Steam-operated cylinder drains

[RET]

Hi Kimball,

In Fred's design, your answer is "yes," it would be possible, but not in Bill's variation because the "O" ring is on the "piston." However, since the controlling steam would be piped equally to all the cylinders, the locomotive would not move because the pressure would be the same on both sides of the pistons. There would be a slight differential because of the piston rod cross sectional area, but normally that wouldn't be enough for motion to occur.

Richard Trounce.

[Fred_V]

Hmm, good point. I didn't look at that. Looks like, with throttle closed, that not much would happen. If a piston is on a power stroke with exhaust on the other side of the piston, the steam would just go up the exhaust. At the end of the stroke the leakage would just go to the exhaust side of the piston and nothing would happen. doesn't look like it matters.