Patent ID: 8297237

Claim:
A liquid piston engine-compressor, comprising: a liquid piston, the liquid piston further comprising: a tube having a first end and a second end; a first transition member attached to the first end of the tube; a second transition member attached to the second end of the tube; a first diaphragm attached to the first transition member; a second diaphragm attached to the second transition member, so that the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm trap a fluid in the tube; an engine head attached to the first diaphragm of the liquid piston, wherein the engine head and the first diaphragm define a variable volume combustion chamber; wherein the engine head defines an opening so that a compressed air-fuel mixture of at least 20 psig may pass therethrough; an ignition device attached to the engine head in order to combust the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber; an exhaust valve attached to the engine head so that combustion byproducts pass through the engine head when the exhaust valve opens; a variable volume compression chamber, the compression chamber further comprising: a housing attached to the second diaphragm of the liquid piston, opposite the second transition member; an inlet valve attached to the housing; an outlet valve attached to the housing; a reservoir, the reservoir further comprising: a first tube attached to the variable volume compression chamber; a reservoir body attached to the first tube, wherein the reservoir body is pressurized to at least 20 psig by the compression chamber; a second tube attached to the reservoir body so that pressurized air is released for use; a third tube attached to the reservoir body so that pressurized air is released to an air/fuel mixing circuit; the air/fuel mixing circuit attached to the third tube; and an air/fuel line attached to the mixing circuit in order to provide air/fuel for combustion in the combustion chamber.