Definitions for: Steam Engine


[n] external-combustion engine in which heat is used to raise steam which either turns a turbine or forces a piston to move up and down in a cylinder



Webster (1913) Definition: Steam" en"gine
An engine moved by steam.

Note: In its most common forms its essential parts are a
piston, a cylinder, and a valve gear. The piston works
in the cylinder, to which steam is admitted by the
action of the valve gear, and communicates motion to
the machinery to be actuated. Steam engines are thus
classified: 1. According to the wat the steam is used
or applied, as condencing, noncondencing, compound,
double-acting, single-acting, triple-expansion, etc. 2.
According to the motion of the piston, as
reciprocating, rotary, etc. 3. According to the motion
imparted by the engine, as rotative and nonrotative. 4.
According to the arrangement of the engine, as
stationary, portable, and semiportable engines, beam
engine, oscillating engine, direct-acting and
back-acting engines, etc. 5. According to their uses,
as portable, marine, locomotive, pumping, blowing,
winding, and stationary engines. Locomotive and
portable engines are usually high-pressure,
noncondencing, rotative, and direct-acting. Marine
engines are high or low pressure, rotative, and
generally condencing, double-acting, and compound.
Paddle engines are generally beam, side?lever,
oscillating, or direct-acting. Screw engines are
generally direct-acting, back-acting, or oscillating.
Stationary engines belong to various classes, but are
generally rotative. A horizontal or inclined stationary
steam engine is called a left-hand or a right-hand
engine when the crank shaft and driving pulley are on
the left-hand side, or the right-hand side,
respectively, or the engine, to a person looking at
them from the cylinder, and is said to run forward or
backward when the crank traverses the upward half, or
lower half, respectively, of its path, while the piston
rod makes its stroke outward from the cylinder. A
marine engine, or the engine of a locomotive, is said
to run forward when its motion is such as would propel
the vessel or the locomotive forward. Steam engines are
further classified as double-cylinder, disk,
semicylinder, trunk engines, etc. Machines, such as
cranes, hammers, etc., of which the steam engine forms
a part, are called steam cranes, steam hammers, etc.
See Illustration in Appendix.

Back-acting, or Back-action, steam engine, a steam
engine in which the motion is transmitted backward from
the crosshead to a crank which is between the crosshead
and the cylinder, or beyond the cylinder.

Portable steam engine, a steam engine combined with, and
attached to, a boiler which is mounted on wheels so as to
admit of easy transportation; -- used for driving
machinery in the field, as trashing machines, draining
pumps, etc.

Semiportable steam engine, a steam engine combined with,
and attached to, a steam boiler, but not mounted on
wheels.

See Also: boiler, crosshead, external-combustion engine, steam boiler, steam chest, steam locomotive, steamer, steamship

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