Oxygen generating compositions

• US 6,264,896 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Cannon, James C., Zhang, Yunchang
• Primary Examiner(s): ANTHONY, JOSEPH DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/652,592
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 252/187.31, 252/187.1, 422/126, 149/77, 149/108.2, 149/119, 149/113
• US Class Current: 422/126
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0211 Peroxy compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0218 Chlorate
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0296 Generators releasing in a self-sustaining way pure oxygen from a solid charge, without interaction of it with a fluid nor external heating, e.g. chlorate candles or canisters containing them charges per se C01B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 33/12 the material being two or more oxygen-yielding compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B

Abstract

The oxygen generation composition utilizes magnesium oxide to modify and smooth the oxygen generation rate, suppress chlorine formation, improve the rheology and uniformity of performance of an operating chemical oxygen candle, and to facilitate the mixing of the candle ingredients. The oxygen generation composition typically comprises a metal powder as a fuel; magnesium oxide; and an oxygen source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorates, alkali metal perchlorates, and mixtures thereof. The composition can also include a transition metal oxide catalyst, and can include a binder.

Claims

1. An improvement in an oxygen generating composition for producing a breathable oxygen gas for emergency use for sustaining life for several minutes upon ignition of the composition, the composition consisting essentially of a metal powder fuel, a transition metal oxide catalyst, a binder, and an oxygen source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorates, alkali metal perchlorates, and mixtures thereof, said composition being capable of producing said breathable oxygen gas for a period of several minutes for sustaining life, the improvement comprising:

magnesium oxide as a reaction rate inhibitor.

2. The oxygen generating composition of claim 1 wherein said magnesium oxide has a surface area of approximately 100 to 200 m²/g.

3. The oxygen generating composition of claim 1, wherein said magnesium oxide is approximately 0.1-5% by weight of the oxygen generating composition.