Crossword clues for crosshead
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Crosshead \Cross"head`\ (-h?d), n. (Mach.) A beam or bar across the head or end of a rod, etc., or a block attached to it and carrying a knuckle pin; as the solid crosspiece running between parallel slides, which receives motion from the piston of a steam engine and imparts it to the connecting rod, which is hinged to the crosshead.
Wiktionary
n. (context engineering English) A metal beam that connects a piston to a connecting rod in an engine
WordNet
n. a heading of a subsection printed within the body of the text [syn: crossheading]
metal block that connects to a piston; it slides on parallel guides and moves a connecting rod back and forth
Wikipedia
A crosshead is a mechanism used in long reciprocating engines and reciprocating compressors to eliminate sideways pressure on the piston. Also, the crosshead enables the connecting rod to freely move outside the cylinder. Because of the very small bore-to-stroke ratio on such engines, the connecting rod would hit the cylinder walls and block the engine from rotating if the piston was attached directly to the connecting rod like on trunk engines. Therefore, the longitudinal dimension of the crosshead must be matched to the stroke of the engine.
Usage examples of "crosshead".
These diagrams show, and label, certain major components of the boiler system (the firebox and its grate, the water circulation, the steam dome, and the superheater tubes), the engine system (the steam chest, the valve, and the cylinder-and-piston), the transmission system (the crosshead, main rods, and connecting rods), the driving and leading wheels, the valve control system (the eccentric crank and rod), the exhaust system (exhaust pipes, smoke box and smokestack), and the control system (throttle valve, throttle lever, safety valve).
Usually, with an outside cylinder, the piston rod fits into a crosshead, and the main rod connects the crosshead to the main crank pin, near the rim of one driving wheel.