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EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
PLATE V.
Fig. 1. is a section of a double-acting condensing engine, with a slide adapted
for working by the expanding force of steam; the slide being, in Fig. 1., in the
position for letting the steam on at the top. Fig. 2. shows the steam shut off, and
the passage to the condenser still open ; and Fig. 3. the position when the steam is
let on at the bottom. See art 448. The steam enters at S, and a pipe of com
munication between the steam pipe and the condenser is necessary, to allow steam
to enter the condenser when the engine is about to be set to work, (art. 414.)
Fig. 4. is a section of a single-acting condensing engine, with valves to the
passages, (see art. 406.); and Fig. 5. a different arrangement of the valves for a
single engine.
Fig. 6. represents the box slide, admitting steam through the upper passage and
open below to the eduction passage, or to the condenser.
In all these figures the same letters indicate the same parts. C is the steam
cylinder, P the steam piston, R the piston rod, B the condenser, with a jet of water
playing into it from I the injection cock ; A is the air pump, and p its piston ;
G is the foot valve between the condenser and air pump ; M the air pump, and
Q the discharge valve of the air pump, through which the air and hot water are
forced into the hot well K, from whence a part is raised by a small force pump to
the boiler feed head, and the rest runs off by a waste pipe. H is the blow valve to
the condenser, (art. 566.) The condenser and air pump are placed in a cistern,
which is constantly supplied with cold water by a pipe N.
The jet should be made through a rose on the end of the pipe ; for, to produce
speedy and perfect condensation, the cold fluid should present the greatest possible
surface to the steam it is to condense, (see art. 280.); and it should be impelled
into the condenser with greater force than the ordinary head in the cistern
admits of.
In large engines the connecting eduction pipe E, Fig. 1. may be on the outside
of the steam pipe S, and the parts of the slide connected only by a rod, as
mentioned in art. 447.