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US 8,297,237 B2Granted
High inertance liquid piston engine-compressor and method of use thereof
AssigneeVanderbilt University
InventorsEric J. Barth, Joel A. Willhite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high inertance liquid piston engine-compressor that is lightweight, portable and for use with pneumatically actuated devices that may have periods of inactivity between periods of pneumatic use. The engine-compressor provides a power generation system that is for use with mobile or portable devices which need a portable long lasting energy source.
Claims21
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.
19 more elements
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 solid piston slidably engaging the second transition member, so that the first
- diaphragm and the solid piston 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 solid piston 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.
20 more elements
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 solid piston slidably engaging the first transition member;
- a second solid piston slidably engaging the second transition member, so that the first solid piston and the second solid piston trap a fluid in the tube;
- an engine head attached to the first solid piston of the liquid piston, wherein the engine head and the first solid piston 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 solid piston 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 40 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.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.