GENERATOR VALVES or MIXING VALVES are similar to the carburetor in principle but are slightly different in detail.
2. The CYLINDER is the containing vessel in which the combustion and expansion of the gas takes place.
The cylinder as its name would suggest has a circular opening or bore extending from end to end, the bore being smoothly finished to receive the reciprocating piston.
3. The PISTON is a plunger or movable plug fitting the bore closely enough to prevent the escape of gas, but at the same time is capable of sliding freely to and fro.
When pressure is established in the cylinder from the combustion, pressure is also exerted on the end of the piston tending to force it out of the cylinder. The extent of this force is governed by the area of the end of the piston and also by the pressure of the gas.
Thus the purpose of the piston is to convert the pressure of the expanding gas into direct mechanical force, and also to transform the increasing volume of gas into motion. Another, and no less important function of the piston is to compress the combustible gas in the upper end of the cylinder for ignition.
Piston and Connecting Rod of the Sturtevant Aero Motor, Showing Three Piston Rings.
4. The CONNECTING ROD (Sometimes called the Pitman) transmits the pressure on the piston to the crank, the connecting rod being the means through which the to and fro motion of the piston is transmitted into the rotary motion of the crank; its action being similar to that of the human arm turning the crank of a pump or windlass.
5. The CRANK receives the pressure and motion of the piston from the connecting rod, changing the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotary motion required by the machinery which the engine drives.