US3719054A

US3719054A - Liquefied gas vaporizer attachment for a pressure bottle

Info

Publication number: US3719054A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Galbraith
Original assignee: Rocket Research Co
Current assignee: Rocket Research Co
Priority date: 1970-08-24
Filing date: 1970-08-24
Publication date: 1973-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-06

Abstract

The attachment is securable to the outlet of a storage bottle for liquefied CO2 or other pressure liquefied gases. It houses a breech containing a solid fuel grain. Combustion gases flow from the breech through the storage bottle outlet into the liquefied gas. The added heat rapidly vaporizes the liquefied gas. The vapor pressure eventually opens a closure for an outlet passageway leading through the breech. This causes the combustion process to depressurize at a rate sufficient to cause extinguishment of the burning fuel grain and also provides a flow of coolant over the grain burning surface which ensures extinguishment.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Galbraith [45] March 6, 1973 [54] LIQUEFIED GAS VAPORIZER 3,143,445 4 1964 Hebenstreit ..149/1 ATTACHMENT FOR A PR SS 3,163,014 12/1964 Wismar ..62/48 BOTTLE 3,180,373 4/1965 Hebenstreit ..141/4 [75] Inventor: Lyle D. Galbraith, Redmond, Wash. [73] Assignee: Rocket Research Corporation,

Redmond, Wash.

[22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 66,382

[52] US. Cl. ..62/50, 60/3948, 62/52 [51] Int. Cl. ..Fl7c 7/02 [58] Field of Search ..9/323-325; 23/281; 137/68; 60139.48; 62/48, 45, 52, 53; 149/]; 141/4, 10

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,481,149 2/1969 Crane ..62/45 3,431,742 3/1969 Greenm. ..62/52 3,431,743 3/1969 Green ..62/52 3,122,] 81 2/1964 Hebenstreit et al. ..141/4 Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela Att0rney-John O. Graybeal, Delbert .l. Barnard, James R. Uhlir and Robert B. Hughes [5 7 ABSTRACT The attachment is securable to the outlet of a storage bottle for liquefied CO or other pressure liquefied gases. lt houses a breech containing a solid fuel grain. Combustion gases flow from the breech through the storage bottle outlet into the liquefied gas. The added heat rapidly vaporizes the liquefied gas. The vapor pressure eventually opens a closure for an outlet passageway leading through the breech. This causes the combustion process to depressurize at a rate sufficient to cause extinguishment of the burning fuel grain and also provides a flow of coolant over the grain burning surface which ensures extinguishment.

25 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATEHTED W 61975 INVENTOR. 15 D. 6416/84/77? 1 CQZIF/ M J LIQUEFIED GAS VAPORIZER ATTACHMENT FOR A PRESSURE BOTTLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of rapidly vaporizing a pressure liquefied gas within its storage vessel and then rapidly removing it from Such storage vessel, and in particular to an outlet attachment for a high pressure storage bottle, adapted to add heat to the stored liquefied gas by introducing hot gases into same.

2. Description of the Prior Art Liquefied refrigerant gases (e.g., CO NR or one of the fluorinated hydrocarbons) are good sources of inflation gases, but a means for expelling the liquefied gas from its storage vessel must be provided so that the inflation device will operate at the lower temperatures. As an example, a pressure vessel containing CO has a vapor pressure of approximately 750 psia at 60 F, which is sufficient vapor pressure to expel the fluid from the vessel. However, if this identical system were cold soaked to a temperature of -65 F, the vapor pressure of the refrigerant would be less than 80 psia, and the time required to expel the refrigerant from the storage vessel would be excessively long, which would not be sufficient if the inflation device were intended for emergency use (i.e., rapid inflation times). One other apparent problem associated with such systems is the tendency for ice to form in the control nozzle and restrict the flow further.

TO alleviate these shortcomings, it is known to utilize a solid propellant cartridge to supply heat to the refrigerant. Examples of these so-called cool gas generators are shown by U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,181, granted Feb. 25, 1964 to Lester V. Hebenstreit and Charles A. Hines; by U.S. Pat. No. 3,143,445, granted Aug. 4, 1964 to LesterV. Hebenstreit; and by U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,373, granted Apr. 27, 1965 to Lester V. Hebenstreit.

Each of these patents discloses a storage container for liquid carbon dioxide or the like provided with a hot gas generator adapted to discharge hot gases into the stored liquid. The outlet from the storage container is initially closed by a burst disc. When the vapor pressure in the liquid storage container exceeds a predetermined value it breaks the disc, permitting the contents of the container to flow out through the outlet and into a conduit leading to a utilization device. At the same time additional hot gases are being supplied to the pressure vessel.

This type of gas generator tends to solve the low temperature problems associated with the system but at the expense of creating new problems at the higher operating temperatures. For example, if an adequate amount of solid propellant were provided to make the system function properly at the low temperatures, there is essentially too much solid propellant (and thus thermal energy) for the'higher temperature operating condition. This results in-a high output gas temperature, which is directed into the inflatable to accomplish the inflation. Since the inflatables generally have a relief valve, this valve would control pressure within the inflatable at the desired level (e.g., 2.0 psig). At the end of the inflation process the gases in the inflatable would, for example, then be at approximately 2.0 psig and at a temperature higher than the ambient environment. When the gases later cool to ambient temperature, the pressure drops considerably leaving the inflatable in an unusable state. The device proposed herein tends to improve on this type system by alleviating the problem of high output temperatures at the high operating temperatures, but still provide sufficient thermal energy to the vaporized fluid to ensure satisfactory operation at the lower operating temperatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an outlet attachment for a conventional liquefied gas storage bottle, adapted to convert such bottle to a cool gas generator of the same general type as is disclosed by the aforementioned U.S. Pat, Nos. 3,122,181; 3,143,445 and 3,180,373, but of an improvemented nature.

Briefly, the attachment is adapted to be connected to (e.g., screwed into) the outlet of a conventional pressure bottle. The attachment holds a solid fuel grain breech which is also a section of a fluid passageway leading out from the storage bottle. According to the invention, hot gases are delivered from the breech into the pressurized fluid within the storage bottle, thereby raising the temperature and pressure of the fluid. Once the pressure within the bottle reaches a predetermined value a closure member for the outlet passageway is opened. When the outlet passageway is open the gaseous content of the bottle flows first through the breech and then through other avenues in the attachment to a conduit leading from the attachment to a utilization device. Opening of the outlet passageway depressurizes the combustion process at a rate sufficient to pull the frame front away from the fuel grain and cause extinguishment of combustion. The flow of refrigerant across any unburned solid fuel assures extinguishment. In practice, the solid fuel grain utilized In this system would be sized to provide a slight excess of thermal energy when utilized in a low temperature (e.g., 65 F) environment. Thus at any higher temperature operating condition, only a portion of the Solid fuel grain would be utilized (i.e., the grain would be extinguished prior to complete exhaustion of solid propellant into the refrigeranttank).

The invention also relates to-a preferred embodiment Of the outlet attachment, comprising a reusable body and two easily installable and easily removable inserts incorporating certain single use parts. One of the inserts includes the breech, an igniter, and certain control orifices and burst disc. The other insert includes a sliding piston type closure member for the outlet passageway and a shear pin for initially holding such member in a passageway closing position.

The invention also relates to a gas generator having the above described features but not necessarily involving an attachment for a conventional pressure bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inflation system Which includes a cool gas generator embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view taken through the Outlet portion of a pressure vessel and an attachment of the present invention shown connected thereto, taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 4, with parts shown in side elevation;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view taken through the attachment, substantially along line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bottle and the attachment, with portions of the attachment being broken away to expose internal parts thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but of a modified form of the attachment, in a state prior to initiation; and

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5, but showing a state following initiation, and including flow arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the vessel 10 represents a conventional high pressure storage bottle for a compressed or pressure liquefied gas and element 12 is an inflatable bag, representing a typical utilization device. The functional elements shown Within the area 14 bordered by a broken line are the functional parts of an attachment for the pressure bottle 10, adapted to convert the bottle 10 to a cool gas generator.

These functional parts include a solid fuel grain 16 arranged to discharge into the interior of the bottle 10. The grain 16 is ignited by an igniter 18. Once the combustion gases exceed a predetermined pressure they fracture a burst disc 20 and then flow into the body of liquid (e.'g., liquefied carbon dioxide) contained within the bottle 10.

A passageway 22 extending from the combustion zone towards the inflatable 12 is initially closed by a valve member 24. By way of typical and therefore nonlimitive example, the valve member 24 may be initially held in a closed position (i.e., the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1) by a shear pin 26. A second passageway 28 communicates the interior of the bottle 10 with one end 30 (hereinafter referred to as the active" end) of the valve member 24. The hot combustion gases supply heat to, and cause vaporization of, the liquid L contained within the bottle 10. Once the vapor pressure of this liquid L has reached a predetermined value, such vapor pressure exerts a Sufficient force on the valve member 24 to break shear pin 26. When this happens the member 24 is moved by the fluid pressure to the open position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. This permits the gases in bottle 10 to flow back through the combustion zone and from such zone through passageway 22 into the inflatable 12. As will hereinafter be described in greater detail, a particular advantageous feature of the present invention is that the displacement of valve member 24 exposes the burning solid propellant fuel grain to an exit flow path which is orders of magnitude larger in flow area than the primary control orifice 40. This rapidly depressurizes the breech, which tends to extinguish the solid propellant grain, and also allows the gases in the storage vessel to flow. back through the combustion zone, which reduces the temperature significantly and assures extinction of the solid propellant fuel grain.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the bottle 10 is shown to comprise an internally threaded neck portion 32. The attachment 34 of the invention is shown to comprise an externally threaded nipple 36 adapted to screw into the neck 32. An O-ring 33 is shown in FIG. 2 to provide a seal between the parts 32, 36.

Attachment 34 may contain a replaceable tubular housing or breech 38 in which is located the solid fuel grain 16. The burst disc 20 may be a patch like element which initially overlies and covers a control orifice and outlet 40 located in the wall of the breech 38. The grain 16 is shown to include a longitudinal center passageway 44, but may be configured so as to be a solid cylindrical rod, which would combust radially inward.

At its upper end the attachment 34 includes a plug 46 adapted to screw into the attachment 34. The plug 46 serves to close an opening in the attachment through which the breech 38 is inserted. At its upper end the plug 46 carries a mount 48 for an igniter 50. lgniter 50 is of conventional form and may be electrically or mechanically operated.

A circumferential groove 52 is formed in the attachment body where it surrounds the upper end portion 54 of the breech 38. A plurality of openings 56 are provided in breech portion 54 to provide avenues leading from the breech into the groove 52. A port 58 communicates the grooved region 52 with a longitudinal bore 60 formed in a valve barrel 62. The grooved region 52, the openings 56 and the port 58 together constitute the passageway 22 shown in FIG. 1.

As best shown by FIG. 3, the valve barrel 62 is provided with a liner 64 in the nature of an insert. This liner 64 is inserted into the barrel 62 through an end thereof having an externally threaded portion 66. A cap 68 is screwed onto this portion 66 and serves to hold the liner 64 in place and also to stop the valve member 24 when it is active. A vent opening 70 is provided in the end wall of cap 68, to provide an avenue of escape for air within the space between the valve member 24 and the cap 68.

The liner 64 supports the two ends of the shear pin 26. A plurality of side openings 72 are provided in the liner 64 in positions to communicate with an annular grooved region 74 of the attachment body which is itself in communication with the port 58. Circumferential grooves are provided in the exterior surface of liner 64 on opposite sides of the grooves 74, to receive O-ring seals 76, or the like. The piston 24 also includes girth grooves on opposite sides of the channel 74 in which O-rings 78 or the like are received. The second end of barrel 62 includes a reduced diameter open center portion 80. The shoulder 82 which exists between open portion and the passageway 60 serves as an end stop for the liner 64. The outer end portion of passageway 80 is internally threaded to receive the threaded shank of a closure plug 83. Closure plug 83 may carry pressure gauge for indicating the charge of fluid in the bottle, or a burst disc assembly designed to relieve pressure within bottle 10 in the event of an overpressure.

A second annular groove 84 is formed in the inner surface of barrel 62. A plurality of side ports 86 are provided in the liner 64 within the region thereof adjacent groove 84. A port 88 communicates the grooved region 84 with an internally threaded outlet duct 90. An inlet fitting 92 of a conduit 94 leading to the inflatable object 12, or some other utilization device, is threadably received within the outlet member 90.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the attachment 34 is formed to include an annular chamber 96 which surrounds the breech 38 in the region of the threaded nipple 36. At its upper end the annular chamber 96 narrows down to a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the casing 98. This reduced diameter portion 98 of the body, together with a resilient seal ring 100, effectively seals the upper end of the chamber 96. As shown in each of FIGS. 2-4, a diagonal passageway 102 in the attachment body extends from annular chamber 96 up to space 80 adjacent the active face 30 of the valve member 24.

In operation, the igniter 50 is energized. It delivers burning particles to the interior passageway 44 of the fuel grain 16, causing ignition of the fuel grain 16. As burning proceeds a gas pressure builds up within the breech 38 until the resistance pressure of the burst disc 20 is exceeded. At that time the disc 20 breaks and the combustion products flow from breech 38 through control orifice 40 and into the body of liquid L contained within the pressure bottle 10. The relatively high pressure of the hot combustion gases combined with the relatively small diameter of the opening 40 result in the hot gases entering as a high velocity jet stream into the liquid L. This results in a deep penetration of the hot gases into the liquid L and a relatively fast transfer of heat to the liquid L. The heat supplied by the combustion products causes the liquid L to vaporize, increasing the vapor pressure within the container 10. This vapor pressure is communicated through annular chamber 96 and passageway 102 into the chamber 80 which is exposed to the active surface 30 of the valve member 24. Once this vapor pressure is sufficiently high (e.g., 3,500 psig) to indicate that most of the liquid within the bottle has been vaporized, the vapor pressure acting on surface 30 breaks the shear pin 26 and then moves the valve member 24 to a position (shown by broken lines in FIG. 1) on the opposite side of the ports 86 from its shear pin held position. This unblocks the outlet passageway which leads from bottle 10 back through the casing 98, then through ports 56, region 52, port 58, openings 86, annular region 84, port 88 and outlet 92 into the delivery conduit 94 leading to the utilization device 12.

A particular advantageous feature of the present invention is that the sudden opening of the extinguishment orifice 58 reduces the pressure on whatever portion of the fuel grain 16 that still remains at a rate sufficient to cause extinguishment of combustion. The rapid pressure reduction pulls the flame front away from the fuel grain 16. If this alone does not cause extinguishment, the flow of refrigerant over the remaining fuel will.

By way of nonlimitive example, the liquid L may be a liquefied carbon dioxide, a liquefied fluorinated hydrocarbon type refrigerant, Nl-l or another material or mixture of materials which will produce gaseous mixtures of a desired composition and properties. A fill opening, normally closed by a conventional fill valve 104, is provided in the side of barrel 62 leading into zone 80 and from there through passageway 102 into bottle 10.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown by FIG. 5. This embodiment is also in the form of an attachment for a conventional pressurized gas storage bottle 10'. The attachment comprises a housing 106 having an externally threaded connector portion 108 adapted to mate with the internal threads formed in the neck 110 of the storage bottle 10. As in the earlier embodiment, and in accordance with conventional practice, a sealing type O-ring 111 is provided between the housing 106 and the bottle neck 110.

As in the earlier design, the housing 106 is constructed to receive a breech assembly 112. The breech assembly 112 is shown to comprise an upper head portion which is circumferentially grooved at 114 and 116 to receive sealing O-

rings

118 and 120. A cylindrical casing 122 depends downwardly from the breech head 124 and is substantially closed at its lower end by an end wall 126. An elongated solid fuel grain 128 is supported within the tube 122 and the head member 124 by a plurality of side spacers 130. A BIKNO igniter grain 131, or the like, is shown above the grain 128 and a foam rubber or plastic spacer 133 is located above it. During the early stages of combustion both of the

members

131, 133 burn out. The lower end of the fuel grain 128 may be held elevated above the end wall 126 by a plurality of finger like extensions 132 of the end wall 126. A control orifice 134 is formed in the end wall 126 and is initially closed by a pressure burst disc 136.

The fuel grain 128 is of an outer surface burning type. The breech includes a percussion type starter 138 which is mechanically or electrically initiated by an igniter mechanism 140 which is carried by the cap 142 for the breech opening 144 in the housing 106.

The tubular connection portion 108 has an internal diameter which is larger than the external diameter of breech housing 122, resulting in the formation of an annular passageway 146 around the breech housing 122 immediately below the head portion 124. The annular zone 146 communicates with an internal girth groove 148 which in turn communicates with a radial port 150 leading to a fill fitting 152. The liquid contents of the storage chamber 10' is introduced into the chamber 10 through the fitting 152, the port 150, groove 148 and annular chamber 146 after the attachment housing 106 has been firmly affixed to the bottle 10.

The head portion 124 of the breech assembly 112 is surrounded by an annular chamber 154 formed in the housing 106. A side opening 156 is formed in the head portion 124 of the breech assembly in the region of this chamber 154. Opening 156 is initially closed by a pressure burst disc 158 which is constructed to open at a much higher pressure than the burst disc 136. Chamber 154 directly communicates with a side port 160 which forms the outlet for the housing 106 and is secured to a passageway (not shown) which leads to the utilization device.

In operation, the solid fuel grain is ignited by operation of the igniter means 138, 140. The starting flame from device 138 spreads over the upper end of the fuel grain 128 and flows downwardly around the fuel grain 128, initiating combustion on the outer surface of the grain 128. As combustion progresses the grain burns radially inwardly. The burst disc 136 is designed so that it opens when a relatively low pressure differential (e.g., 100 psi) exists between the breech chamber and the tank 10'. Upon opening of control orifice 134, the hot combustion gases flow through the orifice 136 into the liquefied gas. The hot gases mixed with the liquefied gas, adding heat to the latter and raising the vapor pressure of the mixture within the bottle 10'. The increasing tank pressure causes the combustion pressure of the solid fuel grain to increase. Once the breech pressure has reached a relatively high level (e.g., 3,800 psi) the upper burst disc 158 ruptures. The disc 158 is insulated by a layer of heat resistant material (not shown) so that the high temperature gases do not affect its burst-rating.

Opening of orifice 156 serves to communicate the breech chamber, and the interior of the storage 10' via the breech chamber, with a relatively large outlet passageway. As a result, there is a rapid depressurization within the breech, tending to pull the flame front away from the surface of any remaining fuel grain, and in that manner tending to extinguish combustion. Substantially simultaneously, the gas mixture from the tank 10' flows rapidly through the breech and out of the system, to the utilization device. As such gases flow over the surface of any removing portion of the fuel grain, they cool the grain and in that fashion ensure extinguishment.

What is claimed is:

1. An outlet attachment for a pressure bottle defining a storage chamber containing a stored fluid, said attachment comprising:

wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the storage chamber via the outlet opening in the bottle;

said attachment including means in said fluid passageway for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid stored within the storage chamber via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid; and

closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and heated said fluid within said storage chamber, with the mixture of hot gases and stored fluid flowing out from the storage chamber of the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment upon opening the closure means.

2. A cool gas generator comprising a pressure bottle defining a storage chamber containing a pressurized fluid, said bottle including an outlet including an outlet opening;

an outlet housing at the outlet of said bottle, said housing including a breech having an inner end portion positioned in the region of the outlet opening to discharge into said storage chamber and into the contents of the bottle;

a solid fuel grain in said breech;

an igniter for igniting said solid fuel grain to generate hot gases;

passageway means in said outlet housing, leading from said storage chamber and including a path back through said breech to an outlet opening from said housing; and

closure means for initially closing said passageway until the hot gases mix with the fluid in said storage chamber and the vapor pressure of the mixture storage chamber exceeds a pre-determined value.

3. A method of generating a cool working fluid comprising: I

burning a solid fuel within a first confined zone under pressure;

discharging the combustion products from said first confined zone into a second storage zone for a liquid, to add heat to the liquid and cause its vaporization;

then rapidly reducing the pressure on any remaining solid fuel in said first confined zone, and discharging the mixture of combustion products and vaporized liquid from the storage zone back through said first zone, to extinguish combustion; and then delivering such mixture to a utilization device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising flowing the mixture of combustion products and vaporized liquid directly over the combustion surfaces of the grain.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising containing the initial combustion products within said first confined zone until the pressure in said zone exceeds a predetermined value, then discharging such combustion products into the storage zone for the liquid, and containing the fluid mixture of combustion products and stored liquid within said storage zone until the pressure in said first zone exceeds a second and higher predetermined pressure, and then discharging said mixture from said storage zone, through said first zone, to the outlet opening.

6. An outlet attachment for a fluid containing pressure bottle, comprising:

wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the outlet opening in the bottle said wall means forming a fluid passageway including a tubular portion;

said attachment including means for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid within the pressure bottle via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid said means for generating hot gases including a solid fuel grain within said tubular portion;

closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and have heated the said fluid, with the hot gas and stored fluid mixture flowing out from the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment and out through the outlet opening in the bottle upon opening the closure means, and with said fluid passageway being sized to provide an outlet avenue from the combustion zone large enough so that upon opening of the fluid passageway there is a rapid depressurization of the combustion zone followed by a flow of fluid from the storage bottle to which the attachment is secured out through the combustion zone, for extinguishing combustion of the solid propellant fuel grain.

7. An outlet attachment according to claim 6, wherein said tubular portion is a removable breech and the attachment includes means for receiving and holding the breech generally axially with respect to the outlet opening of a pressure bottle to which the attachment is in use attached.

8. An outlet attachment according to claim 7 wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross-sectional dimension than the breech, leaving a space between the grain and the tubular portion, and combustion occurs on the external surface of the solid fuel gram.

9. An outlet attachment according to claim 7, wherein said breech includes an inner end wall including an opening therein which in use functions as a control orifice and wherein said solid fuel grain includes a central passageway extending therethrough which is generally coaxial with said opening.

10. An outlet attachment according to claim 7, wherein the attachment includes an outlet and said fluid passageway leads to the outlet, and wherein said passageway means contains a sliding valve member and means for initially holding said member in a position wherein it blocks flow from said breech to said outlet.

11. An outlet attachment according to claim 10, wherein said attachment includes a shear pin for initially holding the valve member in its passageway closing position.

12. An attachment according to claim 11, wherein said valve member is slidably received with a tubular insert for a portion of the passageway means, and wherein said shear pin includes at least one end portion anchored in said insert.

13. An attachment associated to claim 7, wherein said breech includes an inner end wall including an opening therein which during operation functions as a control orifice, wherein said breech further includes an outer end portion having an outlet orifice therein which is a portion of said fluid passageway, and wherein said closure means is a pressure responsive element designed to release when the breech pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

14. An attachment according to claim 13, wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross sectional dimension than said breech, leaving a space between the outer surface of the grain and the tubular breech, with combustion occurring on the outer surface of thegrain.

15. An outlet attachment for a fluid containing pressure bottle, comprising:

a tubular portion securable to the pressure bottle adjacent the outlet opening in said bottle; wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the outlet opening in the bottle;

means defining a fill passageway, a portion of-said fill passageway being radially between said tubular portion and the wall means which forms said fluid passageway; said attachment including means for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid within the pressure bottle via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid; and

closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and have heated the said fluid, with the hot gas and stored fluid mixture flowing out from the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment and out through the outlet opening in the bottle upon opening the closure means. 7

16. A cool gas generator comprising a pressure bottle containing a pressurized fluid, said bottle including an outlet including an outlet opening;

an outlet housing at the outlet of said bottle, said housing including a breech having an inner end portion positioned in the region of the outlet opening to discharge into the contents of the bottle;

a solid fuel grain in said breech;

an igniter for igniting said solid fuel grain;

passageway means in said outlet housing leading from and including a path through said breech to an outlet opening from said housing,

said passageway means being sized to provide a relatively large outlet avenue from the combustion zone, whereby upon opening of the passageway means there is a rapid depressurization of the combustion zone followed by a flow of fluid from the storage bottle out through the combustion zone, for extinguishing combustion of the solid propellant fuel grain; and

closure means for initially closing said passageway until the vapor pressure in the bottle exceeds a predetermined value.

17. A cool gas generator according to claim 16, wherein said attachment includes means for receiving and holding the breech generally axially with respect to the outlet opening of the pressure bottle.

18. A cool gas generator according to claim 17, wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross-sectional dimension than the breech, and combustion occurs on the external surface of the solid fuel grain.

19. A cool gas generator according to claim 17, wherein said breech includes an inner end wall including an opening therein which in use functions as a control orifice and wherein said solid fuel grain includes a central passageway extending therethrough which is generally coaxial with said opening.

20. A cool gas generator according to claim 17, wherein said passageway means contains a sliding valve member and means for initially holding said member in a position wherein it blocks flow from said breech to said outlet.

21. A cool gas generator according to claim 20, including a shear pin for initially holding the valve member in its passageway closing position.

22. A cool gas generator according to claim 21, wherein said valve member is slidably received with a tubular insert for a portion of the passageway means, and wherein said shear pin includes at least one end portion anchored in said insert.

23. A cool gas generator associated to claim 17, wherein said breech includes an inner end wall including an opening therein which during operation functions as a control orifice, wherein said breech further includes an outer end portion having an outlet orifice therein which is a portion of said passageway means, and wherein said closure means is a pressure responsive element designed to release when the breech pressure exceeds a predetermined value.

24. A cool gas generator according to claim 23, wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross sectional dimension than said breech, leaving a space between the outer surface of the grain and the tubular breech, with combustion occurring on the outer surface of the grain.

25. A cool gas generator comprising a pressure bottle containing a pressurized fluid, said bottle including an outlet including an outlet including an outlet opening;

an outlet housing at the outlet of said bottle, said housing including a breech having an inner end portion positioned in the region of the outlet opening to discharge into the contents of the bottle said outlet housing including a tubular portion securable to the pressure bottle adjacent the outlet opening in said bottle, and also including a fill passageway, a portion of which is located radially between said tubular portion and the wall means which forms said fluid passageway;

a solid fuel grain in said breech;

an'igniter for igniting said solid fuel grain;

passageway means in said outlet housing, leading from andincluding a path through said breech to 'an outlet opening from said housing; and

Claims

1. An outlet attachment for a pressure bottle defining a storage chamber containing a stored fluid, said attachment comprising: wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the storage chamber via the outlet opening in the bottle; said attachment including means in said fluid passageway for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid stored within the storage chamber via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid; and closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and heated said fluid within said storage chamber, with the mixture of hot gases and stored fluid flowing out from the storage chamber of the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment upon opening the closure means.

2. A cool gas generator comprising a pressure bottle defining a storage chamber containing a pressurized fluid, said bottle including an outlet including an outlet opening; an outlet housing at the outlet of said bottle, said housing including a breech having an inner end portion positioned in the region of the outlet opening to discharge into said storage chamber and into the contents of the bottle; a solid fuel grain in said breech; an igniter for igniting said solid fuel grain to generate hot gases; passageway means in said outlet housing, leading from said storage chamber and including a path back through said breech to an outlet opening from said housing; and closure means for initially closing said passageway until the hot gases mix with the fluid in said storage chamber and the vapor pressure of the mixture storage chamber exceeds a pre-determined value.

3. A method of generating a cool working fluid comprising: burning a solid fuel within a first confined zone under pressure; discharging the combustion products from said first confined zone into a second storage zone for a liquid, to add heat to the liquid and cause its vaporization; then rapidly reducing the pressure on any remaining solid fuel in said first confined zone, and discharging the mixture of combustion products and vaporized liquid from the storage zone back through said first zone, to extinguish combustion; and then delivering such mixture to a utilization device.

6. An outlet attachment for a fluid containing pressure bottle, comprising: wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the outlet opening in the bottle said wall means forming a fluid passageway including a tubular portion; said attachment including means for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid within the pressure bottle via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid said means for generating hot gases including a solid fuel grain within said tubular portion; closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and have heated the said fluid, with the hot gas and stored fluid mixture flowing out from the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment and out through the outlet opening in the bottle upon opening the closure means, and with said fluid passageway being sized to provide an outlet avenue from the combustion zone large enough so that upon opening of the fluid passageway there is a rapid depressurization of the combustion zone followed by a flow of fluid from the storage bottle to which the attachment is secured out through the combustion zone, for extinguishing combustion of the solid propellant fuel grain.

8. An outlet attachment according to claim 7 wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross-sectional dimension than the breech, leaving a space between the grain and the tubular portion, and combustion occurs on the external surface of the solid fuel grain.

14. An attachment according to claim 13, wherein said solid fuel grain is smaller in cross sectional dimension than said breech, leaving a space between the outer surface of the grain and the tubular breech, with combustion occurring on the outer surface of the grain.

15. An outlet attachment for a fluid containing pressure bottle, comprising: a tubular portion securable to the pressure bottle adjacent the outlet opening in said bottle; wall means forming a fluid passageway which when the attachment is on a pressure bottle is in communication with the outlet opening in the bottle; means defining a fill passageway, a portion of said fill passageway being radially between said tubular portion and the wall means which forms said fluid passageway; said attachment including means for generating hot gases and releasing them into the fluid within the pressure bottle via the outlet opening in the bottle, for supplying heat into said fluid; and closure means for closing said fluid passageway until the hot gases have mixed with and have heated the said fluid, with the hot gas and stored fluid mixture flowing out from the pressure bottle and through the fluid passageway in the attachment and out through the outlet opening in the bottle upon opening the closure means.

16. A cool gas generator comprising a pressure bottle containing a pressurized fluid, said bottle including an outlet including an outlet opening; an outlet housing at the outlet of said bottle, said housing including a breech having an inner end portion positioned in the region of the outlet opening to discharge into the contents of the bottle; a solid fuel grain in said breech; an igniter for igniting said solid fuel grain; passageway means in said outlet housing leading from and including a path through said breech to an outlet opening from said housing, said passageway means being sized to provide a relatively large outlet avenue from the combustion zone, whereby upon opening of the passageway means there is a rapid depressurization of the combustion zone followed by a flow of fluid from the storage bottle out through the combustion zone, for extinguishing combustion of the solid propellant fuel grain; and closure means for initially closing said passageway until the vapor pressure in the bottle exceeds a predetermined value.