Abstract: A modular heating system and method is presented that automatically shuts down the chemical reaction within a heater if the heat generated by the reaction is excessive. Heaters are designed to generate sufficient heat to warm food or drink in an adjacent container. If the container is empty, or if the heater is dislodged from the container, the heat generated by the heater will become dangerously high. When excessive heat is generated by the reaction in the heater, systems and methods of the present invention respond by terminating the reaction before all of the reaction mixture has reacted.

Abstract: A heating device comprises a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a heater for use as a source of heat which includes a reaction chamber, a solid state reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber, an activation mechanism in communication with the composition disposed within the reaction chamber, and wherein the reaction composition is inert until the activation mechanism is actuated. Activation mechanism comprises an actuator having a user interface portion and an actuation portion, and the actuation portion carries a reaction initiation material that, when assembled with the heater, is capable of initiating a chemical reaction in the chemical composition when the actuation portion is actuated by a user.

Abstract: A heating device comprises a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a heater for use as a source of heat which includes a reaction chamber, a solid state reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber, an activation mechanism in communication with the composition disposed within the reaction chamber, and wherein the reaction composition is inert until the activation mechanism is actuated. Activation mechanism comprises an actuator having a user interface portion and an actuation portion, and the actuation portion carries a reaction initiation material that, when assembled with the heater, is capable of initiating a chemical reaction in the chemical composition when the actuation portion is actuated by a user.

Abstract: A solid state moderated chemical reaction for use with a heating device comprises the complete reaction between iron powder and the oxidizer sodium chlorate in stoichiometric balance such that the oxygen, rather than being emitted externally to the device, is fully reacted internally in the heating device to a solid oxide. A heating device comprises a heating chamber defining an interior space for receiving and storing a substance to be heated, a heater for use as a source of heat which includes a reaction chamber, a solid state reaction composition disposed within the reaction chamber such that it is physically isolated from and in thermal communication with the interior space of the heating chamber, an activation mechanism in communication with the composition disposed within the reaction chamber, and wherein the reaction composition is inert until the activation mechanism is actuated.