Patent ID: 7947094

Claim:
A hydrogen generator, comprising: a first chamber containing a fluid; a second chamber which is in fluidic communication with said first chamber by way of a valve, wherein said second chamber contains a material that reacts with said fluid in the presence of a catalyst to generate hydrogen gas, and wherein said valve is movable between a first valve position in which the flow of fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber is enabled, and a second valve position in which the flow of fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber is disabled; and a catalytic reactor which is in fluidic communication with said second chamber and which contains said catalyst disposed on a retractable surface, wherein said retractable surface is movable from a first surface position in which said catalyst is in contact with the flow of said fluid in said catalytic reactor, to a second surface position in which said catalyst is not in contact with the flow of said fluid in said catalytic reactor; wherein said retractable surface moves from said first surface position to said second surface position when the pressure of hydrogen gas within the catalytic reactor exceeds a first predetermined threshold level, and wherein said retractable surface does not extend into said second chamber when said retractable surface is in said second position.