CADed World

Crosshead is used in horizontal steam engines for connecting the piston rod and connecting rod. The figure shows the part drawings of a steam engine crosshead. The crosshead, with the help of slide block 4, reciprocates between two guides provided in the engine frame. The gudgeon pin 3, connects the slide blocks with the crosshead block 1. This acts as a pin joint for the connecting rod (not shown in the figure). The piston rod 2 is secured to the crosshead block by means of the cotter 5. The assembly ensures reciprocating motion along a straight line for the piston rod and reciprocating cum oscillatory motion for the connecting rod.

It is used to prevent loss of fluid such as steam, between sliding or turning parts of machine elements. In a steam engine, when the piston rod reciprocates through the cylinder cover; stuffing box provided in the cylinder cover, prevents leakage of steam from the cylinder. The figure shows the various parts of a stuffing box. At the base of stuffing box body 1, a bush 3 is placed such that the bevelled edge of the bush is at the inner side of the body. Gland 2 is placed at the other end of the body and is connected to the main body by means of studs 4 and nuts 5. The space between the reciprocating rod and the bush and the gland is packed with a packing material such as mineral fibres, leather, rubber or cork.