380
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
ACTION OF THE VALVES.
The steam passing from the boiler A, by the steam pipe h\ is regulated in its ad
mission to the slide valves iv, x, by the throttle valve i, the rod j j, with its lever j
and adjusting arc j" being conveniently adapted for the same.
The engine then, after being cleared of air, &c., through the blow valve l, is put
in motion by means of the starting lever p t and causes the eccentric 0, through its
rod o\ to actuate the lever p, of the exhaustion balance-shaft X, a system of levers
q q, affording the means of engaging and disengaging the same, according to the ne
cessity of reversing or stopping the wheels. And the shaft X, being connected with
the balance-shaft Y, of the steam slides by the levers u, u, and the rods u\ it is clear
that both shafts will operate simultaneously on all four slide valves, which are con
nected to the levers u, u, of the said shafts by the side links 9, 10, 11, 12. Now
when the lever p, is urged by o', from the condenser L, the steam slides w, x, will be
caused to descend, admitting the steam above the piston B', through the passage No.
1, while No. 2 will be closed by the slide cc. The exhaustion slides y, z, ascending
at the same time, will permit the steam from beneath the piston to pass off, through
the passage No. 4 and pipe n, into the condenser* the passage 3 being closed by
the slide y.
When the lever p, on the contrary, is drawn towards the condenser L, the exhaus
tion slides will be depressed, while the steam slides are caused to ascend, thereby re
versing the operation of the steam.
The lever u, moreover, which gives motion to the steam slides is so contrived that,
the extremity of the rod u can be moved by an adjusting screw, through a consider
able space in a slot seen at u, thereby lengthening and shortening the leverage, and
consequently the stroke of the steam slides.
The steam is thus caused to act expansively, to such extent as the variable cir
cumstances of the weather at sea may suggest, the advantages of which are shewn
in Arts. 422, 451, and elsewhere.
Hall’s condenser is shewn at L, of which 13 is the upper chamber, containing a
thin plate 14, completely perforated with small holes, by which the steam from the
cylinder B, is distributed in its passage through the pipes 15 15, to the bottom
chamber, 16.
The pipes 15 15, are surrounded with cold water, which is supplied through the
pipe R', by the double acting pump R, R', whose motion is derived from the main
lever C, through the rods W T, and the lever U, which is supported by the bracket
V ; the waste water passing into the sea through the opening S.