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Title: |
1884 Images-Wheelock Engine Co., Automatic Cut-Off Steam Engine |
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Source: |
The Engineer's Handy Book 1884 pgs 215 & 216 |
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Insert Date: |
2/28/2011 11:41:43 AM |
The Wheelock Automatic Cut-Off Engine.
The cut on page 215 shows the cylinder, valve-gear, governor, and part of the housing of the " Wheelock Automatic Cut-Off Engine," and that on page 216 a section of the same. In general appearance, the Wheelock engine bears a close resemblance to the Corliss type, except that the absence of the cut-off valves at the top of the cylinder removes the necessity for the square corners, and that the guides, though like those of the Corliss, are parallel with the plane of vibration of the connectingrod, and, in place of being V-shaped, are curves bored out on a line with the axis of the cylinder. This insures perfect accuracy, and prevents the possibility of the piston and cross-head getting out of line.
The valves receive their motion from an ordinary eccentric, and perform the double function of admitting and cutting off steam. Their seats are as close to the bore of the cylinder as is consistent with a proper allowance of material, thus reducing the clearance to a minimum. The valve-motion is very ingenious, effective, and simple. The cut-off is effected by tripping the valves with an arrangement which dispenses with the necessity of dash-pots, weights, or levers, as by means of lugs on the lifters coming in contact with the spring catches, which engage rock-arms on the valves, the same effect is produced. The governor is of a design peculiarly adapted to these engines, and, in consequence of its sensitiveness, holds the valve-gear under complete control, and insures a steady motion of the engine under the most varying circumstances of load and pressure.
The Wheelock engines are in very general use in the Eastern States, and seem to give satisfaction. One of them which was running in the Agricultural Department of the Centennial Exhibition, held at Philadelphia in 1876, attracted a good deal of attention, on account of its smooth and noiseless working. The most objectionable feature of these engines is the liability of the valves to become leaky. |
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1884 Wheelock Engine Co., Automatic Cut-Off Steam Engine
1884 Wheelock Engine Co., Automatic Cut-Off Steam Engine
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