Separative barrier for preferential transport of CO{HD 2 {B and apparatus employing same

Claim 2

A SEPARATIVE BARRIER FOR THE PREFERENTIAL SEPARATION UNDER WATER OF CO2 FROM A MIXTURE OF CO2 AND OTHER GASES, COMPRISING A POROUS STRUCTURAL MATRIX FOR CONFINING SAID MIXTURE UNDER WATER WITH ACTIVE PREFERENTIAL TRANSPORT OF CO2 THROUGH SAID MATRIX TO SAID WAER, SAID MATRIX INCLUDING A MEMBERANOUS ELEMENT WHICH IS AT THE SAME TIME POROUS HYDROPHOBIC, IMPREGNATED WITH AN HYDRATION CATALYST FOR HYDRATION OF CO2 AND EXPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID WATER AND SAID MIXTURE, RESPECTIVELY.

Claim 3

A separation barrier according to claim 1, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 4

A separative barrier according to claim 1, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 5

A separative barrier according to claim 1, wherein said catalyst contains anions selected from at least one member of the group consisting of (B(OH)4) , H3SiO4 , H3GeO4 , HPO4 , H2PO4 , HAsO4 , AsO2 , SO3 , TeO(OH)5 , Te(OH)4O2 , HTeO3 , ClO , BrO , SeO3 , and Phenolate.

Claim 6

A separative barrier according to claim 4, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 7

A separative barrier according to claim 4, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 8

Underwater breathing apparatus comprising in combination means for storing under pressure a life supporting gaseous medium, means for preferentially transporting CO2 from a gaseous mixture to water, said last mentioned means comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet and walls for excluding water from its interior, said walls at least in part consisting of a porous structural matrix including a membranous element which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic, impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2 and exposed on opposite sides for direct contact with said water and said mixture, respectively, a pressure regulated outlet coupled to said storing means, respiratory tract coupling means, means coupling both said pressure regulated output and said container outlet to said respiratory tract coupling means for supplying life supporting gas thereto on demand, and means for feeding expiration from said respiratory tract coupling means to said container inlet, said expiration being conducted through said container from said container inlet to said container outlet in contact with said membranous element.

Claim 9

Underwater breathing apparatus comprising in combination means for storing under pressure a life supporting gaseous medium, means for preferentially transporting CO2 from a gaseous mixture to water, said last mentioned means comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet and walls for excluding water from its interior, said walls at least in part consisting of a porous structural matrix including a membranous element which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic, impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2 and exposed on opposite sides for direct contact with said water and said mixture, respectively, a pressure regulated outlet coupled to said storing means, respiratory tract coupling means, means coupling both said pressure regulated output and said container outlet to said respiratory tract coupling means for supplying life supporting gas thereto on demand, and means for feeding expiration from said respiratory tract coupling means to said container inlet, said expiration being conducted through said container from said container inlet to said container outlet in contact with said membranous element.

Claim 10

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 11

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 12

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said catalyst contains anions selected from at least one member of the group consistiNg of (B(OH)4) , H3SiO4 , H3GeO4 , HPO4 , H2PO4 , HAsO4 , AsO2 , SO3 , TeO(OH)5 , Te(OH)4O2 , HTeO3 , ClO , BrO , SeO3 , and Phenolate.

Claim 13

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 14

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 15

Apparatus for use in underwater breathing apparatus for eliminating CO2 from expiration comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet and walls for excluding water from its interior, said walls at least in part consisting of a porous structural matrix including a membranous element with exposed surfaces which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic and impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2, and means for conducting expiration through said container from said inlet to said outlet in contact with said membranous element.

Claim 16

Apparatus for use in underwater breathing apparatus for eliminating CO2 from expiration comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet and walls for excluding water from its interior, said walls at least in part consisting of a porous structural matrix including a membranous element with exposed surfaces which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic and impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2, and means for conducting expiration through said container from said inlet to said outlet in contact with said membranous element.

Claim 17

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 18

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 19

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said catalyst contains anions selected from at least one member of the group consisting of (B(OH)4) , H3SiO4 , H3GeO4 , HPO4 , H2PO4 , HAsO4 , AsO2 , SO3 , TeO(OH)5 , Te(OH)4O2 , HTeO3 , ClO , BrO , SeO3 , and Phenolate.

Claim 20

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a woven polyester mono-filament fabric impregnated with a non-wetting agent selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorocarbon resins.

Claim 21

Underwater breathing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said membranous element consists essentially of a layer of porous polymer where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene.

Claim 22

A separative barrier for the preferential transport of CO2 from a mixture of CO2 and other gases, consisting of a porous structural matrix having a membranous element with exposed surfaces which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic and impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2.

Claim 23

A separative barrier for the preferential transport of CO2 from a mixture of CO2 and other gases, consisting of a porous structural matrix having a membranous element with exposed surfaces which is at the same time porous, hydrophobic and impregnated with an hydration catalyst for hydration of CO2.