Valve gear
MECHANISM THAT OPERATES THE INLET AND EXHAUST VALVES OF A STEAM ENGINE
Eccentric-and-rod mechanism; Eccentric-And-Rod Mechanism; Slip-eccentric valve gear; Isaacson's patent valve gear; Young valve gear; Radial valvegear; Radial valve gear
The valve gear of a steam engine is the mechanism that operates the inlet and exhaust valves to admit steam into the cylinder and allow exhaust steam to escape, respectively, at the correct points in the cycle. It can also serve as a reversing gear.