The slide valve, simply explained

There is no more important part of the steam-engine than the valve—the part which determines when and for how long the steam shall be admitted to the cylinder, how long it shall...

The slide valve has always been regarded by the writer as the _pons asinorum_ of the student of the steam-engine. His own early attempts at crossing that bridge were greatly fac...

The necessary travel of the valve is given to it by means of an eccentric, which is keyed upon or formed as part of the crank-shaft. The eccentric is, in effect, a crank, whose...

Assume a horizontal engine, with the main crank moved into a horizontal position so that the piston would be at, say, the left-hand end of its stroke. Assume also that the engin...

It is desirable at this point to clear the ground by touching for a moment upon one or two elementary matters which, if not now explained, might cause confusion subsequently.

_Expansion._—In order that the expansive properties of steam may be utilised, it must be cut off before the piston arrives at the end of its stroke, and on being cut off _must n...

_Double-ported Valves._—In large marine engines using considerable quantities of steam per stroke, and consequently requiring a large amount of port-opening, the ordinary slide...

_Advance of the Eccentric._—It should here be established that to any given example of valve, ports, and eccentric (leaving the piston out of consideration for a moment) belongs...

_The Link Motion._—In engines whose duty _frequently_ varies, as in the familiar case of a locomotive, permanent alteration of lap would not meet the requirements of the case, f...

_Very early Cut-off._—Theoretically there is no limit to the range of cut-off which may be obtained from an ordinary slide valve, but a moment’s consideration will show that if...