A history of the growth of the steam-engine . nt; It is now given manyforms, but it still is most usually made just as originallydesigned by Watt. It consists of a circular disk, whichjust closes up the steam-pipe when set directly across it, orof an elliptical disk, which closes the pipe when standingat an angle of somewhat, less than 90° with the line ofthe pipe. This disk is carried on a spindle extendingthi-ough the pipe at one side, and carrying on its outer end JAMES WATT AND HIS mVENTIONS. 115 an arm by means of which it may be turned into any posi-tion. When placed with its face in lin
A history of the growth of the steam-engine . nt; It is now given manyforms, but it still is most usually made just as originallydesigned by Watt. It consists of a circular disk, whichjust closes up the steam-pipe when set directly across it, orof an elliptical disk, which closes the pipe when standingat an angle of somewhat, less than 90° with the line ofthe pipe. This disk is carried on a spindle extendingthi-ough the pipe at one side, and carrying on its outer end JAMES WATT AND HIS mVENTIONS. 115 an arm by means of which it may be turned into any posi-tion. When placed with its face in line with the pipe, itoffers very little resistance to the flow of steam to the en-gine. When set in the other position, it shuts off steamentirely and stops the engine. It is placed in such positionat any time, that the speed of the engine is just that re-quired at the time. In the engraving of the double-actingengine with fly-wheel (Fig. 31), it is shown at T, as con-trolled by the governor. The governor, or fly-ball governor, as it is often. Fig. 29.—The Governor. distinctively called, was another of Watts minor but veryessential inventions. Two heavy iron or brass balls, BB,were suspended from pins, C C, in a little cross-piece car-ried on the head of a vertical spindle, A A, driven by theengine. The speed of the engine varying, that of the spindlechanged correspondingly, and the faster the balls were swungthe farther they separated. When the engines speed de-creased, the period of revolution of the balls was increased,and they fell back toward the spindle. Whenever the velocity of the engine was uniform, the balls preserved their dis-tance from the spindle and remained at the same height, their 116 THE DEVELOPMENT. OF THE MODERN STEAM-ENGINE. altitude being determined by the relation existing betweenthe force of gravity and centrifugal force in the temporaryposition of equilibrium. The distance from the point of sustpension down to the level of the balls is always equal to
Size: 1413px × 1769px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidc, booksubjectsteamengines
