Cylinder Cocks/en: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:33, 18 March 2025

Cylinders are steam engine components that house pistons that propel the vehicle. Typically, there are two cylinders in the front of the vehicle, one on each side. They are alternately fed steam from the steam chest , with every full rotation of the driving wheels, in the amount set with the cutoff .

Steam in cylinders pushes the pistons inside, mechanically linked to the driving wheels, propelling the vehicle. The used steam is then expelled through a blastpipe, where it mixes with smoke from the firebox in the smokebox, and together they are exhausted to the atmosphere through a chimney.

When steam is no longer fed to the cylinders, during coasting or being stationary, for example, it quickly cools down. This is because the cylinders are separated from the hot boiler and the firebox . Naturally, the remaining steam in the cylinders quickly condenses back into water. If enough water collects in cylinders, they will start producing a sloshy sound with each gear cycle. This is dangerous, because unlike steam, water isn't compressible, and if pushed by a piston it can break the cylinder and cause catastrophic powertrain failure .

To prevent this, steam engines come equipped with cylinder cocks. They are usually operated by a lever from inside the cab , and allow water to be expelled from the cylinders. However, since steam escapes through the cocks too, they should only remain open for a short time, typically just a few seconds, when the vehicle begins moving from a standstill.

Cylinders can also fill with water if the boiler is overfilled , or from running the vehicle with the cutoff set in the opposite direction.

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-{{OldManualArticleNotice}}
+Cylinders are {{pll|Steam Overview|steam engine}} components that house pistons that propel the vehicle. Typically, there are two cylinders in the front of the vehicle, one on each side. They are alternately fed steam from the {{pll|Regulator|steam chest}}, with every full rotation of the driving wheels, in the amount set with the {{pll|Cutoff|cutoff}}.
-When steam is no longer being admitted to the cylinders, they quickly cool down. This is due to them being separated from the boiler and the firebox. The steam in cylinders then condenses back into water pretty fast. As water isn't compressible, unlike steam, if enough of it collects in the cylinders and is pushed by a piston, it can break the cylinders and cause catastrophic powertrain failure.
-For this reason there are cylinder cocks. They are operated by a valve from inside the cab, allowing water to be released from the cylinders. As some of the steam from the cylinder is lost while the cylinder cocks are open, acceleration is reduced. Typically, the drivers open cylinder cocks for a few seconds after being stationary for some time.
+Steam in cylinders pushes the pistons inside, mechanically linked to the driving wheels, propelling the vehicle. The used steam is then expelled through a blastpipe, where it mixes with smoke from the {{pll|Firebox|firebox}} in the smokebox, and together they are exhausted to the atmosphere through a chimney.
-Cylinders can also fill with water in a process called priming. This is the case of the boiler having too much water, or running the vehicle with the cutoff set in the opposite direction, causing water to overflow into the cylinders.
+When steam is no longer fed to the cylinders, during coasting or being stationary, for example, it quickly cools down. This is because the cylinders are separated from the hot {{pll|Boiler|boiler}} and the {{pll|Firebox|firebox}}. Naturally, the remaining steam in the cylinders quickly condenses back into water. If enough water collects in cylinders, they will start producing a sloshy sound with each gear cycle. This is dangerous, because unlike steam, water isn't compressible, and if pushed by a piston it can break the cylinder and cause {{pll|Mechanical Powertrain Damage|catastrophic powertrain failure}}.
-{{See also|Mechanical Powertrain Damage|Water Level|Cutoff}}
+To prevent this, steam engines come equipped with cylinder cocks. They are usually operated by a lever from inside the {{pll|Rail Vehicle Types|cab}}, and allow water to be expelled from the cylinders. However, since steam escapes through the cocks too, they should only remain open for a short time, typically just a few seconds, when the vehicle begins moving from a standstill.
-[[Category:Steam Drivetrain]]
+Cylinders can also fill with water if the {{pll|Water Level|boiler is overfilled}}, or from running the vehicle with the {{pll|Cutoff|cutoff}} set in the opposite direction.
+[[Category:Steam Drivetrain|3]]