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and the point in the travel of the valve at which the cut-off occurs is fixed by the position of the link in the link-block, as will be explained later-when we have taken up the action of the valve gear; this position of the gear is, in turn, determined by the notch of the quadrant in which the reverse lever is placed. Fig. 1 is a simple sketch illustrating the theory of the main valve of an engine.

But it doesn't make any difference what kind of a valve is used in connection with the Walschaert gear any more than it does with the Stephenson link motion, and the former may be substituted on any engine in place of the latter gear without making any change in the valve, or cylinders, or any part of the steamdistributing mechanism. But, although either inside admission or outside admission valves may be used with the Walschaert gear, as the user may prefer, a better all 'round design of this gear can be produced when an outside admission valve is specified.

There is a difference, though, in "setting-up" the Walschaert gear as between the valves of inside and outside admission; a difference only in the position of the eccentric in its relation to the main crank-pin, and the connections, as they must be made, between the radius rod and valve-stem, and the combination lever; these points, however, will be explained at the proper time.

Fig. 2 represents the idea of "direct motion" in the valve-actuating mechanism, and is the simplest form of the common steam engine, with fixed cut-offs and non-reversible, and it will be the engine in the

Direct Valve Motion
Engine Runs Forward

FIG. 2.-The Simplest Form of Steam Engine; Direct Valve Motion.

rough-the rough ashlar-that we are to develop, for, while this engine will run, and do very well under certain conditions, it is a wasteful power-producer and is limited to the last degree in the work expected of an engine: it can only turn its crank in one direction, and uses approximately as much steam each time that it turns that crank against a light load as it does when working against a heavier load. We are to supply those deficiencies noted, and bring it up to an equivalent of the engine that is on each side of a modern locomotive.

With any engine, the port opening for admission of steam to the cylinder must be one-fourth of the cycle of motion ahead of the piston. Therefore, if the

connection from eccentric to valve is through a direct line of motion, as shown, without any levers interposed or "rocker-arms" to reverse the direction of movement, then, with the main-pin in the position as shown in Fig. 2, the eccentric must be located at E, one-fourth of the wheel's circle, or 90 degrees, ahead of the crank-pin-assuming the engine to be running forward-to the right.

But before going further it is best to explain how to take the expression, in hearing it said that an eccentric is "ahead" or "behind" the main crank-pin:

[blocks in formation]

FIG. 3.-Location of Stephenson Eccentrics on Axle, in Relation to the Crank-Pin.

Fig. 3 is intended to represent the Stephenson link and eccentrics; any movement of the link-block A, gives a corresponding movement to the valve, so, if the link EE should be lowered, eccentric B would actuate the valve, and as this represents an "indirect motion" engine-that is, whichever way the link

block is moved it will cause the valve to travel in an opposite direction, on account of the rocker-armsnot shown-the engine would run forward. As the wheel revolved to the right eccentric B would follow in the same direction and one-fourth of a turn behind the main-pin, and be said to be "a quarter behind the main pin,” which it always is with indirect motion and outside admission valves, while with direct motion, such as is shown in Fig. 2, the eccentric is always— with the same kind of valve—a "quarter ahead of the pin."

Referring again to Fig. 3, if the link EE was raised, eccentric C would control the motion of the link-block A, and, through a reverse action of the rocker-arms, the valve; the engine would run backward to the left-and, through the changes in conditions, the "back-up" eccentric C would now be following the main-pin; so that whichever way the wheel is being turned the eccentric that actuates the valve is a "quarter" behind the pin, in common locomotive design.

On locomotives having but one eccentric, as with those of the Walschaert type, the eccentric follows, or precedes, the main-pin according to the direction in which the wheel is turning: it may do either; so, during the course of this article when the location of the eccentric is mentioned as being ahead of, or follow

ing, the main-pin, we will assume for the sake of clearer understanding that the engine is in all cases running forward.

It is understood that in Fig. 2 the valve is of outside admission; the eccentric E is just 90 degrees from the main-pin, and the valve is in an exactly central position on its seat-therefore without lead. If the steam throttle should now be opened, this engine could not move of its own volition, for two reasons: the valve being centred, all ports are covered and no steam would be admitted to the cylinder; working singly, the engine would have to be "pinched," or moved off the centre by hand, but in the case of double power, as in the locomotive, the engine on the other side would be in a position to start the wheels turning; they would turn to the right, the eccentric on the visible side would push the valve forward, and the. back, or left, port would begin to open and admit steam to the cylinder against the back of the piston.

In starting the engine, if we should pinch the wheel backward, the eccentric would pull the valve backward also, and steam would be admitted to the forward end of the cylinder, pushing the piston back in spite of our efforts, and it would hold the main-pin on the back dead-centre point, as it was originally, as shown in Fig. 2. So that to make the engine run backward the turning of the wheel to the left must be made to

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