Oxygen gas generator and method of manufacturing the gas generator

Abstract

A gas generator is capable of being stored in a stable form for long periods of time without deteriorating in quality. The gas generator provides a substantial amount of gases, and particularly oxygen, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide without producing any harmful or hazardous chemicals. The gas generator includes in some embodiments a minimum of fuel so that a maximum amount of oxygen in the generator is capable of being liberated. The oxygen is liberated by the combustion of a fuel at localized positions in a refractory binder, which has the property of preventing the salt residue from becoming molten and the oxidizer from flowing and thereby preventing the combustion from becoming extinguished. The gas generator includes a suitable refractory material (such as clay) as a binder, a suitable oxidizer such as chlorate and a fuel having properties of combusting with oxygen liberated by the oxidizer and having a granular construction and having relatively poor thermal conductivity through the granules to provide the combustion at localized positions in the refractory material. The fuel may constitute a plant by-product having a cellular structure and a high compression strength. The fuel may specifically constitute dried plant life such as corn cobs. The gas generator is formed by mixing the refractory material, the fuel and the oxidizer without the addition of any water and then compressing the mixture into a suitable form such as briquettes.