JP2001294404A - Oxygen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable oxygen generator capable of stably supplying oxygen for a long period and which is easily manufactured. SOLUTION: The generator has a vessel main body 1, which has a discharge port 7 for releasing generated oxygen, houses a mixing liquid in a liquid chamber 9 and a mixing base agent generating oxygen by being mixed with the mixing liquid in a base agent chamber 11 arranged in the lower side of the liquid chamber 9 and has a partition wall partitioning the liquid chamber 9 and the base agent chamber 11 to communicate with each other, and a inner bag 20, which has an opening part 22, is formed to substantially close a part 23 opposed to the liquid chamber and has 4 an inner bag 20 housing at least a part of the mixing base agent and housed in the base agent chamber 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simple oxygen generator suitable for portability, and in particular, a liquid and a base, which generate oxygen by mixing, are separately contained in a multi-chamber container and mixed at the time of use. And an oxygen generator for generating oxygen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many portable simple oxygen generators without using an oxygen cylinder have been proposed. In such an oxygen generator, a base such as sodium percarbonate and water are mixed in the presence of a catalyst such as catalase to generate oxygen by a decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide generated from sodium percarbonate. . For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 4-40650 proposes an oxygen generator in which a plurality of storage chambers separated by partition walls capable of communicating an oxygen generation base as a base and a reaction catalyst liquid are separately housed. . Here, oxygen can be easily generated simply by connecting the partition wall of the multi-chamber container with the oxygen generating base and the reaction catalyst liquid. However, since such an oxygen generator is portable, the amount of sodium percarbonate stored is limited, and the amount of generated oxygen is limited. Therefore, if the reaction rate is too high, a large amount of oxygen is released in a short time to terminate the reaction, and the time for generating oxygen is shortened.

[0003] In a device for generating oxygen by mixing sodium percarbonate and water in the presence of a catalyst, a device for prolonging the generation time of oxygen may be obtained by microencapsulating the catalyst or sodium percarbonate or by using a gel material. Coated devices have been proposed (for example, JP-A-4-154603,
JP-A-6-107401, etc.). In this apparatus, the coating is gradually dissolved in water after mixing, and the components are gradually brought into contact with each other, so that the oxygen generation time can be lengthened. However, when microencapsulated or coated with a gel material, it is difficult to make the coating thickness and solubility uniform, so that the oxygen generation time tends to vary, and further, microencapsulation and coating work are required. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to manufacture.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of supplying oxygen stably for a long period of time and which is easy to produce. It is intended to provide a vessel.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an oxygen generating apparatus comprising a mixing liquid and a mixing base for generating oxygen by mixing with the mixing liquid, which are separately housed in a multi-chamber container. A container having a discharge port for releasing generated oxygen and communicating with a liquid chamber containing the mixing liquid and a base chamber disposed below the liquid chamber and containing the mixing base. A container body partitioned by possible partition walls, and an inner bag containing at least a part of the mixing base and housed in the base chamber, having an opening, facing the liquid chamber. And an inner bag having a substantially closed inner bag.

According to the present invention, the mixing liquid contained in the liquid chamber is lowered to the base chamber side by communicating the partition wall of the container body during use, so that the mixing liquid and the mixing base are mixed. Mixing can generate oxygen. At this time, a part or the whole of the mixing base is accommodated in the inner bag having the opening, and the mixing base is arranged in the base chamber so that the part facing the liquid chamber is closed, so that the mixing liquid descends. However, it does not come into contact with all the mixing bases at once. First, immediately after mixing, oxygen is generated by contacting the mixing base present outside the inner bag and the mixing base exposed from the opening with the mixing liquid. Thereafter, the mixing liquid gradually enters the inside of the inner bag through the opening, or the mixing base is gradually discharged from the opening, so that the mixing liquid and the mixing base gradually come into contact with each other. To generate oxygen. Therefore, a large amount of oxygen is not generated immediately after mixing, and oxygen is gradually generated thereafter, so that the amount of generated oxygen can be stabilized and the generation time can be lengthened.

In this oxygen generator, since only a part of the mixing base is simply stored in the inner bag having an opening, and no special treatment is applied to the mixing base or the mixing liquid, the production is simplified. Extremely easy. In the present invention, the use of the inner bag having an opening at the lower end and a pore at the upper end makes it difficult for the mixing liquid to penetrate from the opening as compared with the case where the inner bag is provided on the side, and the mixing liquid and the mixing base are not provided. Contact with the agent can be further delayed. At this time, oxygen generated on the lower side or inside of the inner bag can be released from the pores, so that a large amount of oxygen stays in the inner bag, so that the inner bag is excessively opened and the gap with the container body is opened. It is closed and the mixing liquid cannot enter the inner bag, so that the generation of oxygen does not stop halfway, and the mixing base inside the inner bag is quickly discharged from the excessively opened inner bag. A stable generation rate of oxygen is obtained without being performed.

Further, in the present invention, if the outer wall of the inner bag is brought into contact with the inner wall of the base chamber, the inner bag is displaced in the base chamber due to the resistance of the abutting portion during storage or transportation. It is difficult to discharge the mixing base out of the inner bag even when an external force acts. Further, even if oxygen stays in the inner bag during use and a force in the opening direction acts on the opening, the wall surface of the inner bag abuts against the inner wall surface of the base chamber, so that it is difficult to expand. for that reason,
The opening of the inner bag of the base material can be prevented from opening excessively, and the mixing base can be prevented from being discharged from the opening in a short time, and the rate of generation of oxygen can be stabilized. Further, in the present invention, if a locking portion is provided to lock a part of the inner bag at the position of the base chamber while the partitioning portion is in communication, oxygen stays in the inner bag at the time of use, so that the inner bag is retained. Even if buoyancy acts on the bag, the inner bag does not move up. Therefore, the mixing base is not discharged from the inner bag in a short time, and the generation rate of oxygen can be stabilized.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the oxygen generator of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes an oxygen generator, which is a first container 1 as a container main body in which a mixing base and a mixing liquid stored in an inner bag 20 are stored.
And a second container 2 containing the first container 1. In the oxygen generator 10, the mixing liquid and the mixing base can generate oxygen by mixing them, and are a liquid and a solid that can be used as an oxygen generator.
The mixing liquid and the mixing base can be appropriately combined and selected, and examples thereof include a combination of an aqueous solvent and a substance containing sodium percarbonate.

The aqueous solvent is a liquid containing water, and may be water or an aqueous solution, or may be a suspension or a mixed liquid containing a component that is not dissolved in water. The aqueous solvent may contain a catalyst for a decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide such as catalase, manganese chloride, and manganese dioxide, and may further contain other components such as a preservative and a coloring agent. The sodium percarbonate-containing substance is a substance that generates hydrogen peroxide by mixing or dissolving with the aqueous solvent, and may be sodium percarbonate alone or may contain other components. . As a form, a powder is preferable because it is easily mixed with an aqueous solvent, but a solid or bulk solid can be used. The sodium percarbonate-containing substance may contain a catalyst for a decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide such as catalase, manganese chloride, and manganese dioxide.

The first container 1 is made of a flexible resin, and is preferably a flat container. In this embodiment, a resin inflation tube is formed by welding and has an innermost layer made of a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene. This first
The upper and lower partition portions 5, 6 which are strongly welded at both ends 3 and 4 in the vertical direction in the figure and which can be communicated by welding the innermost layer so as to have easy peelability at the middle portion. Are formed. Here, the peel strength of the upper partition 5 is higher than the peel strength of the lower partition 6. The upper and lower partitions 5, 6, a discharge chamber 8 having a discharge hole 7 for releasing generated oxygen, a liquid chamber 9 containing an aqueous solvent containing a catalyst, and an inner bag containing sodium percarbonate powder. The base room 11 housed in the state housed in the housing 20 is partitioned in order from the top. The inner bag 20 accommodated in the base chamber 11 of the first container 1 is formed in a flat shape from a flexible resin, and has an opening 22 at a lower end 21.
The upper end 23 facing the liquid chamber 9 is closed with a large number of pores 24 that cannot pass through the aqueous medium in a large amount, and both end portions 25 are closed. In the oxygen generator 10, sodium percarbonate powder is contained in such an inner bag 20, but sodium percarbonate not contained in the inner bag 20 may be present in the base chamber 11.

The size of the inner bag 20 is not particularly limited, but if it is excessively small, it moves during storage or transportation, and the sodium percarbonate inside is easily discharged into the base chamber 11. For this reason, it is preferable that the width and length of the inner bag 20 are preferably 以上 or more and 1 or less of the width and length of the base chamber 11, respectively. Further, the thickness of the inner bag 20 in a state in which sodium percarbonate is accommodated,
It is preferable that the inner wall of the inner bag 20 and the outer wall of the inner bag 20 be set in contact with each other. The first container 1 has a lower partition 6
A locking portion 26 is provided for locking the inner bag 20 in the base chamber 11 at the time of communication. The shape, size, number and the like of the discharge port 7 provided in the discharge chamber 8 of the first container 1 can be appropriately set, and an opening area that can easily release oxygen generated during use can be ensured, and the contents can be secured. Is preferably not so easily eluted. In addition, the position of the discharge port 7 may be arranged higher than the liquid level of the contents at the time of use. However, since the contents are foamed and the foaming liquid level rises at the time of use, the upper end of the first container 1 or It is preferable to arrange in the vicinity. Further, the discharge hole 7 may be provided on a part of the wall surface of the discharge chamber 8, but if provided on both opposing wall surfaces, when the oxygen generator is tilted or placed horizontally during use, one of the wall surfaces will have the contents. Even if it is arranged inside and closed, the other wall surface is arranged above the liquid level, so that it is possible to secure an oxygen release path, which is preferable.

A second container 2 containing the first container 1 comprises:
It is a container made of a flexible resin and preferably molded in a flat shape. In the second container 2 of this embodiment, an outlet 15 for the generated oxygen is disposed on the side of the discharge hole 7 of the first container 1, and the upper and lower ends 16, 17 are welded to each other with strength. Have been. The second container 2 has a width that can prevent the first container 1 from falling and tilting inside, for example, a width several mm to several cm larger than the width of the first container 1. A string member 27 for identifying the vertical direction of the oxygen generator 10 and suspending the oxygen generator 10 around a user's neck or the like is attached to the oxygen extraction unit 15 side. The oxygen extracting portion 15 includes a nozzle 18 having an air hole and a water repellent filter 19 covering at least one end of the air hole. The water repellent filter 19 is filled with activated carbon. The shape of the nozzle 18 can be arbitrarily selected, and for example, a member for a user to suction can be attached to the nozzle 18.
The water-repellent filter 19 is not particularly limited as long as it does not allow micelles or water droplets of sodium carbonate generated at the time of use to pass, and has a large number of pores capable of securing a sufficient oxygen passage amount.

In order to manufacture the oxygen generator 10 having such a configuration, the liquid chamber 9 and the base chamber 11 are formed by using a cylindrical resin molded body.
Is welded so as to have easy peelability, and a discharge port 7 is formed on one end 3 side. In addition, the inner bag 20 is formed so as to have an opening 22 at one end 21 and to be closed with the other end 23 having pores 24, and weigh a predetermined amount of sodium percarbonate powder. To accommodate. Then, the inner bag 20 is housed in the base chamber 11 side with the opening 22 facing down, and the end 4 is welded to strength. Next, a predetermined amount of an aqueous solvent containing a catalyst is accommodated in the liquid chamber 9 from the end 3 side, and the partition 5 between the liquid chamber 9 and the discharge chamber 8 is welded so as to have easy peelability. 3 can be manufactured by welding it strongly. In this production, although sodium percarbonate is accommodated in the inner bag 20, there is no trouble to coat sodium percarbonate or a catalyst with a coating material as in the prior art, and the production is easy.

The oxygen generator 10 manufactured as described above
Is used, since the lower partition 6 is welded with easy peelability, first, the lower partition 6 is peeled only by pressing the liquid chamber 9 from the outside of the second container 2. And communicate. At this time, since the upper partition portion 5 is formed to have a higher peel strength than the lower partition portion 6, the upper partition portion 5 does not peel. When the lower partition 6 is communicated, the base chamber 11 is disposed below the liquid chamber 9, so that all the aqueous solvent in the liquid chamber 9 descends to the position of the base chamber 11. This mixes the aqueous solvent, sodium percarbonate, and catalyst. When sodium percarbonate is mixed with the aqueous solvent, hydrogen peroxide is generated from the sodium percarbonate. The oxygen generator 10 generates oxygen by decomposing such hydrogen peroxide by the action of a catalyst contained in an aqueous solvent, such as catalase or manganese dioxide. When manganese chloride is used as a catalyst, manganese chloride itself does not exhibit a catalytic action, but manganese carbonate generated by combining carbonate ions produced from sodium percarbonate and manganese ions produced from manganese chloride by mixing. Precipitate exhibit a catalytic action.

When the oxygen is generated, the internal pressure in the first container 1 increases, and the pressure causes the upper partition portion 5 separating the liquid chamber 9 and the discharge chamber 8 to be separated and communicate with each other.
From the inside of the container 1 via the discharge port 7 to the inside of the second container 2. At the start of use, part or all of the sodium percarbonate has an inner bag 2 having an opening 22.
0 and the upper end 23 of the inner bag 20 is substantially closed, so that even if the aqueous solvent descends, it does not come into direct contact with the entire amount of sodium percarbonate. Here, oxygen is generated by contacting sodium percarbonate existing outside the inner bag 20 and sodium percarbonate exposed from the opening 24. When oxygen is generated, the internal pressure in the first container 1 is increased, and the pressure causes the release partition 5 that separates the liquid chamber 9 and the release chamber 8 to separate and communicate with each other. 1 through the discharge hole 7 to the second container 2
Can be released into the interior. After that, the aqueous solvent is
When the sodium percarbonate is gradually discharged from the opening 22 or the sodium percarbonate is gradually discharged from the opening 22, the components gradually come into contact with each other and react to generate oxygen.

Oxygen generated in the first container 1 in this manner is released into the second container 2 from the discharge hole 7 of the first container 1. At this time, impurities such as water, chlorine, and micelles of sodium carbonate are also released from the release hole 7 into the second container 2 together with oxygen. Further, bubbles may be generated in the mixed liquid in the first container 1 and the level of the foaming liquid may rise, and a part of the mixed liquid may be discharged from the discharge hole 7 into the second container 2. In the oxygen generator 10, such discharged matter is once released into the second container 2 and retained therein to be separated by gravity. And the discharge | released substance discharged | emitted in the 2nd container 2 passes through the water repellent filter 19 and activated carbon from the extraction part 15, and is taken out. Therefore, the fine particles and water droplets which are not separated in the second container and flow with oxygen are filtered by the water-repellent filter 19, and a small amount of gas other than oxygen, such as hydrogen peroxide and chlorine, which has passed through the filter 19 comes into contact with the activated carbon. It is removed by being adsorbed. Therefore, substantially only oxygen can be extracted from the nozzle 16.

In use, after the user operates the communication of the partition 6, it can be used by hanging it around the user's neck using the string member 27. According to such an oxygen generator 10, since sodium percarbonate does not immediately come into contact with all aqueous solvents at the start of use, a large amount of oxygen is not generated immediately after mixing, and the oxygen is gradually mixed with the liquid for mixing thereafter. Since oxygen is gradually generated by contact with the base material, the amount of generated oxygen can be stabilized and the generation time can be prolonged. At this time, since the inner bag 20 has the opening 22 at the lower end 21, the amount of the aqueous solvent that enters the inner bag 20 can be suppressed, and the time for generating oxygen can be further prolonged. Oxygen generated in the pores 24
From the inner bag 2 due to excessive retention of oxygen.
0 excessively expands and closes the gap between the inner bag 20 and the inner wall of the first container 1 so that the aqueous solvent cannot enter the inner bag 20 and the generation of oxygen does not stop halfway. Further, oxygen can be more stably generated without the sodium percarbonate in the inner bag 20 being excessively opened and discharged in a short time.

Further, since the first container 1 has the locking portion 26 for locking a part of the inner bag 20 at the position of the base chamber 11, oxygen stays in the inner bag 20 and Even if buoyancy acts on the bag 20, the inner bag 20 does not move upward in the first container 1. Therefore, sodium percarbonate in the inner bag 20 is not discharged in a short time, and the generation rate of oxygen is stable. Further, while oxygen is being generated, the inner bag 11
Oxygen stays therein, so that a force in the expanding direction acts on the opening. However, since the outer wall surface of the inner bag 20 is configured to abut against the inner wall surface of the base chamber 11, it is difficult to expand. For this reason, the opening 24 of the inner bag 20 is not excessively opened, and sodium percarbonate is not discharged from the inner bag 20 in a short time and comes into contact with the aqueous solvent, so that the generation rate of oxygen is stable. Further, at the time of storage or transportation, since the outer wall of the inner bag 20 is in contact with the inner wall of the base chamber 11, the inner bag hardly shifts in the base chamber 11 due to the resistance of the contact portion 20a. Even if an external force acts, a large amount of sodium percarbonate powder is not discharged from the inner bag 20.

In the above embodiment, the first container is accommodated in the second container in order to efficiently separate and remove impurities generated together with oxygen. However, other means can be used without using the second container. It is also possible to remove impurities by using a water-repellent filter attached to the discharge hole of the first container, and to use an oxygen generator comprising an inner bag and the first container 1. Further, the inner bag 20 accommodated in the base chamber 11 is accommodated with the opening facing downward, but if the liquid chamber 9 side is closed, the inner bag 20 can be accommodated with the opening facing sideways.
Furthermore, although a flexible container made of a resin is used as the first container and the second container, a container made of another material such as a hard container may be used. In addition, the first
In the container described above, a partition portion welded so as to have easy peelability is formed as a partition portion that can communicate, but another configuration may be used. Further, in the above description, the catalyst was housed in the liquid chamber together with the aqueous solvent. However, the catalyst may be housed in the base chamber together with sodium percarbonate, and further, another housing chamber partitioned by a partition wall through which the catalyst can communicate. It is also possible to accommodate in.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Using a first container and a second container as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, using 10 g of sodium percarbonate and 5300 uni
Catalase containing ts ("Leonet F-35" manufactured by Nagase Sangyo Co., Ltd., trade name) has a common point of accommodating 60 ml of aqueous solution in the liquid chamber, accommodating all the sodium percarbonate in the inner bag, and opening the opening The stability of the rate of oxygen generation was evaluated using Example 1 in which the sodium percarbonate was accommodated in the base chamber as it was, and Example 1 in which the sodium percarbonate was accommodated in the base chamber as it was facing downward. The evaluation was performed by measuring the amount of generated oxygen every minute after mixing and the total amount of generated oxygen. Table 1 shows the results.

[0022]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, the amount of oxygen generated during the first minute after mixing is significantly higher in Comparative Example 1 than in Example 1, but after 2 minutes, Comparative Example 1 is extremely higher than in Example 1. Has become smaller. Therefore, Example 1 using the inner bag is Comparative Example 1
It can be seen that the oxygen generation rate can be stabilized and the generation time can be prolonged, as compared with the case of FIG.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an oxygen generator in which a mixing liquid and a mixing base are separately stored in a multi-chamber container, a liquid chamber for storing the mixing liquid, and the mixing base disposed below the liquid chamber and And a container body partitioned by a partition wall capable of communicating with the base chamber, and a portion facing the liquid chamber is substantially closed, and at least a part of the mixing base is stored in the base chamber. With the inner bag contained, the mixing liquid does not come into contact with all the mixing bases at once, but gradually comes into contact with it, stabilizing the amount of oxygen generated and prolonging the generation time Further, since the mixing base is simply contained in the inner bag, the production is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the oxygen generator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the oxygen generator of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st container 2 2nd container 3 Upper end 4 Lower end 5 Upper partition 6 Lower partition 7 Release hole 8 Release room 9 Liquid room 10 Oxygen generator 11 Base room 15 Outlet 20 Inner bag 22 Opening 24 pores

Claims (5)

[Claims] An oxygen generator in which a mixing liquid and a mixing base that generates oxygen by mixing with the mixing liquid are separately stored in a multi-chamber container, wherein the generated oxygen is released. A liquid chamber for containing the liquid for mixing and a base chamber disposed below the liquid chamber and for containing the base for mixing are separated by a partition wall capable of communicating with the liquid chamber. A container body, and an inner bag that accommodates at least a part of the mixing base and is accommodated in the base chamber, the opening having an opening, and a portion facing the liquid chamber is substantially closed. An oxygen generator, comprising: an inner bag; 2. The oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein the inner bag has an opening at a lower end and a pore at an upper end. 3. The mixing base contains sodium percarbonate, the mixing liquid is an aqueous solvent, and at least one of the mixing base and the mixing liquid is used for decomposing hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen generator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a catalyst. 4. The oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the base chamber is in contact with an outer wall of the inner bag. 5. The oxygen generator according to claim 1, further comprising a locking portion that locks a part of the inner bag at the position of the base chamber while the partition wall is in communication. .