Gas generator with buoyant catalyst carrier
Disclosed herein is a gas generator that contains a liquid reactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a carrier that is buoyant in the liquid reactant. The gas generator also has at least one carrier movement restraining member adapted to selectively control the location of the carrier, and at least one compressible body containing a volume of gas. In a first configuration, when an internal pressure of the gas generator is lower than an internal pressure of the compressible body, the compressible body increases in volume, and in a second configuration when the internal pressure of the gas generator is higher than the internal pressure of the compressible body, the compressible body decreases in volume. The carrier movement restraining member restricts the carrier's movement in the first configuration.
1. A gas generation apparatus comprising:
a housing containing a liquid reactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is contained in a carrier disposed within the housing and wherein the carrier has an overall density lower than that of the liquid reactant,
at least one carrier movement restraining member adapted to selectively control the location of the carrier, and
at least one compressible body containing a volume of gas,
wherein, in a first configuration, an internal pressure of the gas generator is lower than an internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body increases in volume and, in a second configuration, the internal pressure of the gas generator is higher than the internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body decreases in volume,
wherein the at least one carrier restraining member restricts the carrier's movement in the first configuration,
wherein, in the first configuration, the at least one carrier movement restraining member prevents the carrier from floating on top of the liquid reactant,
wherein the at least one carrier restraining member is fixed relative to the housing of the gas generator,
wherein, in the first configuration, the compressible body increases in volume to raise a level of the liquid reactant within the housing, and wherein, in the second configuration, the compressible body decreases in volume to lower the level of the liquid reactant within the housing, and
wherein the compressible body is at least partially submerged in the liquid reactant.
2. A gas generation apparatus comprising:
a housing containing a liquid reactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is contained in a carrier disposed within the housing and wherein the carrier has an overall density lower than that of the liquid reactant,
at least one carrier movement restraining member adapted to selectively control the location of the carrier, and
at least one compressible body containing a volume of gas,
wherein, in a first configuration, an internal pressure of the gas generator is lower than an internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body increases in volume and, in a second configuration, the internal pressure of the gas generator is higher than the internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body decreases in volume,
wherein the at least one carrier restraining member restricts the carrier's movement in the first configuration,
wherein the at least one carrier movement restraining member comprises at least one porous containment member that allows the liquid reactant to flow therethrough and that at least partially encloses the carrier,
wherein, in the first configuration, the at least one porous containment member prevents the carrier from floating on top of the liquid reactant,
wherein the at least one porous containment member is movable relative to the housing of the gas generator, and
wherein the at least one porous containment member is connected to the compressible body.
3. The gas generator of claim 2 , wherein, in the first configuration, the at least one porous containment member moves to immerse the carrier in the liquid reactant.
4. The gas generator of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is disposed proximate to a center of the carrier.
5. The gas generator of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is symmetrical about at least one plane.
6. The gas generator of claim 1 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one buoyant member.
7. The gas generator of claim 6 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one ballast.
8. The gas generator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one carrier movement restraining member comprises at least one strip connected to the carrier and to an anchoring point located on the housing.
9. A gas generation apparatus comprising:
a housing containing a liquid reactant that reacts to produce a gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is contained in a carrier disposed within the housing and wherein the carrier has an overall density lower than that of the liquid reactant,
at least one carrier movement restraining member adapted to selectively control the location of the carrier, and
at least one compressible body containing a volume of gas,
wherein, in a first configuration, an internal pressure of the gas generator is lower than an internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body increases in volume and, in a second configuration, the internal pressure of the gas generator is higher than the internal pressure of the compressible body and the compressible body decreases in volume, and
wherein the at least one carrier restraining member restricts the carrier's movement in the first configuration, wherein the at least one carrier movement restraining member comprises at least one substantially nonflexible rod or link connected to the carrier at one end and pivotally connected to an anchoring point located on the housing at the other end.
10. The gas generator of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is disposed proximate to a center of the carrier.
11. The gas generator of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is symmetrical about at least one plane.
12. The gas generator of claim 2 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one buoyant member.
13. The gas generator of claim 12 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one ballast.
14. The gas generator of claim 9 , wherein the catalyst is disposed proximate to a center of the carrier.
15. The gas generator of claim 9 , wherein the catalyst is symmetrical about at least one plane.
16. The gas generator of claim 9 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one buoyant member.
17. The gas generator of claim 16 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one ballast.