Electrochemical energy source for diver suit heating

Claim 1

Apparatus for heating an undersea diver comprising: a. a diver''s suit having passage means therein for circulation of a heated liquid throughout said suit adjacent to the diver''s body; b. said passage means having an inlet and an outlet thereto; c. a heating unit on said diver''s suit for heating and circulating said liquid; d. said heating unit including a chamber having a heated fluid outlet communicating with the inlet to said diver''s suit circulation passage means and a fluid inlet communicating with the outlet to said diver''s suit circulation passage means; e. pump means for circulating heated fluid from said heating unit through said diver''s suit circulation passage means; f. a seawater electrolyte inlet means to said heating unit chamber; g. an electrochemical heat source assembly within said heating unit chamber, said heat source assembly comprising: 1. a plurality of magnesium anodes and metal cathode plates alternately positioned in equally spaced apart relationship to allow free passage of seawater electrolyte and reaction products; 2. means for short-circuiting said anode plates to said cathode plates, where upon admission and circulation of seawater electrolyte into said heating unit heat is generated by the reaction of said magnesium anodes with said seawater; 3. said heat of reaction being imparted to said liquid which is circulated throughout said diver''s suit; g. spacing control means for varying the electrode gap between said anode and cathode plates to thereby control the rate of reaction and heat output