hydraulic ram

American  

noun

1. a device by which the energy of descending water is utilized to raise a part of the water to a height greater than that of the source.

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hydraulic ram British  

noun

1. any large device involving the displacement of a piston or plunger driven by fluid pressure

2. a form of water pump utilizing the kinetic energy of running water to provide static pressure to raise water to a reservoir higher than the source

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Etymology

Origin of hydraulic ram

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

The cockpit holding the driver is lifted on hydraulic rams to simulate precisely how a car corners.

From BBC

It comes complete with pilot's visor and internal hydraulic rams for its operation.

From BBC

Weighing 4,000 tonnes, it has 100m of trailing infrastructure that enables workers to install the tunnel walls as the cutting head inches forward powered by hydraulic rams.

From BBC

For their test firing, the researchers used a hydraulic ram to drive the cylinder into a preheated engine.

From Economist

The failure of a hydraulic ram affected the movement of the yacht’s keel and forced it to pull out of the race and make for the port of Eden in Victoria.

From Washington Times