Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various
page 76 of 144 (52%)
page 76 of 144 (52%)
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The essential feature of this valve gear is that movement for the valve is
produced by a combination of two motions at right angles to each other; and by the various proportions in which these are combined, and by the positions in which the moving parts are set with regard to each other, it gives both the reversal of motion and the various degrees of expansion required. Eccentrics are entirely dispensed with and the time-honored link gear abandoned, the motion is taken direct from the connecting rod, and by utilizing independently the backward and forward action of the rod, due to the reciprocation of the piston, and combining this with the vibrating action of the rod, a movement results which is suitable to work the valves of engines, allowing the use of any proportions of lap and lead desired, and giving an almost mathematically correct "cut-off" for both sides of the piston and for all points of expansion intermediately, as well as a much quicker action at the points of "cut-off" and "release" than is given by a link gear. The machinery for accomplishing this is both less costly and less complicated than the ordinary link motion, and is shown in elevation on cut, which is a view of the complete motion as on the first London and North-Western locomotive. Here E is the main valve lever, pinned at D to a link, B, one end of which is fastened to the connecting rod at A, and the other end maintained in about the vertical by the radius rod, C, which is fixed at the point, C¹. The center or fulcrum, F, of the lever, E, partaking of the vibrating movement of the connecting rod at the point, A, is carried in a curved slide, J, the radius of which is equal to the length of the link, G, and the center of which is fixed to be concentric with the fulcrum, F, of the lever when the piston is at either extreme end of its stroke. From the upper end of the lever, E, the motion is carried direct to the valve by the rod, G. It will be evident thus that by one revolution of the crank the lower end of the lever, E, will have imparted |
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