Robinete cilindrice

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.

Când aburul nu mai este admis în cilindri, aceștia se răcesc rapid. Acest lucru se datorează faptului că acestea sunt separate de boiler și focar. Aburul din cilindri se condensează apoi înapoi în apă destul de repede. Deoarece apa nu este compresibilă, spre deosebire de abur, dacă se adună suficientă cantitate în cilindri și este împinsă de un piston, poate sparge cilindrii și poate cauza defecțiuni catastrofale ale grupului de propulsie.

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.