Baker valve gear

The Baker arrangement used more pivot bearings or pin joints, but avoided the die slip inherent to the expansion link, with the aim of lessening wear and the need for service; it could also facilitate longer valve travel.

The design originated in the A.D. Baker Company, of Swanton, Ohio; a builder of steam traction engines.

There was always debate about the advantages of Baker gear, the main criticism being the number of pin joints and possible lost motion.

In Britain, Baker gear was popular amongst model engineers but in full-size practice the length of the yoke and the width of the assembly may have been difficult to accommodate within the restricted loading gauge.

The Pilliod Co. sold the gear as a single assembly which was mounted on the frame in the location ordinarily occupied by the Walschaerts expansion link.