807results about "Exothermal chemical reactions for heating" patented technology

An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the body or to act as a thermal buffer to protect the wearer from changing environmental conditions. The apparatus may also include an external thermal insulation layer and / or an internal thermal control layer to regulate the rate of heat exchange between the composite and the skin of the wearer. Other embodiments of the apparatus also provide 1) a path for evaporation or direct absorption of perspiration from the skin of the wearer for improved comfort and thermal control, 2) heat conductive pathways within the material for thermal equalization, 3) surface treatments for improved absorption or rejection of heat by the material, and 4) means for quickly regenerating the thermal storage capacity for reuse of the material. Applications of the composite materials are also described which take advantage of the composite's thermal characteristics. The examples described include a diver's wet suit, ski boot liners, thermal socks, gloves and a face mask for cold weather activities, and a metabolic heating or cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients in a medical setting and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopedic joint supports.

Disclosed is a method and device for rapid heating of a coated substance which preferably includes a drug to vaporized for inhalation therapy. A device in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a substrate which has an interior surface surrounding an interior region and an exterior surface upon which the coated substance is to be adhered. Though the substrate is preferably metallic, it does not need to be. A combustible element is placed in the interior region of the rigid substrate and an igniter is connected to the combustible element. The igniter is for initiating oxidation of the combustible element. Preferably, the coated substance is vaporized inside of a housing to allow the vaporized drug to aerosolize and be inhaled by a user.

Heating units, drug supply units and drug delivery articles capable of rapid heating are disclosed. Heating units comprising a substrate and a solid fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic metal oxidation reaction disposed within the substrate are disclosed. Drug supply units and drug delivery articles wherein a solid fuel is configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to rapidly thermally vaporize a drug disposed thereon are also disclosed.

A portable temperature changing apparatus for containers includes a cylindrical annular moisture-proof pouch divided into a first compartment filled with a liquid and a second separate compartment holding a solid material capable of producing an endothermic or exothermic reaction upon mixing with the liquid. The seal separating the two separate compartments can be ruptured partially, when desired, enabling communication of the liquid with the solid to activate the temperature altering reaction. A flexible foam insulating layer surrounds the exterior of the annular cylindrical pouch providing insulation, damage protection, and labeling.

A portable heat source that may be used to warm food, beverage or other supplies. The heater contains a heat-producing composition that is a solid that may be stored for long periods of time, and activated by addition of water or an aqueous solution. Heat-producing compositions contain an acidic anhydride, an acidic salt, a basic anhydride or a basic salt. Preferred heat-producing compositions contain a mixture of an acidic anhydride or salt together with a basic anhydride or salt, such that addition of water to both acidic and basic anhydrides produces heat as well as acid and base respectively; subsequent reaction of the acid and base produces additional heat, as well as a safe, neutral product that is easily disposed. The invention further consists of means and methods for regulating the rate of heat production in heaters by the addition of inert additives to heat-producing compositions and the application of processing methods that regulate access of water to heat-producing compounds. Addition of inert materials and shaping, agglomerating, pelleting and like processing of heat-producing materials are applied to produced heat at a rate compatible with the rate at which the food or other materials can absorb the heat. The invention further consists of devices incorporating the materials to be heated in an advantageous arrangement with the heater composition.

The present invention relates to the delivery of drug esters through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing drug esters that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, a drug ester is delivered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a coating of a drug ester, on a solid support, to form a vapor; and, b) passing air through the heated vapor to produce aerosol particles having less than 5% drug ester degradation product. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering a drug ester through an inhalation route is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of a drug ester composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.

The present invention relates to the delivery of drug esters through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing drug esters that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, a drug ester is delivered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises a drug ester, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles with less than 5% drug ester degradation product. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering a drug ester through an inhalation route is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of a drug ester composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.

Self-propagating formation reactions in nanostructured multilayer foils provide rapid bursts of heat at room temperature and therefore can act as local heat sources to melt solder or braze layers and join materials. This reactive joining method provides very localized heating to the components and rapid cooling across the joint. The rapid cooling results in a very fine microstructure of the solder or braze material. The scale of the fine microstructure of the solder or braze material is dependant on cooling rate of the reactive joints which varies with geometries and properties of the foils and components. The microstructure of the solder or braze layer of the joints formed by melting solder in a furnace is much coarser due to the slow cooling rate. Reactive joints with finer solder or braze microstructure show higher shear strength compared with those made by conventional furnace joining with much coarser solder or braze microstructure. It is expected that the reactive joints may also have better fatigue properties compared with conventional furnace joints.

A container assembly heats or cools a product inside an inner container. An outer jacket at least partially surrounds the inner container, with a first internal volume and a second internal volume in the space between the outer jacket and the inner container. A first temperature-change reagent is contained inside the first internal volume, and a second temperature-change reagent is held in the second internal volume, with a reagent separator between the two. Several penetrators are disposed to penetrate the reagent separator to produce openings through the separator and through which the two reagents can mix. Steel wool inside the first internal volume acts as a steam condenser. The outer jacket includes a jacket top ring secured around an upper surface of a standard can, a jacket body secured to the jacket top, and a flexible jacket bottom that carries several spikes molded onto the jacket bottom.

Fibrous sheet materials, such as are useful as facial tissue, bath tissue and paper towels, for example, are provided with chemical agents, such as certain salts, which create a temperature change in the sheet when exposed to a particular stimulant, such as water, for example. These materials can provide a soothing feel to the user, either in the form of cooling or heating, depending upon the particular chemistry involved.

Reactive foils and their uses are provided as localized heat sources useful, for example, in ignition, joining and propulsion. An improved reactive foil is preferably a freestanding multilayered foil structure made up of alternating layers selected from materials that will react with one another in an exothermic and self-propagating reaction. Upon reacting, this foil supplies highly localized heat energy that may be applied, for example, to joining layers, or directly to bulk materials that are to be joined. This foil heat-source allows rapid bonding to occur at room temperature in virtually any environment (e.g., air, vacuum, water, etc.). If a joining material is used, the foil reaction will supply enough heat to melt the joining materials, which upon cooling will form a strong bond, joining two or more bulk materials.

In a heat generating composition which generates heat by contacting with air, a heat generating composition which is characterized in that an exothermic substance, a reaction promoter, water and a carbon component are essential components, water mobility value thereof is 20 or less, maximum particle size of water-insoluble solid components excluding the reaction promoter and water is 1 mm or less where 80% or more thereof has a particles size of 300 μm or less, water in the heat generating composition does not function as a barrier layer and exothermic reaction takes place when contacted to the air. A heat generating composition having a molding property and a shape-holding property and also having an exothermic characteristic whereby exothermic reaction is able to start by contacting to the air immediately after the molding and a heat generating body using the same are provided.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of simulating an ignition of a reactive multilayer foil. Other embodiments include various methods of igniting a reactive multilayer foil by transferring energy from an energy source to a reactive multilayer foil.

A fast line maintenance repair process for damaged composite structures includes the application of a pre-cured patch that uses a quick curing paste adhesive to bond the patch to the structure. The adhesive is cured at relatively low elevated temperatures provided by a chemical heat pack. The low temperature cure eliminates the need to dry out the part and permits the application of the repair in a hazardous environment. In a typical commercial airline application, airline maintenance personnel can install the repair at the flight gate. The repair is intended to restore the structure to a desired load capability in approximately one hour. The repair can be removed if need be with less overall damage than would occur upon removal of typical mechanically fastened repairs. All or some of the repair materials and tools can be provided in a portable kit.

A food container includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall. At least one of the upper wall, the lower wall, and the side wall includes a plurality of microcapsules containing a phase change material. The phase change material has a latent heat in the range of 40 J / g to 400 J / g and a transition temperature in the range of 0° C. to 100° C. The phase change material provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.

Microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprising an active agent are disclosed. In one embodiment, the microencapsulated delivery vehicles are heat delivery vehicles capable of generating heat upon activation. The microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles may be introduced into wet wipes such that, upon activation, the wet wipe solution is warmed resulting in a warm sensation on a user's skin. Any number of other active ingredients, such as cooling agents and biocides, can also be incorporated into a microencapsulated delivery vehicle.

A container comprises a container body for containing contents to be heated or cooled, a thermic module at one end of the body, and a closure at the other end of the body. Within the thermic module, an internal exothermic (or, alternatively, endothermic) chemical reaction is initiated to heat its contents when a user actuates the thermic module. The thermic module includes a heat exchanger portion extending proximally into the container and a thermic module cap distal to the heat exchanger portion. The heat exchanger portion has a pleated wall to improve the heat transfer to the contents of the container. The container includes a rotatable cover adhered to the container end over the closure with heat-sensitive adhesive that prevents a user from accessing the contents until a certain temperature is reached. The container further includes a full panel pull-off which covers and protects the actuator from being actuated until the pull-of lid is removed from the full panel pull-off. The thermic module may also include a filter disposed in interfering relation with the thermic module vents, including a portion between the inner and outer actuator buttons, to block egress of any particles of the solid reactant or the reaction product.

A portable heat generating device in which fuel vapor and an oxygen supply (e.g. air) are directed through channels contained within a thin, flexible and compliant elastomeric sheet of material. Elongated catalytic heat elements, placed strategically within the channels, spontaneously interact with the fuel-air stream liberating heat energy. Means and methods are defined that permit flameless catalytic combustion to be uniformly extended over the length of each heat element, lowering power density but maintaining the overall power generated, permitting the use of many types of low temperature materials like plastics, polymers, and elastomers in the construction of the heater. The heat generation process is started by pumping an air stream into a reservoir containing a fuel source (e.g. methanol) thereby saturating the air stream with fuel vapor. The fuel vapor is mixed with a another stream of air to achieve a particular fuel / air ratio and directed into channels within the elastomeric sheet, reacting with the catalytic heat elements to produce flameless combustion. The warm exhaust gas is directed to a thermally controlled diverter valve. The valve senses the temperature of the liquid fuel supply and diverts some or all of the warm exhaust gas, as necessary, to heat the fuel and keep its temperature within a specified range. Exhaust by-products are passed into a miniature scrubber module adjacent to the fuel module. The scrubber absorbs any noxious components in the exhaust stream that may occur during start-up or rapid changes in operating condition.

In accordance with the invention, bodies of materials are joined by disposing between them a reactive multilayer foil and one or more layers of meltable joining material such as braze or solder. The bodies are pressed together against the foil and joining material, and the foil is ignited to melt the joining material. The pressing is near the critical pressure and typically produces a joint having a strength of at least 70-85% the maximum strength producible at practical maximum pressures. Thus for example, reactively formed stainless steel soldered joints that were heretofore made at an applied pressure of about 100 MPa can be made with substantially the same strength at a critical applied pressure of about 10 kPa. Advantages of the process include minimization of braze or solder extrusion and reduced equipment and processing costs, especially in the joining of large bodies.

Self-propagating formation reactions in nanostructured multilayer foils provide rapid bursts of heat at room temperature and therefore can act as local heat sources to melt solder or braze layers and join materials. This reactive joining method provides very localized heating to the components and rapid cooling across the joint. The rapid cooling results in a very fine microstructure of the solder or braze material. The scale of the fine microstructure of the solder or braze material is dependant on cooling rate of the reactive joints which varies with geometries and properties of the foils and components. The microstructure of the solder or braze layer of the joints formed by melting solder in a furnace is much coarser due to the slow cooling rate. Reactive joints with finer solder or braze microstructure show higher shear strength compared with those made by conventional furnace joining with much coarser solder or braze microstructure. It is expected that the reactive joints may also have better fatigue properties compared with conventional furnace joints.

A method and apparatus for treating a selected region of a metal layer, used to form a metal card, by annealing the selected metal region so the selected region becomes soft and ductile, while the rest of the metal layer remains stiff. The softened, ductile, selected metal region can be embossed with reduced power and with reduced wear and tear on the embossing equipment. Alternatively, the annealed metal layer can undergo additional processing steps to form an assembly which can then be embossed. The method may include the use of a fixture for holding the metal layer, with the fixture having a window region for enabling heat to be applied to soften the region of the metal layer within the window region. The fixture includes apparatus for cooling the portion of the metal layer outside of the window region and for preventing the temperature of the metal layer outside the window region from rising above predetermined limits.

The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems in which there is partial boiling of a liquid in a mini-channel or microchannel. The partial boiling removes heat from an exothermic process.

The invention relates to a method of making alkali metal silicide compositions, and the compositions resulting from the method, comprising mixing an alkali metal with silicon and heating the resulting mixture to a temperature below about 475° C. The resulting compositions do not react with dry O2. Also, the invention relates to sodium silicide compositions having a powder X-ray diffraction pattern comprising at least three peaks with 2Theta angles selected from about 18.2, 28.5, 29.5, 33.7, 41.2, 47.4, and 56.2 and a solid state 23Na MAS NMR spectra peak at about 18 ppm. Moreover, the invention relates to methods of removing a volatile or flammable substance in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the alkali metal silicide compositions of the invention react with water to produce hydrogen gas.

It relates to a heat-generating composition having such dispersion stability that withstands continuous molding, and has excellent drainage property, excellent heat-generating characteristics, excellent molding property and excellent shape retaining property, without becoming viscous, and relates to a heat-generating body using the same and a process for producing the heat-generating body. It contains, as essential components, a heat-generating substance generating heat upon reaction with oxygen, a carbon component, an oxidation promoter and water, characterized in that the composition further contains a water separation-preventing stabilizer in a proportion of from 0.001 to 0.25 part by mass per 100 parts by mass of the heat-generating composition, and has a water mobility value of from 7 to 40 and a separation degree of from 0 to 30.

A warming pack includes a container in the form of a pack, pouch, or bag in which reactants for an exothermic chemical reaction are distributed in one or more flexible matrixes that prevent them from shifting. The rate of the reaction is controlled and the reaction is thermally buffered in order that heat be produced at a constant rate.

The present invention is directed to a compartmentalized storage system for temporarily storing and subsequently mixing at least two different substances. The compartmentalized storage system comprises a first storing compartment, with an optional a tearable seal, containing a solid sorbing substrate, such as a wipe, and a first substance. The compartmentalized storage system further comprises a second storing compartment having a second substance. The first and the second compartments are attached to each other by at least one common side, which common side comprises a frangible seal connecting the first and the second compartments. By applying force to the frangible seal, the seal will break and thereby allow the second substance in the second storing compartment to be mixed with the solid sorbing substrate and the first substance in the first storing compartment.

A portable moist heat delivery system comprising a water vapor generating portion comprising a water vapor source and a heat source; a water vapor-air regulating portion, said water vapor-air regulating portion comprising a water vapor-air mixing layer, and a water vapor-air distribution layer; said water vapor generating portion and said water vapor-air regulating portion being in fluid communication; and said water vapor-air regulating portion having a latent heat delivery surface disposed adjacent said water vapor-air regulating portion which delivers moist heat at a preselected temperature range wherein about 15% to about 95% of the moist heat is latent heat of condensation. Methods include delivering improved pain relief, blood flow, relaxation, and reduced cardiac workload.

A package is provided including a first sealable envelope containing a first agent, a second sealable envelope containing a second agent adjacent the first sealable envelope and a frangible seal separating the first sealable envelope from the second sealable envelope and a triggering mechanism located on an exterior of the package, the triggering mechanism having a first portion attached to the package at a first point adjacent the first sealable envelope and a second portion attached to the package at a second point adjacent the second sealable envelope such that, if the first portion and the second portion of the triggering mechanism are pulled, the frangible seal is stressed to rupture, allowing the first agent to communicate with the second agent.