Prime mover

Prime mover may refer to:

Engineering

• "Prime mover" is a technical term of art in science and engineering meaning any machine (or component of a machine) that converts energy from an energy source into mechanical energy (shaft power), usually as a motive power source providing traction to move a vehicle.
• In machines, the prime mover, such as an electric motor, generates the main mechanical motion for the machine.

Haulage

• A tractor unit, a heavy-duty towing engine that serves as a "prime mover" providing motive power for hauling a towed or trailered load, including:
  • Artillery tractor, a military vehicle for hauling an artillery piece
  • Ballast tractor, a heavy haulage road or off-road vehicle designed to pull or push heavy or exceptionally large loads using a drawbar
  • Heavy hauler, a large transporter for moving oversized loads too large for road travel without an escort and special permit
  • Prime mover (locomotive); one of the several types of power plants used in locomotives to provide traction power.
  • Steam tractor, a vehicle powered by a steam engine which is used for pulling
  • Tractor, a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, often in agricultural and construction applications
  • In Water transport or shipping (haulage on water), a prime mover (like those found in railroads) may feed another component which provides the direct tractive effort, but is still the 'engine' of the motive system.
• A stationary engine unit that powers a rotating eccentric drum (on a vertical shaft), which in turn pulls cables each operating the pumpjack above an oil well.

Philosophy

• Prime mover theory (Latin: primum movens), a monotheistic concept advanced by Aristotle as a primary cause or "mover" of all the motion in the universe

Entertainment

• Prime Mover (film), a 2009 Australian romantic crime film
• "The Prime Mover", an episode of The Twilight Zone
• Prime Mover (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Universe
• Prime Mover, a video game published by Psygnosis in 1993
• The Prime Movers, a quasi-omniscient race of alien superbeings in the Buck Godot comic series by Phil Foglio
• Prime Mover, a video game made by 4 Bit Games in 2018

Music

• Prime Mover (album), a 1988 album by AD featuring Kerry Livgren
• "Prime Mover", the 1987 single from Zodiac Mindwarp
• "Prime Mover", a song on Rush's 1987 album Hold Your Fire
• "Prime Mover", a song on Ghost's 2010 album Opus Eponymous
• "Prime Mover", a 2012 album by German trance producer Alex M.O.R.P.H.
• "Prime Movers", a song on Covenant (band)'s 2013 album Leaving Babylon

Bands

• The Prime Movers (Michigan band), a 1960s band featuring a pre-Stooges Iggy Pop
• The Prime Movers (Los Angeles band), a predecessor band of Dread Zeppelin
• The Prime Movers, a band founded by Graham Day of The Prisoners
• Prime Mover, a prog metal band based in Atlanta, Georgia

See also

• Primus motor
• First-mover advantage