Cartridge for gas generator

• US 4,261,956 A
• Filed: 06/13/1979
• Issued: 04/14/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Engelhard Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
• Inventors: Adlhart, Otto J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scovronek, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US06/048,309
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 422/120, 422/129, 422/236, 422/238, 422/239, 422/305, 422/197, 48/61, 48/4(U.S. only), 429/17, 429/19, 423/657, 128/202.26, 128/204.17, 128/205.12, 206/443, 206/446, 206/523, 220/85 B
• US Class Current: 422/239
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A cartridge for a gas generator of the type in which a liquid such as water is reacted with a solid fuel such as a base metal hydride comprises a canister which contains at least one compressible filler means which cooperates with the canister interior to define a fuel charge compartment. The canister has a plurality of fluid flow passages formed in it to place the fuel charge compartment in fluid flow communication with the exterior of the canister. Preferably, a pair of compressible filler means such as blocks of a synthetic polymeric foamed material are placed within the canister to define the fuel charge compartment between them. The fluid flow passages communicate with the fuel compartment so that upon immersion of the cartridge into a liquid the liquid flows through the passages to contact the fuel and react with it to form a gas. Fuels of this type expand upon such reaction and the compressible filler means are compressed by the expanding fuel to accommodate their increased volume sufficiently to prevent undue compression of the fuel to an extent which would unduly retard the penetration of the liquid into the body of the fuel charge. The canister is preferably lined with a fluid permeable material such as a fibrous paper to promote even distribution of the liquid about the fuel charge.

Claims

1. A cartridge for a gas generator comprising:

a canister having an interior defining an enclosed space;

compressible filler means disposed within said enclosed space and cooperating with said interior of said canister to define a fuel charge compartment, said canister having fluid flow passages formed therein connecting said fuel charge compartment in fluid flow communication to exteriorly of said canister, and

a solid fuel charge disposed within said fuel charge compartment, said fuel being one which, upon contact with a suitable liquid, releases a gas and expands in volume to compress said filler means and thereby enlarge said fuel charge compartment.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 further including fluid permeable liner means lining said fuel charge compartment and overlying said fluid flow passages.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 wherein said liner means is a water and gas permeable fiber material and said filler means is a synthetic polymeric foamed material.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said fuel is selected from the class consisting of hydrides and borohydrides of alkali metals, hydrides and borohydrides of alkaline earth metals, alkali metal-aluminum hydrides, and mixtures thereof.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said solid fuel is selected from the class consisting of borohydrides and hydrides of elements of Groups I to III of the Periodic Table of the Elements and mixtures thereof.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said interior of said canister is defined by an elongate intermediate portion closed at its opposite ends, whereby said enclosed space extends longitudinally and said compressible filler means is disposed to occupy at least one longitudinally extending segment of said enclosed space whereby said enclosed space unoccupied by said filler comprises said fuel charge compartment.

7. The cartridge of claim 6 further including fluid permeable liner means lining said fuel charge compartment.

8. The cartridge of claim 7 including two of said compressible filler means spaced apart from each other to define said fuel charge compartment therebetween.

9. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein said fluid passage means comprises a plurality of holes in that part of said intermediate portion which cooperates with said filler means to define said fuel charge compartment.

10. A cartridge for a gas generator comprising:

a canister having an interior defining an enclosed space and a plurality of fluid flow passages in said canister;

compressible filler means disposed within said enclosed space and cooperating with said interior of said canister to define a fuel charge compartment;

a solid fuel charge disposed within said fuel charge compartment, said fuel charge being one which, upon contact with a suitable liquid, releases a gas and expands in volume to compress said filler means within said canister and thereby enlarge said fuel charge compartment; and

fluid permeable liner means lining said fuel charge compartment and overlying the interior ends of said fluid flow passages, said interior ends of said fluid flow passages being disposed within said fuel charge compartment and said fluid flow passages thereby connecting said fuel charge compartment, through said liner means, in fluid flow communication to exteriorly of said canister.

11. The cartridge of claim 10 including two of said compressible filler means spaced apart from each other to define said fuel charge compartment therebetween.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein said compressible filler means made of a synthetic polymeric foamed material.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein said canister is of substantially tubular configuration.

14. The cartridge of claim 12 wherein said fuel is selected from the class consisting of hydrides and borohydrides of alkali metals, hydrides or borohydrides of alkaline earth metals, alkali metal-aluminum hydrides, and mixtures thereof.

15. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein said fuel is an alkaline earth metal hydride.