Steam Engines

In most piston engines, steam enters from the same end of the cylinder and causes the piston to move back and forth in two different directions. A complete engine cycle refers to one full revolution of the crank and two strokes of the piston. These events are often controlled by valves operating in a steam chest adjacent to the cylinder, which distribute steam by opening and closing the steam ports connected to the cylinder ends.

The oscillating cylinder steam engine is a variation of a simple expansion steam engine and does not require valves to direct steam into and out of the cylinder. Instead of valves, one or more ports in the cylinder align with stationary ports in the valve face. As the entire cylinder oscillates, hot steam enters through one port to push the piston, while cold steam is expelled from the other side of the piston through another port.

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