Hydrogen and oxygen generator

Abstract

A hydrogen and oxygen generator has two end plates, at least two electrode assemblies defining an electrolysis chamber therebetween and being disposed between the two end plates, and at least one fastener connecting the two end plates together. Each electrode assembly has a plate defining an electrode portion having a perimeter and defining inlet and outlet apertures, an inlet insulating grommet disposed in the inlet aperture and covering an edge thereof, an outlet insulating grommet disposed in the outlet aperture and covering an edge thereof, and an insulating band disposed around the electrode portion and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the perimeter. The insulating bands of the at least two electrode assemblies abut each other. The inlet and outlet apertures of the at least two electrode assemblies fluidly communicate with the electrolysis chamber. An electrode assembly and a hydrogen and oxygen generation system are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode assembly for a hydrogen and oxygen generator comprising:
 a plate defining an electrode portion, the electrode portion having a perimeter, the electrode portion defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture;   an inlet insulating grommet disposed in the inlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the inlet aperture;   an outlet insulating grommet disposed in the outlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the outlet aperture; and   an insulating band disposed around the electrode portion and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet insulating grommet, the outlet insulating grommet and the insulating band are integral. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet aperture is disposed closer to an upper end of the electrode portion than the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the electrode portion is generally rectangular; and   the inlet and outlet apertures are disposed at diagonally opposite corners of the electrode portion.   
     
     
         5 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate has a connector portion, the connector portion extending from the electrode portion, the connector portion extending through the insulating band. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a thickness of the insulating band is greater than a thickness of at least a portion of the inlet insulating grommet; and   the thickness of the insulating band is greater than a thickness of at least a portion the outlet insulating grommet.   
     
     
         7 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plate has a first face and a second face;   the insulating band has a first face disposed a first distance from the first face of the plate and a second face disposed a second distance from the second face of the plate;   the inlet insulating grommet has a first face disposed a third distance from the first face of the plate and a second face disposed a fourth distance from the second face of the plate;   the outlet insulating grommet has a first face disposed a fifth distance from the first face of the plate and a second face disposed a sixth distance from the second face of the plate;   the first distance is greater than the third and fifth distances; and   the second distance is greater than the fourth and sixth distances.   
     
     
         8 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating band has at least one first rib extending away from a first face of the plate and at least one second rib extending away from a second face of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode portion defines at least one fastener aperture configured to receive a fastener therethrough; and
 the electrode assembly further comprises at least one fastener aperture insulating grommet disposed in the at least one fastener aperture, each of the at least one fastener aperture insulating grommet covering an edge of the electrode portion defining a corresponding one of the at least one fastener aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The electrode assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener aperture is a single fastener aperture and the at least one fastener aperture insulating grommet is a single fastener aperture insulating grommet. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the single fastener aperture is defined at a center of the electrode portion. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the insulating band and a thickness of the at least one fastener aperture insulating grommet are equal. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outlet aperture is a first outlet aperture;   the electrode portion defines a second outlet aperture; and   the outlet insulating grommet is a first outlet insulating grommet;   the electrode assembly further comprising a second outlet insulating grommet disposed in the second outlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the second outlet aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The electrode assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the inlet aperture is a first inlet aperture;   the electrode portion defines a second inlet aperture; and   the inlet insulating grommet is a first inlet insulating grommet;   the electrode assembly further comprising a second inlet insulating grommet disposed in the second inlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the second inlet aperture.   
     
     
         15 . A hydrogen and oxygen generator comprising:
 first and second endplates;   at least two electrode assemblies, the at least two electrode assemblies defining an electrolysis chamber therebetween, the at least two electrodes assemblies being disposed between the first and second endplates; and   at least one fastener connecting the first endplate to the second endplate,   each of the at least two electrode assemblies comprising:
 a plate defining an electrode portion, the electrode portion having a perimeter, the electrode portion defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture; 
 an inlet insulating grommet disposed in the inlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the inlet aperture; 
 an outlet insulating grommet disposed in the outlet aperture and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the outlet aperture; and 
 an insulating band disposed around the electrode portion and covering an edge of the electrode portion defining the perimeter, 
   the insulating bands of the at least two electrode assemblies abutting each other;   the inlet and outlet apertures of the at least two electrode assemblies fluidly communicating with the electrolysis chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two electrode assemblies is at least three electrode assemblies disposed adjacent to each other in a pile;
 wherein each pair of adjacent electrode assemblies of the at least three electrode assemblies defines an electrolysis chamber therebetween; and   wherein the insulating bands of each pair of adjacent electrode assemblies of the at least three electrode assemblies abut each other.   
     
     
         17 . The generator of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first insulating plate disposed between the first endplate and the at least two electrode assemblies; and   a second insulating plate disposed between the second endplate and the at least two electrode assemblies,   the first and second insulating plates being made of a dielectric material.   
     
     
         18 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein, for each of the at least two electrode assemblies, the inlet insulating grommet, the outlet insulating grommet and the insulating band are integral. 
     
     
         19 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein for each of the at least two electrode assemblies:
 the electrode portion is generally rectangular; and   the inlet and outlet apertures are disposed at diagonally opposite corners of the electrode portion.   
     
     
         20 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein for at least two of the at least two electrode assemblies:
 the plate has a connector portion;   the connector portion extends from the electrode portion; and   the connector portion extends through the insulating band.   
     
     
         21 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein for each of the at least two electrode assemblies:
 a thickness of the insulating band is greater than a thickness of at least a portion of the inlet insulating grommet; and   the thickness of the insulating band is greater than a thickness of at least a portion the outlet insulating grommet.   
     
     
         22 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second endplates each define a single fastener aperture;
 wherein for each of the at least two electrode assemblies:
 the electrode portion defines a single fastener aperture; and 
 a fastener aperture insulating grommet is disposed in the fastener aperture and covers an edge of the electrode portion defining the fastener aperture; 
   wherein the fastener apertures of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrode assemblies are coaxial; and   wherein the at least one fastener is a single fastener passing through the fastener apertures of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrode assemblies for connecting the first endplate, the second endplate and the at least two electrode assemblies together.   
     
     
         23 . The generator of  claim 22 , wherein the fastener aperture insulating grommets of the at least two electrode assemblies abut each other. 
     
     
         24 . A hydrogen and oxygen generation system comprising:
 the generator according to any one of  claims 15  to  23 ;   a reservoir for storing an electrolyte solution;   a pump for supplying electrolyte solution from the reservoir to the electrolysis chamber via at least one inlet aperture;   at least one outlet aperture being fluidly connected to the reservoir for supplying hydrogen, oxygen and electrolyte solution to the reservoir from the electrolysis chamber, the reservoir having an outlet for supplying at least one of hydrogen and oxygen to a device; and   a power source electrically connected to at least two of the at least two electrode assemblies.   
     
     
         25 . The hydrogen and oxygen generation system of  claim 24 , wherein the generator further comprises a housing disposed between the first and second endplates, the at least two electrode assemblies being housed in the housing, the housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet;
 wherein the plate of each of the at least two electrode assemblies further comprises a cooling fin portion;   wherein for each of the at least two electrode assemblies the insulating band is disposed between the electrode portion and the cooling fin portion; and   the hydrogen and oxygen generation system further comprises an air blower fluidly connected to the air inlet for blowing air inside the housing, the air flowing over the cooling fins and exiting the housing via the air outlet.   
     
     
         26 . The hydrogen and oxygen generation system of  claim 24 , wherein the plate of each of the at least two electrodes defines at least one coolant aperture;
 wherein the coolant apertures fluidly communicate with each other to define a coolant passage, the coolant passage being fluidly separate from the electrolysis chamber; and   the hydrogen and oxygen generation system further comprises a coolant pump for supplying coolant to the coolant passage.   
     
     
         27 . A hydrogen and oxygen generator comprising:
 a first endplate defining a single fastener aperture;   a second endplate defining a single fastener aperture;   at least two electrodes, the at least two electrode defining an electrolysis chamber therebetween, the at least two electrodes being disposed between the first and second endplates,   each of the at least two electrodes defining:
 an inlet aperture; 
 an outlet aperture; and 
 a single fastener aperture, 
   the inlet and outlet apertures of the at least two electrodes fluidly communicating with the electrolysis chamber,   the fastener apertures of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrodes being coaxial;   at least one sealing element disposed between each a pair of adjacent electrodes of the at least two electrodes; and   a single fastener passing through the fastener apertures of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrodes for connecting the first endplate, the second endplate and the at least two electrodes together.   
     
     
         28 . The generator of  claim 27 , wherein the single fastener is a sole means for connecting the first endplate, the second endplate and the at least two electrodes together. 
     
     
         29 . The generator of  claim 27 , wherein the fastener apertures of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrodes are disposed in a center of the first and second endplates and of the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         30 . The generator of  claim 27 , wherein each electrode has a fastener aperture insulating grommet disposed in the single fastener aperture. 
     
     
         31 . The generator of  claim 30 , wherein the fastener aperture insulating grommets of the at least two electrode abut each other.