Electrochemical energy source for diver suit heating

• US 3,884,216 A
• Filed: 09/19/1974
• Issued: 05/20/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph F. Mccartney
• Original Assignee: Joseph F. Mccartney
• Inventors: McCartney, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perlin, Meyer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US05/507,645
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 126/204,263 128/402 165/46
• US Class Current: 126/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/03 thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction

Abstract

A compact, self-contained, closed circuit heater system for use by undersea divers to supply heated fluid through a diver'"'"''"'"'s suit having internal fluid circulation passages therein. The heater system uses a magnesium/iron/seawater electrochemical energy source which is shortcircuited to produce heat by the reaction of magnesium with seawater.

Claims

1. Apparatus for heating an undersea diver comprising:

a. a diver'"'"''"'"'s suit having passage means therein for circulation of a heated liquid throughout said suit adjacent to the diver'"'"''"'"'s body;

b. said passage means having an inlet and an outlet thereto;

c. a heating unit on said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit for heating and circulating said liquid;

d. said heating unit including a chamber having a heated fluid outlet communicating with the inlet to said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit circulation passage means and a fluid inlet communicating with the outlet to said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit circulation passage means;

e. pump means for circulating heated fluid from said heating unit through said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit circulation passage means;

f. a seawater electrolyte inlet means to said heating unit chamber;

g. an electrochemical heat source assembly within said heating unit chamber, said heat source assembly comprising;

1. a plurality of magnesium anodes and metal cathode plates alternately positioned in equally spaced apart relationship to allow free passage of seawater electrolyte and reaction products;

2. means for short-circuiting said anode plates to said cathode plates, where upon admission and circulation of seawater electrolyte into said heating unit heat is generated by the reaction of said magnesium anodes with said seawater;

3. said heat of reaction being imparted to said liquid which is circulated throughout said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit;

g. spacing control means for varying the electrode gap between said anode and cathode plates to thereby control the rate of reaction and heat output

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a heat exchanger is provided in said heating unit through which the fluid which is circulated throughout said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit passes for having said generated heat of reaction imparted thereto.

3. said heat of reaction being imparted to said liquid which is circulated throughout said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit;

g. spacing control means for varying the electrode gap between said anode and cathode plates to thereby control the rate of reaction and heat output

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an outlet is provided to eliminate expended electrolyte and reaction byproducts from said heating unit.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the heated electrolyte is the liquid circulated throughout said diver'"'"''"'"'s suit.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein equal spacing between said anode and cathode plates is provided by means of conically wound beryllium copper springs.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein thE short-circuits between said anode and cathode plates are provided by thin brass strips.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said cathodes are iron.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said magnesium anodes are made from a magnesium alloy consisting of 96 percent magnesium, 3 percent aluminum and 1 percent zinc.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said magnesium anodes are made from a magnesium alloy consisting of at least 93 percent magnesium.

11. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said spacing control means comprises spring means between said anode and cathode plates and a threaded rod which passes through said anode and cathode plates which allows the plates to be drawn together as the anodes are consumed by reaction with the seawater electrolyte.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said heat source assembly is replaceable within said heating unit chamber, whereby different capacity assemblies can be used and consumed assemblies can be removed and replaced.