Engine utilising one or more reciprocating pistons
See also: Pneumatic motor and Hydraulic motor
Internal combustion piston engine Components of a typical, four-stroke cycle, internal combustion, gasoline piston engine.
C. Crankshaft
E. Exhaust camshaft
I. Intake camshaft
P. Piston
R. Connecting rod
S. Spark plug
W. Water jacket for coolant flow
V. Valves
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion.[1] This article describes the common features of all types. The main types are: the internal combustion engine, used extensively in motor vehicles; the steam engine, the mainstay of the Industrial Revolution; and the Stirling engine for niche applications. Internal combustion engines are further classified in two ways: either a spark-ignition (SI) engine, where the spark plug initiates the combustion; or a compression-ignition (CI) engine, where the air within the cylinder is compressed, thus heating it, so that the heated air ignites fuel that is injected then or earlier.[2][3][4][5][6]
^Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 213. ISBN 9780850451634.
^Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach by Yunus A. Cengal and Michael A. Boles
^"Piston Engine Basics". 4 February 2016.
^"What is a Piston Engine? (With pictures)". 16 July 2023.
^"Beginner's Guide: What is a Piston (And What Does It Do)?". 16 March 2018.
^"The Basics of How a Piston-Driven Engine Works".
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