Table of Contents
Why do train wheels have counterweights?
To compensate for this, the driving wheels of an inside-frame locomotive always had built-in counterweights to offset the angular momentum of the coupling rods, as shown in the figures above. As a result, a counterweight chosen to minimize the total vibration will not minimize the vertical component of the vibration.
Why do steam engines have flywheels?
The flywheel provides the rotational inertia necessary to keep it stable. Flywheels absorb energy during power strokes and release it during the exhaust strokes. This smooth out the power to the shaft. The flywheels for a steam locomotive are the wheels powered by the pistons.
Why are train engine wheels connected?
The wheels on each side of a train car are connected with a metal rod called an axle. This axle keeps the two train wheels moving together, both turning at the same speed when the train is moving. This is where the wheels’ geometry comes in. To help the wheels stay on the track their shape is usually slightly conical.
What turns the wheels on a steam locomotive?
When heated, water turns to an invisible vapor known as steam. The volume of water expands as it turns to steam inside the boiler, creating a high pressure. The expansion of steam pushes the pistons that connect to the driving wheels that operate the locomotive.
What is a rod attached to a wheel?
The wheel and axle is a type of simple machine used to make tasks easier in terms of manipulating force by applying the concept of mechanical advantage. The wheel and axle consists of a round disk, known as a wheel, with a rod through the centre of it, known as the axle.
What are three functions of the flywheel?
The first is to maintain a rotating mass (inertia) to assist the engine rotation and provide a more consistent delivery of torque during running. The second is to provide a ring gear for the starter motor to engage on. The third is to provide one of the driving friction surfaces for the friction disc.
Does the axle move with the wheel?
The wheel and axle form a kind of round lever. As the wheel and axle rotate, the wheel moves a greater distance than the axle, but it takes less effort to move it. The axle moves a shorter distance, but it turns with greater force. Many machines use the wheel and axle to increase force.
How does a steam locomotive work?
Because most locomotive steam engines apply force in both directions, for each revolution of the wheel there are four applications of force and four “chuffs” as unused steam is released, two for each side, alternating from side to side.
What happens if a side rod is off on a locomotive?
If one is slightly off, the side rod will bind. When the linkage on a locomotive converts the reciprocal motion of the steam engine to the circular motion of the wheels, every 180 degrees there is a point at which the lines of force go directly through the center of the axle.
Why do steam locomotives have black wheels and red wheels?
Steam locos in the US and most other places generally had black wheels from the late 1800s on, while steam locos in the UK often had wheels matching the paint scheme of the engine. I don’t know how many countries did the red-wheels thing, but it certainly wasn’t universal. Should I hire remote software developers from Turing.com?
Why are steam locomotive drivers quartered at 180 degrees?
The reason real steam locomotive drivers are quartered is, if they were exactly the same, or at 180 degrees, and the engine stopped with the rod at exactly 3:00 or 9:00, you wouldn’t be able to start the locomotive. If they are at 90 degrees, no matter where it stopped, at least 1 piston would be able to exert pressure on the wheel to make it move.