This is a demonstration of a Marsh simplex (single cylinder) steam feedwater pump. This pump is used on my 1903 Case steam traction engine to pump water into the boiler.
@caserules1 It's a little tough to explain in words. Pause the video at the ten second mark and look closely at the cutaway diagram. The power piston on the steam side is actually a "spool" shape and is part of the reversing mechanism. The steam valve is the smaller spool valve on top of the power cylinder. If you look closely at the diagram, there are 3 small ports in the power cylinder. When the piston gets to the end of its stroke, it connects the center port with one of the end ports.
That connection feeds live steam back up to the end of the steam valve, and causes it to slide to the opposite side of the valve body. That causes steam to be admitted on the back side of the power piston, changing it's direction and the process repeats each time the power piston reaches the ends of it's stroke. The little starter pins on the steam valve are used to get things going if the process gets stuck, likely from shutting down in a bad spot. I hope that helps explain it.
How does the valve move in the steam chest on that pump?
caserules1 7 months ago
@caserules1 It's a little tough to explain in words. Pause the video at the ten second mark and look closely at the cutaway diagram. The power piston on the steam side is actually a "spool" shape and is part of the reversing mechanism. The steam valve is the smaller spool valve on top of the power cylinder. If you look closely at the diagram, there are 3 small ports in the power cylinder. When the piston gets to the end of its stroke, it connects the center port with one of the end ports.
dkrenshaw 7 months ago
That connection feeds live steam back up to the end of the steam valve, and causes it to slide to the opposite side of the valve body. That causes steam to be admitted on the back side of the power piston, changing it's direction and the process repeats each time the power piston reaches the ends of it's stroke. The little starter pins on the steam valve are used to get things going if the process gets stuck, likely from shutting down in a bad spot. I hope that helps explain it.
dkrenshaw 7 months ago