Piston
part · 1690 · Early modern era
A part that moves in a cylinder under the pressure of gas or steam.
Principles and materials it uses
- Cast iron — is made of. Pistons are cast iron.
- Leather — is made of. They were sealed with a leather cup.
- Cylinder — uses. A piston slides inside a cylinder, like the plunger of a syringe.
Where it is used
- Watt steam engine — is part of. Steam pushes the piston in the cylinder.
- Internal combustion engine — is part of. The burning mixture pushes the piston.
- Piston pump — is part of. The piston draws in and pushes out liquid.
- Hydraulic cylinder — is part of. The piston is moved by liquid.
- Newcomen engine — is part of. Atmospheric pressure moves the piston.
- Syringe — is part of. A plunger.
- Insulin pump — is part of. The reservoir’s plunger.
- Brake caliper — is part of. Pistons.
- French press — is part of. A plunger with a mesh.
- Jackhammer — is part of. A percussion piston.
- Diesel engine — is part of. Pistons move in the cylinders.
- Shock absorber — is part of. Inside, a piston moves in oil.
- Rock drill — is part of. A percussion piston.
- Boyle’s air pump — is part of. A plunger.
- Cloud chamber — is part of. A sudden expansion supersaturates the vapour.
- Bubble chamber — is part of. It releases pressure.