Apparatus and method for a solid catalyst and fluid dynamic eruption reaction
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for use in conducting an eruption reaction are disclosed. The apparatus includes a catalytic solids container with a mouth and fluid egress opening and a trigger device or mechanism that allows for the controlled release of a catalytic solid into an eruptible fluid. The catalytic solids container may be adapted to be coupled to a container for an eruptible fluid.
1. An apparatus for an eruption reaction involving a catalytic solid and an eruptible fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a substantially cylindrical body portion for holding a catalytic solid, the body portion having
a mouth at a first end and
a fluid egress opening at a second end;
a hole for a trigger mechanism adjacent to the mouth at the first end thereof; and,
the body portion further comprising an external portion fixed at one end to the side of said body portion adjacent the mouth at the first end and within which at least a portion of a trigger mechanism is movable;
wherein the body portion is adapted to be coupled at the mouth thereof to the opening of a container of an eruptible fluid;
a trigger mechanism operatively connectable to the body portion, the trigger mechanism adapted to alternately retain and release the catalytic solid relative to the body portion; the trigger mechanism is an elongated member moveably inserted within the hole in the body portion adjacent to the mouth thereof; and
the apparatus operably connectable to the container of an eruptible fluid, wherein
the withdrawal of the trigger mechanism results in a release of the catalytic solid into the eruptible fluid and a mixing of said catalytic solid with said eruptible fluid, creating a propulsive force.
2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body portion is one of: (i) internally threaded within the mouth at the first end thereof; and (ii) externally threaded about the mouth of the first end thereof.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eruptible fluid container is a soda bottle.
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , the body portion is externally threaded about the mouth at the first end thereof.
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a discrete, internally threaded coupling device adapted to be coupled to the body portion at the externally threaded portion thereof.
6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the internally threaded coupling device is further also adapted to be coupled to the mouth of a fluid container, to provide for a coupling of the body portion of the apparatus to the eruptible fluid container in operable communication therewith.
7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic solid is one or both of a candy and a Mentos® mint.
8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eruptible fluid is one or more of a carbonated fluid, a soda and a Diet Coke® cola.
9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a removable closure member adapted to provide for pre-loading the body portion with a catalytic solid.
10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a chassis operatively attached to the apparatus that allows said apparatus to roll upon a surface due to said propulsive force.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the chassis further comprises at least three wheels.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the chassis is attached to the container of the apparatus via attachments.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the attachments are one or more of VELCRO™, cables, ties, and chains.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the external portion includes one or more detents.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a depth charge inserted inside the apparatus body portion to accommodate the dimensions of the solid catalyst if the solid catalyst has a diameter or circumference substantially smaller than the inner circumference of the body portion.
16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a flag holder.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion toy.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said external portion further comprises one or more stops at one or more ends that prevent the elongated member from detaching from said external portion.
19. A method for an eruption reaction involving a catalytic solid and an eruptible fluid, the method comprising:
disposing a catalytic solid in a cylindrical body portion, the body portion having
a mouth at a first end and
a fluid egress opening at a second end;
a hole for a trigger mechanism adjacent to the mouth at the first end thereof; and,
the body portion further comprising an external portion fixed at one end to the side of said body portion adjacent the mouth at the first end and within which at least a portion of a trigger mechanism is movable;
withdrawing a trigger mechanism and thereby
releasing the catalytic solid into the eruptible fluid and
mixing of said catalytic solid with said eruptible fluid;
the trigger mechanism being adapted to alternately retain and release the catalytic solid relative to the body portion; the trigger mechanism is an elongated member moveably inserted within the hole in the body portion.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the apparatus is operably connectable to a container of an eruptible fluid.