Steam Engine Build/Valve

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Steam Engine Build Instructions

Description

The valve controls the flow of steam from the steam chest to the cylinder bore. Steam is admitted into the cylinder just before top dead center of the stroke cycle. One end of the valve is conical in shape (45 degree) machined to match the valve seat. In the middle of the valve stem, the valve diameter is reduced to slide freely inside the valve hole of the valve cover. At the other end, the diameter is further reduced to fit inside the valve spring.

Two valves are needed.

Drawing

Instructions

Materials:

• 2.5" steel round stock, about 3.0" long.

Fabrication

1. Mount the stock in a metal lathe
2. Reduce the valve head diameter to 2.4" for 0.4".
3. Machine a 45 degree bevel to form the valve head.
4. The point of the valve head should be 0.800" in diameter.
5. Reduce the remaining stock to 1.231" to form the valve tail.
6. Reduce the end of the valve tail to 0.875" to form the spring insert for 0.75".
7. Polish the valve head point.
8. Polish the valve tail so that it may move freely in the valve hole of the valve cover.