Piston definition of Piston in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

piston

a disc or cylindrical part that slides to and fro in a hollow cylinder. In an internal-combustion engine it is forced to move by the expanding gases in the cylinder head and is attached by a pivoted connecting rod to a crankshaft or flywheel, thus converting reciprocating motion into rotation

piston [′pis·tən]

(electromagnetism)

A sliding metal cylinder used in waveguides and cavities for tuning purposes or for reflecting essentially all of the incident energy. Also known as plunger; waveguide plunger.

(engineering)

force plug

(mechanical engineering)

A sliding metal cylinder that reciprocates in a tubular housing, either moving against or moved by fluid pressure.

Piston

the moving component of a reciprocating engine that is fitted to the internal surface of a cylinder and moves back and forth along the direction of the cylinder’s axis. In engines, power cylinders, and presses, the piston transmits the pressure of a working fluid—gas, vapor, or liquid—to the moving parts. In some types of engines, such as two-cycle internal-combustion engines, the piston also plays a role in the gas distribution process. In pumps and compressors, the suction, compression, and delivery of the liquid or gas are accomplished by the reciprocating piston.

A piston may be of the trunk, disk, or plunger type, depending on the piston’s length-to-diameter ratio and on the piston’s design. The trunk piston, whose length is somewhat greater than its diameter, has a head, grooves for piston rings, and a guide skirt. The height of a disk piston is determined only by the size of the sealing device; the rod on which the piston is mounted serves to align the piston. The plunger piston, whether a plunger, ram, or pin, usually operates with a smooth surface; its length is several times greater than its diameter.

In rotary-piston internal-combustion engines, a rotor performs the functions of a piston in transmitting the pressure of a working fluid to the moving parts.

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No references found	It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of building full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness. Hard Times by Dickens, Charles View in context The slender expressive fingers, forever active, for- ever striving to conceal themselves in his pockets or behind his back, came forth and became the piston rods of his machinery of expression. Winesberg, Ohio by Anderson, Sherwood View in context Finally he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down the tiny piston, and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. Sign of the Four by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context	Pismo State Beach Piso pisolite pisolith pisolitic pisolitic tuff pisoparite Pispah Pissarro Pissarro, Camille Pissodes pistachio Pistacia piste Pistia Pistil pistillate Pistillate Hemp Pistoia Pistol pistol lanyard Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint Pistole Pistolkors, Aleksandr Pistolkors, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Piston piston and cylinder piston attenuator piston blower piston corer piston displacement piston drill piston engine piston flow piston gage piston head piston meter piston pin piston pump Piston Ring Piston Rod piston skirt piston speed piston valve piston viscometer Piston, Walter piston-type area meter pistonphone Pistsovo Pistsovye Knigi Pistsy	pistoled pistoled pistoled pistoleer pistoleers Pistoles Pistoles Pistolet Pistolet Mitrailleur Pistolet Pulymet Shpagin pistoling pistoling pistoling pistoling Pistolkors, Aleksandr Pistolkors, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich pistolled pistolled pistolled pistolled pistolling pistolling pistolling pistolling pistology pistols pistols pistols pistols Pistols for Pandas Piston piston and cylinder Piston and Rotary piston attenuator piston blower piston chamber piston corer piston corers Piston displacement Piston displacement piston drill Piston engine Piston engine Piston Engine Technology Piston engines Piston engines piston flow piston gage Piston head Piston head piston meter piston pin Piston pump Piston pump Piston pump piston ring piston ring piston rings piston rings piston rod piston rod

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It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of building full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness.

Hard Times by Dickens, Charles View in context

The slender expressive fingers, forever active, for- ever striving to conceal themselves in his pockets or behind his back, came forth and became the piston rods of his machinery of expression.

Winesberg, Ohio by Anderson, Sherwood View in context

Finally he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down the tiny piston, and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction.

Sign of the Four by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context

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Piston