Cataract (technique)

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In technology, a cataract is a device in certain steam engines with pawl control , through which the steam effect or the power of the machine is regulated . So the steam and thus also the fuel consumption increases or decreases exactly according to the work to be done, in that the number of strokes can be adjusted with the same unit output.

In particular which are dewatering equipment of mines equipped with cataracts to bring its promotion with the changing water flows in accordance.

Here the cataract consists of a small water pump , the piston of which is taken by the main engine when it descends, sucking water into its cylinder . The cataract piston is weighted down and tries to express the water through an adjustable valve , whereby it sinks and, in the lowest position, takes a rod with it, which opens the new steam inflow into the main engine.

As the water exit from the cataract, controlled by the adjustable valve, is slower or faster, the pause from one stroke to the other lasts longer or shorter.

A steam engine control , which is conditional in this way by a cataract is cataract control , the machine itself cataract machine .

The name, which is completely unsuitable for the apparatus described, comes from an older device that serves the same purpose; this consisted of a vessel which was filled with a slower or faster water flow as required and, when filled, tipped over each time in order to set the steam engine control to inlet.