially separated chemicals in each of the plurality of reaction chambers to combine whereby oxygen is created.
40 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the oxygen generating apparatus further comprises a gas transmission channel to carry the oxygen from the plurality of reaction chambers.
41 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein at least two of the reaction chambers have different compositions of the initially separated chemicals in each reaction chamber such that, when an oxygen generating reaction is commenced to generate oxygen, each chamber will have a different flow rate as a function of time from the other chamber.
42 . The apparatus of claim 37 , further comprising a plurality of transmission members, wherein each transmission member is inserted into a reaction chamber to cause combination of the plurality of initially separated chemicals and to carry away the oxygen.
43 . The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the flow rate and an oxygen production time period of the oxygen that is generated is varied by inserting the transmission members into each reaction chamber at different times.
44 . The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a plunger handle for combining the plurality of initially separated chemicals in the plurality of reaction chambers when the relatively movable member is relatively moved, wherein the plunger handle is at least configured to have a gas transmission channel to carry the oxygen from the plurality of reaction chambers.
45 . The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the relatively movable member moves linearly.
46 . The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the plunger handle comprises a plurality of transmission members, wherein each transmission member is inserted into a reaction chamber to combine the plurality of initially separated chemicals and to carry away the oxygen.
47 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein there are two reaction chambers.
48 . The apparatus of claim 47 , further comprising a support housing for the two reaction chambers, the support housing having a compartment for each reaction chamber.
49 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a temperature adjustment device configured to vary the temperature of the oxygen.
50 . The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein the temperature adjustment device further comprises a bubbler wherein the oxygen that exits is bubbled through a liquid.
51 . The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the bubbler bubbles the oxygen through water.
52 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the cooler further comprises a heat exchanger.
53 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of initially separated chemicals comprise an oxygen rich powder and a catalyst and further comprises water.
54 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the oxygen that is generated is a gas.
55 . The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the water comprises an additive to depress the freezing point of the water.
56 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein at least one chemical of the plurality of chemicals is contained within a container disposed in each of the reaction chambers.
57 . The apparatus of claim 56 , wherein each of the plurality of oxygen generating chemicals is contained in a container disposed each of the reaction chambers.
58 . The apparatus of claim 56 , wherein each reaction chamber further comprises a container of water.
59 . The apparatus of claim 58 , wherein the oxygen generating apparatus further comprises:
a cutting member configured to cut the container of water in at least one reaction chamber.
60 . The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein each cutting member has a gas transmission channel for carrying away the oxygen generated.
61 . The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the catalyst is contained within a container in each of the reaction chambers.
62 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is soluble.
63 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is adjacent the container housing the oxygen rich powder.
64 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the container housing the catalyst is spaced-apart from the container housing the oxygen rich powder.
65 . The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein each cutting member further comprises:
an actuator for moving the cutting member into the container of water.
66 . The apparatus of claim 65 , wherein each cutting member further comprises a gas transmission channel within it.
67 . The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein the cutting member is a puncturing member and further comprises:
a gas transmission conduit within the puncturing member;
an extension member coupled to one end of the puncturing member for displacing the extension member to cut the container of water in at least one reaction chamber.
68 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein sufficient chemicals are disposed within each reaction chamber such that, when reacted together in an aqueous solution, the chemicals will generate at a yield of at least 2.0 liters per minute (LPM) for at least 2 minutes and at least 0.7 LPM thereafter for at least 8 minutes.
69 . The apparatus of claim 37 , further comprising a solvent for introduction to each of the plurality of reaction chambers to increase the speed of oxygen generation by each set of the initially separated chemicals once the chemicals are combined.
70 . The apparatus of claim 69 , further comprising a solvent container for containing the solvent.
71 . The apparatus of claim 70 , further comprising a release mechanism for releasing the solvent for combination with each set of initially separate chemicals.
72 . The apparatus of claim 69 , wherein the solvent comprises water.
73 . The apparatus of claim 72 , further comprising a water additive to either raise or lower the freezing point of the water.
74 . The apparatus of claim 72 , further comprising a water additive to either raise or lower the boiling point of the water.