Main Cylinders
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September 2025
Tony has now completed the main patterns for the valve and motion cylinders. The photo shows the last "quarter" of the motion cylinder being fitted into place |
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The valve and motion cylinder patterns installed on their trolleys. More work will be needed later to add the various bosses which allow connections, e.g. lubrication and drain pipes. Tony and Ruth are now turning heir attention to the transfer ports which connect the valve cylinder to the motion cylinder. |
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Tony and Ruth's attention is now turning to the steam transfer ports. These are passages at the ends of the cylinder which allow live steam to pass from the steam chest in the valve cylinder to the motion cylinder. The ports allow the exhaust steam to pass back into the outer ends of the valve cylinder where it will then be exhausted to the blast pipe and the chimney. Tony has order more Canadian Yellow Pine for this job. Tony says "We’re putting together the four sections which make up the steam transfer ports. Two of these sections will be ‘loose pieces’ as they go against the ‘draw’."
"Timber comes in ‘off saw’ and at varying thickness and this is normal. The timber may also be slightly warped across the grain.
We milled the timber to have flat, parallel sides for gluing up. 2 of the pieces have been glued together as in the photo. Ruth will glue and cramp the remaining six pieces when the glue sets and cramps become available." |