Pneumatic motor

A pneumatic motor, also called an air motor or compressed air engine, is a motor that does mechanical work by letting compressed air expand. It turns the energy stored in compressed air into linear motion, from a diaphragm or piston actuator, or into rotary motion, from a vane motor, piston air motor, air turbine or gear type motor. Pneumatic motors have existed in many forms for two centuries and range from hand held tools to engines of several hundred horsepower, using pistons and cylinders, slotted rotors with vanes, or turbines. Many improve performance by heating the incoming air or the engine itself. They have been widely successful in hand held tools and stationary industrial uses, while efforts to bring them into transportation continue but must overcome efficiency problems.