Engine (such as pneumatic motors), springs (clockwork motors) and elastic bands. Historic military siege engines included large catapults, trebuchets, and (to some extent) battering rams were powered by potential energy. A pneumatic motor is a machine that converts potential energy in the form of compressed air into mechanical work. Pneumatic motors generally convert the compressed air to mechanical work though either linear or rotary motion. Linear motion can come from either a diaphragm or piston actuator, while rotary motion is supplied by either a vane type air motor or piston air motor. Pneumatic motors have found widespread success in the hand-held
Hydraulic motor Hydraulic motor A hydraulic motor is a mechanical actuator that converts hydraulic pressure and flow into torque and angular displacement (rotation). The hydraulic motor is the rotary counterpart of the hydraulic cylinder as a linear actuator. Most broadly, the category of devices called hydraulic motors has sometimes included those that run on hydropower—namely, water engines and water motors—but in today's terminology the name usually refers more specifically to motors that use hydraulic fluid as part of closed hydraulic circuits in modern hydraulic machinery. Conceptually, a hydraulic motor should be interchangeable with a hydraulic pump because it performs the opposite function