Gas generating device and method of manufacturing gas generating device

1. A device ( 20 ) for generating a gas from solid and liquid generates, the device ( 20 ) comprising:

an outer cylindrical housing ( 26 ) formed from a carbon fiber wrap, the outer housing ( 26 ) having an interior area, an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the lower end being enclosed by a pressure cap ( 28 ) and an o-ring seal ( 32 ), the upper end enclosed by a plug ( 36 ) and a burst disc ( 37 ), a check valve ( 38 ) mounted within the upper end of housing ( 26 );

an inner cylindrical container ( 42 ) containing a liquid nitrogen generate, the inner container ( 42 ) including an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the upper end enclosed by a first rupture disc ( 48 ) and the lower end enclosed by a second rupture disc ( 52 ), the inner container ( 42 ) positioned within the interior area of the outer housing ( 26 ) to thereby create a space between the inner container ( 42 ) and the outer housing ( 26 ), a vacuum being created within the space by way of check valve ( 38 );

an upper ceramic mounting ring ( 56 ) positioned between the upper end of the inner container ( 42 ) and the upper end of the outer housing ( 26 ), the upper mounting ring ( 56 ) including a through hole to allow for the passage of a gas;

a series of intermediate ceramic mounting rings ( 58 ) positioned between the intermediate extent of the inner container ( 42 ) and the intermediate extent of the outer housing ( 26 ), the intermediate mounting rings ( 58 ) each including a through hole to allow for the passage of a gas;

a lower container ( 62 ) positioned within the interior area of outer housing ( 26 ), the lower container ( 62 ) containing a solid sodium azide generate ( 22 ), the lower container ( 62 ) including an upper nozzle ( 64 ) that is in facing relation with the second rupture disc ( 52 ) of the inner container ( 42 ), a squib ( 34 ) operatively connected to the lower container ( 62 ) and adapted to ignite the solid generate ( 22 );

a lower ceramic mounting ring ( 66 ) positioned between the inner container ( 42 ) and the lower container ( 62 ), the lower ceramic mounting ring ( 66 ) including a through hole to allow for the passage of gas;

wherein ignition of the solid generate ( 22 ) by the squib ( 34 ) generates a hot gas ( 67 ) that is accelerated by nozzle ( 64 ) and ruptures disc ( 52 ), the hot gas ( 67 ) entering inner container ( 42 ) and the space between inner container ( 42 ) and outer housing ( 26 ), the hot gas ( 67 ) passing through the through holes in the lower ceramic mounting ring ( 66 ), the intermediate mounting rings ( 58 ), and the upper mounting rings ( 56 ), and wherein the hot gas ( 67 ) heats the liquid generate to generate a cold gas ( 69 ), the hot gas ( 67 ) and the cold gas ( 69 ) mixing within inner container ( 42 ), the mixed gas being of a moderate temperature, the mixed gas rupturing first disc ( 48 ) and burst disc ( 37 ) to thereby exit the device ( 20 ).

2. A device ( 20 ) for generating a gas from first and second generates, the device ( 20 ) comprising:

an outer cylindrical housing ( 26 ) having an interior area and closed upper and lower ends, a burst disc ( 37 ) in the closed upper end;

an inner cylindrical container ( 42 ) containing a first generate, the inner container ( 42 ) including closed upper and lower ends, a first rupture disc ( 48 ) in the closed upper end and a second rupture disc ( 52 ) in the closed lower end, the inner container ( 42 ) positioned within the interior area of the outer housing ( 26 ) and thereby creating a space between the inner container ( 42 ) and the outer housing ( 26 );

a lower container ( 62 ) containing a second generate ( 22 ), the lower container ( 62 ) including an opening ( 64 ) that is in facing relation with the second rupture disc ( 52 ) of the inner container ( 42 ), the lower container ( 62 ) being positioned within the interior area of the outer housing ( 26 );

wherein the second generate ( 22 ) can be ignited to generate a hot fluid ( 67 ) that passes through opening ( 64 ) to rupture disc ( 52 ), the hot fluid ( 67 ) entering inner container ( 42 ) and the space between inner container ( 42 ) and outer housing ( 26 ), and wherein the hot fluid ( 67 ) heats the first generate to generate a cold fluid ( 69 ), the hot fluid ( 67 ) and the cold fluid ( 69 ) mixing within inner container ( 42 ) and rupturing first disc ( 48 ), burst disc ( 37 ), and exiting device ( 20 ).

3. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the outer housing ( 26 ) is formed from a carbon fiber wrap.

4. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 further comprising a check valve ( 38 ) mounted within the closed upper end of housing ( 26 ), the check valve ( 38 ) functioning the draw a vacuum in the space between the inner container ( 42 ) and the outer housing ( 26 ).

5. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the first generate is a liquid generate.

6. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the second generate is a sold generate.

7. The device ( 20 as described in claim 2 wherein one of the generates is a liquid generate and other generate is a solid generate.

8. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the first generate is liquid nitrogen.

9. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the second generate is sodium azide.

10. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 further comprising rings that are positioned between the inner container ( 42 ) and the outer housing ( 26 ), the rings creating a thermodynamic barrier between the inner container ( 42 ) and the outer housing ( 26 ).

11. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 10 wherein the rings are formed from a ceramic material.

12. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 11 wherein through holes are formed within the rings to allow for the passage of a fluid.

13. The device ( 20 ) as described in claim 2 wherein the hot fluid and the cold fluid mix to create a fluid of a moderate temperature.

14. A device for generating a fluid comprising:

an outer housing having an interior and upper and lower ends, a closure in the upper end;

an inner container housing a first generate, the inner container having upper and lower ends, an upper disc in the upper end and a lower disc in the lower end, the inner container positioned within the interior of the outer housing;

a lower container positioned within the interior of the outer housing, the lower container housing a second generate, the lower container in communication with the lower disc;

wherein the second generate can be used to generate a hot fluid that ruptures the lower disc, the hot fluid entering inner container and heating the first generate, whereby the first generate creates a cold fluid, the hot fluid and the cold fluid mixing to produce a warm fluid, the warm fluid rupturing the upper disc and the closure to exit the device.

15. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the hot fluid is a gas with a temperature of approximately 1020° F.

16. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the cold fluid is a gas with a temperature of approximately −321° F.

17. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the warm fluid is a gas with a temperature of approximately 91° F.

18. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the first generate produces approximately 69% of the fluid produced by the device and the second generate produces approximately 31% of the fluid produced by the device.

19. The device as described in claim 14 further comprising a space between the inner container and the outer housing and wherein a vacuum exists within the space.

20. The device as described in claim 19 wherein the hot fluid fills the vacuum to surround the inner container and thereby provide a uniform heat source for the first generate.