valve gear

American  

noun

1. (in a reciprocating engine) the mechanism for opening and closing the valves at certain points in each stroke.

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valve gear British  

noun

1. a mechanism that operates the valves of a reciprocating engine, usually involving the use of cams, pushrods, rocker arms, etc

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

valve gear

The frames are single, and inside of one solid piece; the cylinders are outside 18 in. diameter and 28 in. stroke; and the valve gear is of the usual shifting link description.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various

Assuming this to be the original valve gear of the Pioneer, it must be regarded as an early application, because the Stephenson motion was just being introduced into American locomotive practice in the early 1850’s.

From The 'Pioneer': Light Passenger Locomotive of 1851 United States Bulletin 240, Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, paper 42, 1964 by White, John H.

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.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section S by Project Gutenberg

The valve gear is arranged for operation either automatically or by hand.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

Those equipped with some form of Corliss valve gear are frequently found in this class of work.

From Steam Engines Machinery's Reference Series, Number 70 by Anonymous