|
Title: |
1872 Article-Frick & Bowman, Horizontal Steam Engine |
|
Source: |
Scientific American, V 27 #16, 19 Oct 1872, pg. 239 |
|
Insert Date: |
3/12/2013 8:21:13 PM |
IMPROVED STEAM ENGINE
The accompanying engravings, Figs.1 and 2, convey a clear idea of the construction of a new form of steam engine, in which the improvements relate more especially to increased durability, strength, and consequent economy of wear. It is unnecessary to enter into any detailed description of the working parts, as their arrangement will he easily understood by the mechanical reader from a glance at the illustrations. It will be noticed that the metal in the bed or main frame is so disposed as to insure the greatest possible strength. The working strain acts in a line through the center, thus relieving the engine from the powerful and unequal leverage incident to many common though detective modes of construction. The masonry com-
posing the foundation forms a support against the upward or downward pressure on the guides by the leverage due to the distance between the main hearing and the crank wrist. The guides, as shown, are cast
to the main frame, and are bored out, from the same centers by which the ends are faced, to receive the cylinder and main bearing. It in therefore almost impossible for the machine to become out of center line, while the common difficulty of the foundation settling, thus throwing the connections in a twist and causing hot bearings, is entirely obviated. The counter-balanced crank insures a smooth and equable motion, so that
the engine may he run at a high rate of speed without injury.
A special point of advantage in this machine is a newly devised balanced slide valve, of which a sectional view is shown in Fig. 3. A is the slide valve, entirely through, which the exhaust openings pass. B is a balanced metal plate to which is attached, as shown, a stem, on which is a piston, C, enclosed within the cylinder, E. The cylinder is open and the piston communicates with the external atmosphere at F. Between this cylinder, E, the steam chest cover, G, and the piston. C, is a copper disk, H, which forms a steam
tight joint. A groove in this disk permits of a sufficient motion of the piston to be self-adjusting, and to compensate for the wear of the valve. The area of the piston, C, being a trifle smaller than that of the
exhaust openings, it is evident that the steam pressure exerted on the former will be less than on the former will be less than would be the case it the areas of both piston and exhausts were equal. Consequently, the
pressure, towards the seat, of the steam which fills the chest is just sufficient to hold the plate, B, tightly against the slide valve, A. The latter will therefore move easily, whatever the pressure of the faces in contact which, though perfectly free, are in every way steam-tight. Friction on the valve, and resistance to its motion of every kind, is thus done away with, while the wear on the faces is reduced to a minimum. It will be seen that this device is all contained in the steam chest cover, and can therefore be readily attached to any engine, either locomotive or stationary, requiring only a new valve and cover to the ordinary steam chest. For railroad locomotives, this device is peculiarly valuable, as the very high pressure of steam used and rapid speed, combined, render the wear of the valve and its connections a source of continual annoyance and the expense of the considerable outlay to keep the parts in repair.
It will be seen that this arrangement does not, in any way, complicate the machine, but leaves the engine in operation as simple as those of the ordinary plain slide valve class.
Further information may be obtained from the manufacturers, Messrs. Frick & Bowman, of Waynesboro, Pa. |
|
1872 Article-Frick & Bowman, Horizontal Steam Engine
1872 Article-Frick & Bowman, Horizontal Steam Engine
1872 Article-Frick & Bowman, Horizontal Steam Engine Slide Valve
|
|