Patent Publication Number: US-2019193913-A1

Title: Hydrogen generator for beverages

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator for beverages for obtaining a beverage containing hydrogen by adding the hydrogen to the beverage without including any water pouring work. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It has been researched that active oxygen has a very strong oxidation power, and attacks and damages human normal cells as well as having a role to removing bacteria and virus entering into the human body. The excessive presence of the active oxygen raises a possibility of damaging the normal cell, and generates a risk such as deterioration and mutation of the cell or aging of the skin and arteriosclerosis therealong. 
     In recent years, it has been apparent on the basis of researches that the hydrogen removes the active oxygen, and a drinking water including hydrogen (called as a hydrogen water) is gathering attention to be effective for health and beauty, the hydrogen water being capable of taking hydrogen directly in the body by drinking in. Since the reaction of hydrogen and active oxygen only generates water as a reactant, it has very small affect adversely to the human body. Therefore, it is suggested to take in the hydrogen water for preventing aging in various situation, when the human body is exposed to a high stress, in which active oxygen particularly tends to be generated in the body, such as during exercise, during eating and drinking, during smoking, during staying under ultraviolet light and contaminated environment, lack of sleep, and working long hours and for promoting beauty and health. 
     Actually, in the case of taking in the hydrogen water as the beverage every day, the beverage is required first of all to have no drug toxicity to the human body or no health damage to the human body. Further, taking convenience into consideration, a size which can be easily taken in and easily carried with is desired. Further, since hydrogen can pass through a container made of a polymer raw material such as a plastic bottle and can react with a beverage composition in the container, there is a problem that hydrogen included in the beverage within the container is reduced with time. On the contrary, there has been obtained a research result that a higher active oxygen removing effect is generated in the case that the hydrogen water is taken in at plural times than in the case that a large amount of the hydrogen water is taken in once. Accordingly, it is important and required to maintain the effect as the hydrogen water for a long period of time within the container. 
     In the light of the above points, there are required that any material adversely affecting the human body is not mixed into the hydrogen water when taking in the hydrogen water, the container has such a shape and size as to be portable or be easily carried, the content of hydrogen in the hydrogen water is kept just before taking in, and the effect of the hydrogen water is maintained for a long period of time within the container. 
     In order to solve problems mentioned above, the inventors of the present invention have developed a hydrogen generator described in patent literature 1 (hereinafter, refer to as a prior hydrogen generator). The prior hydrogen generator steadily generates hydrogen on the basis of a chemical reaction of metal and water, and dissolve the generated hydrogen into an optional beverage by directly putting the prior hydrogen generator into the beverage to be able to obtain the hydrogen water. Since the prior hydrogen generator is covered with a filter which permeates only hydrogen, any other foreign material than hydrogen is not mixed into the beverage, thereby no risk adversely affecting the human body is found. Further, the prior hydrogen generator has such a dimension that the prior hydrogen generator can be put in the existing container such as the plastic bottle container, and can be applied to any container having such a shape and size that is portable or is easily carried. Further, since the hydrogen water can be obtained by putting the prior hydrogen generator generating the hydrogen in the beverage just before taking in, a sufficient amount of hydrogen content can be kept in the beverage when taking in. Further, since the hydrogen is generated continuously until the end of reaction, the prior hydrogen generator is suitable for using for a long period of time. 
     However, in the prior hydrogen generator, it is essential to carry out a step of metering a predetermined amount of water, opening a lid of the prior hydrogen generator and pouring water in the prior hydrogen generator, and closing the lid of the prior hydrogen generator, as preparation for putting in the beverage. The step mentioned above is troublesome. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a member such as the lid and a water pouring device and the structure is complicated due to the restriction of the shape and the size of the member, thereby causing a problem in manufacturing. Further, since water is poured from one end of the prior hydrogen generator, it takes a long time to bring water into contact with an entire metal within the container and a sufficient amount of hydrogen cannot be secured. Therefore, the prior hydrogen generator cannot meet a need for obtaining the hydrogen rapidly and easily. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: PCT/JP2013/083121 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
     As mentioned above, a device obtaining hydrogen water rapidly and easily while having the advantages of the prior hydrogen generation has been desired. 
     The present invention is made by taking the circumstances mentioned above into consideration, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen generator which can obtain hydrogen water rapidly with a further simple structure and step while keeping the advantages of the prior hydrogen generator. 
     Solutions to Problems 
     In order to achieve the object mentioned above, a hydrogen generator for beverages according to the present invention includes: 
     an approximately tubular ampule member which seals an aqueous solution having water as a main composition in an inner portion thereof and extends in a longitudinal direction; and 
     an approximately tubular outer coat member which seals the ampule member and a metal material making hydrogen generation reaction with water in an inner portion thereof, is constructed by a raw material having a higher flexibility than the ampule member and extends in the longitudinal direction of the ampule member, 
     wherein a part of the outer coat member is shielded from outside by an air-permeable and water-impermeable material which shields the aqueous solution and allows passage of hydrogen, and 
     wherein the ampule member is ruptured with a hand power in a lateral direction of the ampule member when using. 
     In the hydrogen generator according to the present invention (hereinafter, refer to as the present hydrogen generator), only the ampule portion having a low flexibility in an inner portion thereof is ruptured without occurring of any rupture or tear of the outer coat member when folding a portion near a center of the approximately tubular elongated present hydrogen generator with hand power, so that all the aqueous solution sealed into the ampule portion is discharged into the outer coat member all at once. As a result, a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas is generated until the end of reaction on the basis of a chemical reaction between the aqueous solution and the metal portion sealed into the outer coat member, the hydrogen gas is discharged to the outside of the outer coat member through the air-permeable and water-impermeable material, and the other metal material and aqueous solution are left in the outer coat member. By putting the present hydrogen generator in an optional beverage in this state, the hydrogen gas dissolves in the beverage until the end of the hydrogen generation reaction and the hydrogen water can be easily obtained. 
     In the present hydrogen generator mentioned above, it is possible to manage the present hydrogen generator without any hydrogen generation reaction when storing and carrying, and it is possible to discharge a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas until the end of reaction only by folding the hydrogen generation tool with a hand power of the user when using. Accordingly, the present hydrogen generator has a high versatility as a disposable product which can easily form the hydrogen water for every container such as a desired bottle. Further, since the water pouring work for the hydrogen generation reaction is not necessary, the hydrogen generator is simple for the user, and any dripping is not caused when pouring water, thereby being sanitary. Further, the hydrogen generator has a simple structure obtained only by sealing the ampule member with the aqueous solution and the metal material and is advantageous in a point that the manufacturing, managing and transferring costs can be reduced. 
     It is desirable that the metal portion be formed into a granular material or a powdered material, an optional stereoscopic shape, a metal fixed onto a surface of a non-reactant or a combination thereof. 
     According to the present hydrogen generator mentioned above, it is possible to regulate an amount per time for a desired hydrogen generation, a duration and a reaction temperature in the hydrogen generation, and it is possible to obtain the hydrogen water having a desired hydrogen concentration and duration. In particular, it is possible to rapidly generate the hydrogen water in each of the containers. For example, up a case of forming into a granular shape and a case of forming a cartridge containing the metal powder can be considered. 
     Further, the ampule member is preferably arranged below the metal material. 
     The aqueous solution is always accumulated in the metal material side by installing in this order and it is possible to avoid a static state of the hydrogen gas generation. 
     In the metal portion, the main component of the metal chemically reacting with water is preferably any one of magnesium, aluminum, and calcium. 
     A thickness of the ampule portion in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction has desirably a smaller structure or a lower rigidity structure than other members. 
     According to the present hydrogen generator mentioned above, since the hand power is applied for generally folding a portion near the center of the outer coat member when folding the present hydrogen generator, it is highly likely that a transverse load applied to the ampule portion occurs in the portion near the center. As a result, if the thickness of the portion near the center is kept small, the ampule member tends to be rapidly ruptured. Therefore, an outflow of the aqueous solution from the ampule portion into the outer coat member and therefore the reaction with the metal material are rapidly carried out by the small hand power, and the hydrogen gas is rapidly discharged, thereby quickening the formation of the hydrogen water. 
     The outer coat member is desirably small in its thickness or in diameter in the portion near a position where the thickness of the ampule member is small. 
     In the present hydrogen generator mentioned above, since the portion where the thickness of the outer coat member is smaller or thinner is installed in the vicinity of the position near the position where the thickness of the ampule member is small, the position where the outer coat member tends to be folded approximately coincides with the position where the ampule member tends to be ruptured. Therefore, the ampule member further tends to be ruptured and it is possible to achieve the rapid hydrogen gas generation and the hydrogen water formation. 
     Further, the present hydrogen generator for drinking water may be structured such that an upper end of the outer coat member has a lid member and the aqueous solution within the outer coat member is sealed by the air-permeable and water-impermeable material provided in the lid member, and 
     the air-permeable and water-impermeable material is a thermoplastic resin. 
     The thermoplastic resin is preferably at least one kind selected from a group consisting of (A) polyvinylidene chloride, (B) polyvinyl chloride and (C) polyacrylonitrile. 
     The hydrogen gas generated by the rupture of the ampule member is going to be discharged upward from the lid member in the upper end of the outer coat member. 
     The present hydrogen generator may be provided with a cap member having in its lower side an opening with a thread groove which can be screw-tightened with a general-purpose bottle, and being set to a bottom portion closing the upper end, 
     the cap member may have a cap opening portion which protrudes downward from the vicinity of a center of the bottom portion and has an opening being smaller in diameter than the opening of the cap member and being able to be screw-tightened with the upper end of the outer coat member, and 
     the upper end of the outer coat member may be provided with a thread groove which can be screw-tightened with the cap opening portion. 
     The present hydrogen generator is structured such as to be attached its upper end to the cap for the general-purpose bottle. More specifically, the aqueous solution in the inner portion can be changed to the hydrogen water in a state in which the cap is tightened to the general-purpose bottle, by providing the cap member which can screw-tighten the outer coat member downward from the bottom portion (a top surface in the case of being open below) of the cap member, inserting the outer coat member into the bottle in a state in which the cap member extends downward to be attached to the outer coat member when using, and fastening the cap member to the bottle. Therefore, the aqueous solution in the general-purpose bottle can be easily changed to the hydrogen water in a normal storage state. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The present invention can simply and rapidly obtain the hydrogen water with a simple step. Further, the present invention can be used in any container having a shape and size which is portable and easily carried, and easily form the hydrogen water in the general-purpose bottle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross sectional view of an embodiment of a hydrogen generator according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2( a ) and 2( b )  are schematic views for generating hydrogen by folding the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, in which  FIG. 2( a )  shows a state in which an outer coat member  12  is folded from a non-used state in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2( b )  shows a state in which the outer coat member  12  is turned back to an original state after being folded. 
         FIGS. 3( a ) and 3( b )  are schematic cross sectional view showing a state in which the outer coat member  1  is smaller in its thickness or diameter in the vicinity of a center thereof in a longitudinal direction, in which  FIG. 3( a )  shows a structure in which a convex shape portion protruding inward is provided around an inner wall in the vicinity of the center of the outer coat member, and  FIG. 3( b )  shows a structure in which a part of an ampule member is provided with a thin portion having a smaller thickness than the other portions. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a cap member and the present hydrogen generator. 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows an example of a granular particle which corresponds to a metallic particle sealed in the outer coat member. 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic view showing a state in which the cap member and the present hydrogen generator in  FIG. 4  are inserted into a bottle under an installed state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will be in detail given below of a representative example of an embodiment of a hydrogen generator according to the present invention with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . It goes without saying that the hydrogen generator according to the present invention is not limited to the illustrated one, but includes structures which are obtained by modifying the illustrated and described contents within a common sense range. Further, each of the drawings may be displayed by exaggerating dimensions, ratios and numbers as occasion demands for easy understanding. 
     First of all, a description will be given of an outline of the present hydrogen generator with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic cross sectional view of an embodiment of a hydrogen generator  10  according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the present hydrogen generator  10 , an ampule member  14  and a metal member (a metal material)  16  are sealed in an inner portion of an outer coat member  12 . A hydrogen passing member  13  is arranged above the outer coat member  12  (an upper side to the page space), and an aqueous solution  18  is sealed within the ampule member  14 . 
     Subsequently, a description will be in detail given below of each of constituent elements. 
     The outer coat member  12  is formed into an approximately tubular shape which is open in an upper side thereof and extends in a longitudinal direction. The outer coat member  12  is constructed by a raw material which does not substantially pass the metal member  16  in an inner portion thereof, the aqueous solution  18  and gas such as hydrogen, can be folded or bent by a hand power and has a high flexibility, and is formed generally by a resin material such as rubber. The ampule member  14  and the metal member  16  are sealed by the outer coat member  12  and the hydrogen passing member  13  (a lid member  13  mentioned later) which is connected to an opening portion of the outer coat member  12 . 
     A lid member  15  having an approximately cylindrical cork shape is press-fit into an opening  11  in the upper end of the outer coat member  12 , and a film raw material  13   a  having a thin film shape is provided in a lower surface of the lid member  15 . The film raw material  13   a  is constructed by an air-permeable and water-impermeable material which does not allow passage of the metal and the aqueous solution and allows passage of the gas. Further, the lid member  15  is constructed by a raw material which allows passage of the gas, and hydrogen generated within the outer coat member  12  is discharged outward via the hydrogen passing member  13  which is constructed by the film raw material  13   a  and the lid member  15 . 
     The lid member  15  of the air-permeable and water-impermeable material  13  is a nonwoven fabric and the film raw material  13   a  employs a thermoplastic resin, for example, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride or polyacrylonitrile. 
     The ampule member  14  is formed into an approximately tubular shape (a rod-like member) extending in the longitudinal direction which forms a closed space sealing the aqueous solution mainly containing water. The ampule member  14  has an outer wall made by a raw material such as glass or plastic which is harder than the outer coat member  12  and tends to be ruptured, in the same manner as a general-purpose ampule. Actually, it can be easily ruptured when a hand power is applied thereto in an approximately perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal direction without being bent. 
     Further, since the ampule member  14  has a higher rigidity than the outer coat member  12 , the ampule member  14  is ruptured before the outer coat member  12  is ruptured or torn by applying a pressure to the outer coat member  12  in the perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that the aqueous solution  18  sealed within the ampule member  14  flows out into the outer coat member  12  and is accumulated. 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows an example of a granular shape as the metal member  16  sealed within the outer coat member  12 . Specifically, the metal member  16  is constructed by an approximately spherical non-reaction portion  22  and a metal particle layer  24  which coats and fixed onto a surface thereof, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The metal particle layer  24  is mainly constituted by the metal which makes hydrogen generation reaction with the water. For example, the metal is magnesium, aluminum, calcium, potassium, sodium, zinc or iron. The non-reaction portion  22  is preferably made of a raw material which does not substantially generate any chemical reaction by contacting with the aqueous solution, for example, plastic or a ceramic ball. The metallic particle  24  is fixed to the surface of the non-reaction portion  22 , for example, by baking. As a result, it is possible to always secure a surface area of the metal member  16  which comes into contact with the aqueous solution, aggregation of the metal particles is not occurred when reacting with the aqueous solution  18  in comparison with the case that the metal member  16  is mounted in a powder shape. Thus, it is possible to secure a stable hydrogen generation reaction. 
     Further, it is possible to employ a something like a cartridge in which the non-reaction portion  24  is applied and decorated with the metallic particles  24 , the non-reaction portion being made of the nonwoven fabric or the like for avoiding the aggregation of the metallic particles. Further, in the case that a diameter of the outer coat member  12  is large to some degree or the case that the hydrogen generation reaction is rapidly performed, the powdered metallic particles  24  may be mounted as it is. 
     Next, a description will be given of a method of using the present hydrogen generator  10  with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic view for generating hydrogen by folding the hydrogen generator  10  according to the present invention, in which  FIG. 2( a )  shows a state in which the outer coat member  12  is folded from a non-used state in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2( b )  shows a state in which the outer coat member  12  is returned to the original state after being folded. When a pressure is applied to the present hydrogen generator  10  in the perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, the outer coat member  12  is bent and the ampule member  14  is ruptured as shown in  FIG. 2( a ) . In connection therewith, the aqueous solution  18  within the ampule member  14  flows out into the outer coat member  12 , and comes into contact with the metal member  16 . Subsequently, the chemical reaction between water and a metal is occurred as shown in  FIG. 2( b ) . As a result, hydrogen  20  is generated, and only the hydrogen gas  20  flows out of the outer coat member  14  to the outside via the film raw material  13   a  in the lid member  15  in the upper portion. The hydrogen gas  20  flowing out to the outside as mentioned above dissolves into the beverage by putting the present hydrogen generator  10  into a desired beverage, and the user can obtain the beverage (the hydrogen water) into which hydrogen dissolves. 
     Further, the outer coat member  12  is small in thickness or diameter in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction. For example, in an example of  FIG. 3( a ) , a convex shape portion  40  protruding inward is provided around an inner wall in the vicinity of the center of the outer coat member  12 . By provision of the convex shape portion  40 , a stress is concentrated to the convex shape portion  40  in the case that a transverse load (pressure) is applied to the present hydrogen generator  10 , so that the portion not only tend to be folded but also come into contact with the ampule member  14  in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction, thereby being pressed. As a result, the ampule portion can be more easily ruptured. 
     In the meanwhile, in an example of  FIG. 3( b ) , a part of the ampule member  14  is provided with a thin portion  41  which has a smaller thickness than in the other portion. Since the thin portion  41  tends to be ruptured in comparison with the other portions, the ampule member  14  is ruptured easily with the smaller transverse load (pressing force). Further, the thin portion  41  is provided in the vicinity of the center of the ampule member  14  in the longitudinal direction, and the aqueous solution  18  rapidly flows out into the outer coat member  12  in comparison with the case that only one end is ruptured. Further, in the case that the convex shape portion  40  of the outer coat member  12  mentioned above is arranged at the approximately same position as the thin portion  41  in the longitudinal direction, the ampule member  14  is more easily ruptured. 
     The metal member  16  is exemplified by magnesium, aluminum, calcium or hydride thereof, as a main composition which discharges the hydrogen gas, for example, by reacting with water. A grain diameter and a shape of the metal are variously set according to a subject aqueous solution or bottle intending to form the hydrogen water. 
     The aqueous solution  18  may be provided with dye or flavor, and the user can enjoy the hydrogen water visually and with its odor. Further, it is possible to discriminate whether or not the beverage is the hydrogen water, that is, whether or not the rupturing of the ampule member  14  is well performed and hydrogen is generated. 
     Next, a description will be given below of the other embodiment of the hydrogen generator according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a cap member and the present hydrogen generator  110 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing a state in which the cap member and the present hydrogen generator  110  in  FIG. 4  are inserted into a bottle in an installed state. 
     The present hydrogen generator  110  is provided with an outer coat member  112 , an ampule portion  114 , a metal portion  116 , an aqueous solution  118  and a hydrogen permeable portion  113  in the same manner as the hydrogen generator  10  mentioned above, and further employs a cap member  122 . A hydrogen generating procedure is the same as that of the hydrogen generator  10  mentioned above. 
     The cap member  122  is an approximately cylindrical member which is open in its lower side, and is constructed by a cap main body portion  124 , an inner flange portion  126 , an outer flange portion  128  and a filter portion  132 . The cap main body portion  124  is formed into an approximately cylindrical shape having an opening in a lower side (a lower side to the page space), and is formed into a cap shape for a rated bottle (the cap can be applied to the existing bottle as it is). The cap member  122  forms an inner and outer two-layered approximately cylindrical opening portion with the inner flange portion  126  and the outer flange portion  128 . The approximately cylindrical filter portion  132  is arranged in the vicinity of a center of the inner flange portion  126  in a longitudinal direction (a height direction), at a vertically intermediate position of the inner flange portion  126  approximately in parallel to an upper surface of the cap main body portion  124 . The filter portion  132  is provided with an air-permeable and water-impermeable material (for example, a fluorine film) which does not pass a metal and the aqueous solution but passes hydrogen, in a portion where the filter portion  132  is pinched by the inner flange portion  126 . A spiral thread groove  126   a  is arranged in an inner periphery of the inner flange portion below the filter portion  132 , and a spiral thread groove  128   a  is arranged from an upper surface of the cap member  124  in an inner periphery of the outer flange portion  128 . 
     The lid portion  15  of the hydrogen generator  10  shown in  FIG. 4  is provided in an outer periphery with a spiral screw head  19  which can be threadably fastened to a screw head  126   a  of the inner flange portion  126 . When the present hydrogen generator  10 , the cap member  122  and a bottle  200  are threadably fastened, the hydrogen gas  20  discharged out of the hydrogen generator  10  passes through the filter portion  132  and reaches the aqueous solution  201  within the bottle  200  via a clearance gap between the inner flange portion  126  and the outer flange portion  128 . As a result, the hydrogen water can be generated when the bottle  200  is sealed by the cap member  124 . 
     In the example in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the filter member  132  provided with the air-permeable and water-impermeable material allows only the gas such as the hydrogen gas from the present hydrogen generator  10  to pass through, the air-permeable and water-impermeable material may not be provided in the hydrogen generator  10  itself. However, since the present hydrogen generator  10  may fall down or the user may put the present hydrogen generator  10  in the bottle  200  as it is, the air-permeable and water-impermeable material is necessarily provided in the hydrogen generator  10  itself. 
     Further, though  FIGS. 4 and 6  show the structure in which the cap member  124  or the like is threadably fastened to the bottle  200  by taking versatility into consideration, however, it may employ a structure which press-fit into the bottle or the hydrogen generator  10  by means of the other mechanism than the screw mechanism. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               10 : hydrogen generator 
               12 : outer coat member 
               13 : hydrogen passing member 
               14 : ampule portion 
               16 : metal portion 
               18 : aqueous solution 
               20 : hydrogen 
               22 : non-reaction portion 
               24 : metallic particle 
               40 : convex shape portion 
               110 : hydrogen generator 
               112 : outer coat member 
               113 : hydrogen passing member 
               114 : ampule portion 
               116 : metal portion 
               118 : aqueous solution 
               122 : cap member 
               124 : cap main body portion 
               126 : inner flange portion 
               128 : outer flange portion 
               130 : screw portion