Corliss' Demonstration Model of a Steam Engine Valve Gear and Spring Dash Pot
notes: label: Description
content: This is a crank-operated demonstration model of an early type of Corliss detachable rotary valve gear. The model is constructed of partially painted bronze and mounted on a walnut base. In the image the rotary valve is located in the wooden block at the upper left. The valve stem terminates in a short lever by which the valve is rotated. This lever is permanently connected to a plunger in a closed cylinder or dash pot located below the valve. A hook or latch is operated up and down in a position so that the hook engages with the lever on its upstroke and rotates the valve to open it. A stiff flat spring holds the hook against the lever while a bearing pin is located so that it will disengage the hook from the valve stem lever after the hook has raised it a determined amount. When the lever is freed a spring closes the valve. The dash pot prevents the too rapid closing of the valve.
label: Description
content: Corliss was a prolific inventor of steam technology in the middle 1800s and was the founder of the Corliss Steam Engine Company. His engines were used worldwide, and his designs were adopted by other engine manufacturers.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Rhode Island
topic: label: Subject
content: Model
label: Subject
content: Steam Engines
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
label: See more items in
content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
label: Exhibition
content: Power Machinery
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Frank A. Taylor. Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States National Museum, Bulletin 173
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Franklin Machine Company, Providence, R.I.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.309816
label: catalog number
content: 309816
label: accession number
content: 109438
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Engine, Steam, Valve Gear
label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, valve gear, model