Cobalt oxide chlorate candle
AssigneeA-T-O Inc.
InventorClifford E. Heintz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating composition consisting essentially of an alkali metal chlorate which may contain a small amount of perchlorate, in combination with a catalytic amount in the order of about 0.5 to 5.0% by weight of cobalt oxide.
Claims18
A substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating candle comprising a compressed active oxygen source consisting essentially of an alkali metal chlorate with from 0 to about 1% of alkali metal perchlorate;
- a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition admixed therewith;
- said mixture being substantially fuel-free;
- and
- an ignition material on an end of the candle whereby when ignited the candle generates oxygen by relatively low temperature catalytic decomposition of the chlorate.
A substantially fuel-free oxygen candle composition which when ignited generates oxygen in a self-sustaining reaction without additional heat or added fuel material;
- said composition, in weight percent, consisting of an intimate mixture of active generating components and a minor percentage of substantially fuel-free excipient components;
- the active substantially fuel-free oxygen-generating components consisting essentially of 0 to about 1% alkali metal perchlorate, an alkali metal chlorate, and a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition;
- the substantially fuel-free excipient components comprising to 0 to a minor amount of BaO.sub.2 and 0 to a minor amount of SiO.sub.2, at least one of said components being present, to modify the rate of the reaction;
- the alkali metal chlorate and perchlorate being present in an amount to make the total percentage of components in the composition 100%.
The method of producing substantially pure oxygen which comprises igniting a fuel-free composition comprising an active oxygen source consisting essentially of an alkali metal chlorate with from 0 to about 1% of alkali metal perchlorate and a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition without additional heat or added fuel material.
The method of obtaining oxygen at relatively low temperatures which comprises igniting a candle comprising a compressed active oxygen source consisting essentially of an alkali metal chlorate with from about 0 to 1% of alkali metal perchlorate admixed with a sufficient amount of cobalt oxide selected from the group consisting of CoO and mixtures of CoO and Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 to maintain a self-sustaining catalytic decomposition without additional heat, the said mixture being substantially fuel free.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.