AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 179 



The improvements in the cut-off consist in the employment 

 of a pair of perfectly balanced valves, secured to the back of the 

 main slide valve, through which the steam passes in i'^s way to 

 the cylinder. These balanced valves are moved by the motion of 

 the slide valve, and travel therewith. The device by which they 

 are opened and closed is the most simple and effective of any 

 known method of working the cut-off of steam engines. As the 

 slide valve approaches the point to admit steam to the cylinder 

 the cut-ofi' valve is opened by its motion by coming in contact 

 with fixed stops at tlie bottom of the steam-chest, and remains 

 open until it comes in contact with movable stops, which are 

 operated by the governor, wdien it is instantly closed and the 

 steam cut off. 



The improvement in the pillow block consists in clasping the 

 bushings of the boxes, which part vertically in an iron frame 

 which bolts firmly to the bed plate. The advantages of this over 

 the ordinary style of pillow block are, that the side wear may be 

 all taken up by screws taped through the side of the clasp, and 

 that the entire box may be removed from the engine without 

 raising or in any manner disturbing the shaft or any other part 

 of the engine ; while in the ordinary pillow block the shaft, wath 

 its fly wheel and all connections of the crank shaft, have to be 

 removed. 



The slides are constructed so as to come even with the top of 

 the cross-head, thereby giving double the amount of surface side- 

 wise, and enabling us to make the oil cup to lubricate the same, 

 stationary upon them. [^ gold medal awarded. 



REPORT OF THE JUDGES ON FISHER'S STEAM 

 CARRIAGE. 



We, the undersigned, judges on the steam carriage of J. K. 

 Fisher, appointed by the Managers of the Twenty-eighth Annual 

 Fair of the American Institute, held in New York, October, 1856, 

 beg leave to report ; 



That we have carefully examined the plans and devices sub- 

 mitted to our inspection, and decide — 



1st. That the said plans and devices embody a novelty of ar- 

 rangement of parts possessing great advantages over any former 

 plans and devices for the same purpose. 



2d. That the said plans and devices embody various new and 

 essential advantages which overcome many of the old difficulties 

 in the use of the steam carriage, and give hope of its success on 

 smooth, hard and level roads. 



