Abstract A container is provided which can be designed to heat its outer surface as to sterilize it, or to heat its inner surface and any contents therewithin. In a container that self sterilizes its outer surface, the container includes a combustible layer of thermit-type pyrotechnic material which can be ignited to generate considerable heat, and a thin casing around the combustible layer which is of highly thermally conductive materials such as aluminum which can be heated to a high temperature by the ignited combustible layer. A buffer layer which may be of metal, lies within the combustible layer, and a layer of insulation such as Teflon lies within the buffer layer to insulate the contents of the container from the heat. The thicknesses of the thermit-type charge of the combustible layer and of the casing are chosen so that the amount of heat from the charge heats the casing to a temperature which is only moderately high to avoid melting the casing.
Inventors
👤 with respect to an invention of Frosch Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
👤 Lien C. Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-29 21:10
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G4/00; F; F24; F24V; F24V30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A cannister apparatus which can self sterilize its outside surface while avoiding excessive heating of goods within the cannister, comprising: walls forming a container for surrounding the goods; a layer of combustible material surrounding said container walls to lie over substantially all areas of said container; and a layer of insulation lying within said container to insulate the goods from heat generated by the combustible material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cannister apparatus which can self sterilize its outside surface while avoiding excessive heating of goods within the cannister, comprising: walls forming a container for surrounding the goods; a layer of combustible material surrounding said container walls to lie over substantially all areas of said container; and a layer of insulation lying within said container to insulate the goods from heat generated by the combustible material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A cannister apparatus which can self sterilize its outside surface while avoiding excessive heating of goods within the cannister, comprising: walls forming a container for surrounding the goods; a layer of combustible material surrounding said container walls to lie over substantially all areas of said container, and a casing surrounding said container but spaced therefrom, said combustible material lying in the space between said container and casing, and said combustible material being of a type and thickness to heat the outside of said casing to at least about 230° C. to sterilize it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
A cannister apparatus which can self sterilize its outside surface while avoiding excessive heating of goods within the cannister, comprising: walls forming a container for surrounding the goods; a layer of combustible material surrounding said container walls to lie over substantially all areas of said container, and a casing surrounding said container but spaced therefrom, said combustible material lying in the space between said container and casing, and said combustible material being of a type and thickness to heat the outside of said casing to at least about 230° C. to sterilize it.