Cylinder, pistons and valve gear etc.

Made:
1866 in Southwark

Cylinder, pistons and valve gear etc., from the compound beam engine "Beta", made by Middleton in 1866

This engine was one of a pair made by Thomas Middleton & Co. of Southwark, London, for that city's South Metropolitan Gas Works, on Old Kent Road. It is one of only three beam engines surviving built with the high pressure steam cylinder placed within the low pressure cylinder [which forms an 'O' around it], an 'annular' design economising on space and offering better thermal efficiency.

Details

Category:
Motive Power
Object Number:
1956-2
Materials:
cast iron, wrought iron, gunmetal and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
type:
valve
credit:
South Eastern Gas Board

Parts

Part bed-plate with cylinder

Part bed-plate with cylinder

Part bed-plate with cylinder, valve chest, pistons, rods and crosshead lubricators on cylinder cover and stuffing boxes, valve, valve spindle crosshead and side rods, weightshaft complete and governor valve

Measurements:
overall: 2000 mm x 1500 mm x 2550 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/1
type:
bed-plate
Air Pump Barrel with Foot Valve

Air Pump Barrel with Foot Valve

Air pump barrel with foot valve

Measurements:
overall: 578 mm x 1700 mm x 1300 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/2
type:
air pump barrel
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Air pump bucket and rod

Air pump bucket and rod

Air pump bucket and rod

Measurements:
overall: 1440 mm x 380 mm x 380 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/3
type:
air pump bucket
Air pump delivery plate

Air pump delivery plate

Air pump delivery plate with stuffing box and valve

Measurements:
overall: 200 mm x 500 mm x 500 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/4
type:
delivery plate
Air pump cover and gland (lacks gland nuts)

Air pump cover and gland (lacks gland nuts)

Air pump cover and gland (lacks gland nuts)

Measurements:
overall: 300 mm x 640 mm x 640 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/5
type:
air pump cover
Air pump rod with loop

Air pump rod with loop

Air pump rod with loop, gib & cotter and brasses of top end

Object Number:
1956-2/6
type:
air pump rod
Stop valve and lubricator

Stop valve and lubricator

Stop valve and lubricator

Measurements:
overall: 280 mm x 750 mm x 550 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/7
type:
valve
Frame member providing anchorage points for radius rods

Frame member providing anchorage points for radius rods

Frame member providing anchorage points for radius rods, with 4 tapbolts and washers

Object Number:
1956-2/8
type:
frame member
Pair of columns to support /8 above cylinder

Pair of columns to support /8 above cylinder

Pair of columns to support /8 above cylinder, with nuts

Object Number:
1956-2/9
type:
column
Pair of great links of parallel motion, complete

Pair of great links of parallel motion, complete

Pair of great links of parallel motion, complete

Object Number:
1956-2/10
type:
link
Parallel bars

Parallel bars

Parallel bars, back links, radius rods with anchorage bearings all jointed to looped arbor

Measurements:
overall: 180 mm x 1400 mm x 760 mm,
Object Number:
1956-2/11
type:
bar
Part of eccentric rod with clevis & pin

Part of eccentric rod with clevis & pin

Part of eccentric rod with clevis & pin

Object Number:
1956-2/12
type:
part

Brass maker's plate

Brass maker's plate (from A-frame that we do not have) and 3 pieces of brass plate cleading from cylinder cover

Materials:
brass
Object Number:
1956-2/13
type:
makers plate
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Brass maker's plate

Brass maker's plate

Brass maker's plate from A-frame, consisting of X-shaped piece of brass with fittings in each corner and red 'X' painted on one side.

Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 430 mm x 280 mm,
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
1956-2/13/1
type:
makers plate
Part of:
1956-2/13
Brass plate cleading

Brass plate cleading

Piece of brass plate cleading from cylinder cover, consisting of semi-circular brass plate with grooves in one edge.

Measurements:
overall: 5 mm x 570 mm x 290 mm,
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
1956-2/13/2
type:
cleading
Part of:
1956-2/13
Brass plate cleading

Brass plate cleading

Piece of brass plate cleading from cylinder cover, consisting of triangular-shaped piece of brass plate.

Measurements:
overall: 5 mm x 200 mm x 270 mm,
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
1956-2/13/3
type:
cleading
Part of:
1956-2/13
Brass plate cleading

Brass plate cleading

Piece of brass plate cleading from cylinder cover, consisting of triangular-shaped piece of brass plate with circular hole in middle

Measurements:
overall: 5 mm x 200 mm x 270 mm,
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
1956-2/13/4
type:
cleading
Part of:
1956-2/13