Pneumatic motor success with pneumatic motors in the locomotive industry. In 1911 he designed a pneumatic locomotive and sold the patent to the H.K. Porter Company in Pittsburgh for use in coal mines. Because pneumatic motors do not use combustion they were a much safer option in the coal industry. Many companies claim to be developing Compressed air cars, but none are actually available for purchase or even independent testing. Impact wrenches, pulse tools, nutrunners, screwdrivers, drills, grinders, die grinders, sanders, dental drills and other pneumatic tools use a variety of air motors. These include vane type motors, turbines and piston motors.
Potential energy friction. Gravitational potential energy is also used to power clocks in which falling weights operate the mechanism. It's also used by counterweights for lifting up an elevator, crane, or sash window. Roller coasters are an entertaining way to utilize potential energy - chains are used to move a car up an incline (building up gravitational potential energy), to then have that energy converted into kinetic energy as it falls. Another practical use is utilizing gravitational potential energy to descend (perhaps coast) downhill in transportation such as the descent of an automobile, truck, railroad train, bicycle, airplane, or fluid in a