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Locomotive Engine Design

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Submitted By sawex
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Steam engine design
Steam engines powered a good number trains as of the early 1800s to the 1950s. Although the engines differed in size and complexity, their basic operation remained basic as illustrated in this paper. The engine is a double-acting steam engine since the valve lets high-pressure steam to function alternately on the two surfaces of the piston. The control rod for the valve is typically hooked into a connection attached to the cross-head; therefore, the movement of the cross-head slips the valve as well. On a steam engine, this connection in addition lets the engineer to set the train into reverse. The exhaust steam just escapes out into the air. On a steam locomotive, the cross-head typically connects to a drive rod, and from there to pairing rods that force the steam engine's wheels (Brain howstuffworks.com). In a steam train, the boiler which is fueled by wood, oil, or coal, constantly boils water in an enclosed compartment, creating high-pressure vapor. The cross-head is linked to a drive rod that attaches to one of drive wheels of the locomotive. The three wheels are linked using coupling rods thus they turn in harmony
First stroke and exhaust
Steam commencing from the boiler goes into the steam chestand is admitted to the front ending of the cylinder by way of a valve slide. The high pressure steam presses the piston to the back, forcing the locomotive wheels around single half turn.At the end of the piston stroke, the valve moves, permitting the left over steam pressure to getaway through the exhaust port beneath valve slide. The pressure gets away in a rapid burst which furnishes the engine with its distinctive “choochoo” noise.
Second stroke and exhaust
At the same time, the valve slide starts admitting high pressure steam to the rear end of the cylinder. This pushes the piston forward, hauling the engine wheels around an additional half turn.At the finish of the subsequent stroke, the steam is freed from the back part of the cylinder (an extra “choo” sound) (Hillier and Hillier et al. 37).
The steam engine has a dead spot at the farthest end of every stroke as the valve is transitioning from power to exhaust. For this basis, a large amount engines had a cylinder on both sides of the engine, set 90 degrees out of phase, as a result the engine can start from whichever point.

Works cited
Brain, M. (2014). Howstuffworks "how steam engines work". [online] Retrieved from: http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/steam1.htm [Accessed: 2 Mar 2014].
Hillier, V. A. W, Peter Coombes and David Rogers.Hillier's fundamentals of motor vehicle technology. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes, 2004. Print

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