Hydrazine fueled diver's heating system

Claim 1

A self-contained, portable heating system for providing warmth to a wearer in a low temperature environment, comprising: a. a body protective suit having a heat distributing means therein for distribution of heat throughout the suit; b. a heat generating means connected to the heat distributing means of said protective suit for providing a portable heat source therefor; c. heat transfer fluid operatively associated with said heat generating means and said heat distributing means; d. pump means cooperating with said heat generating means and heat distributing means for pumping said heat transfer fluid through said heat generating means and throughout the heat distributing means of said protective suit; e. said heat generating means comprising: 1. a fuel container containing hydrazine fuel, 2. a heat exchanger housing including a heat exchanger coil through which said heat transfer fluid is circulated, 3. an enclosed catalyst bed containing suitable catalyst material for exothermic decomposition of said hydrazine fuel connected between said fuel container and said heat exchanger housing, 4. a fuel metering means between said fuel container and said catalyst bed for controlling the flow of hydrazine fuel to said catalyst where it is converted by exothermic reaction into hot gases, 5. passageways between said catalyst bed and said heat exchanger housing whereby the hot gases generated are permitted to flow about said heat exchanger coil for heating the heat transfer fluid circulated therein f. means for exhausting expended hot gases from said heat generating means; g. a breathing system including a CO.sub.2 absorbent canister also carried by the wearer of said protective suit wherein hot gases exhausted from said heat generating means are used to heat the CO.sub.2 absorbent canister for more efficient operation thereof.