GAS GENERATOR METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 3,739,574 A
• Filed: 12/03/1969
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Corporation
• Original Assignee: John N. Godfrey
• Inventors: Godfrey, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Croyle, Carlton R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garrett, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US04/881,667
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 60/254,234,218,219,39.47,39.03 23/281,288E,289
• US Class Current: 60/773
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 9/26 Burning control F02K9/10, F02K9/34, F02K9/86, F02K9/92 and F02K9/94 take precedence

Abstract

A gas generator method and apparatus comprising an enclosed pressure chamber having an exit port, a solid combustible material disposed in the chamber, a catalyst which can increase the decomposition rate of the combustible material which has been previously ignited, the catalyst being supported in the chamber adjacent to a surface of the combustible material. Means is provided for sensing the pressure in the chamber when the combustible material is decomposing and means is provided for moving the catalyst relative to the combustible material to maintain approximately constant chamber pressure during decomposition.

Claims

2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein:

said combustible material, once ignited, is capable of maintaining decomposition in the absence of the catalyst.

3. The gas generator of claim 2 wherein:

said combustible material is capable of decomposing to produce in the presence of said catalyst at least one gas selected from the class consisting of N2, NO and NO2.

4. The gas generator of claim 3 wherein:

said combustible material contains at least from 5 to 90 weight percent nitrogen and from 0 to 90 weight percent oxygen.

5. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein:

said combustible material is pressed solid particles.

6. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein:

said combustible material is a solid particulate matter dispersed in a suitable binder.

7. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein:

said combustible material is melt cast into solid form.

8. A method of generating gas upon demand comprising:

providing an enclosed pressure chamber having an exit port, disposing a solid combustible material in said chamber, disposing a catalyst in said chamber adjacent to said combustible material, said catalyst being capable of increasing the decomposition rate of said combustible material, igniting said combustible material to cause a surface thereof to begin decomposing, sensing the chamber pressure during decomposition, and controlling the distance between the catalyst and the decomposing surface to maintain about constant pressure in said chamber during decomposition.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

moving said catalyst toward and away from said decomposing surface in proportion to changes in chamber pressure.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

moving said catalyst between a first and second position, the first position being on the decomposing surface, the second position being a distance away from the decomposing surface sufficient to have no effect on the decomposition rate, and controlling the time said catalyst is at each of said positions dependent upon changes in the amount of gas to be produced by said generator.