Stephenson valve gear
（重定向自Gooch valve gear）
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![Inside Stephenson valve gear as applied to a French 0-6-0 outside cylinder mixed traffic locomotive (Midi 801) in 1867](/Images/godic/202501/15/Stephenson_link_valve_gear0716.jpg")
![Gooch outside valve gear as applied to a French 2-4-0 outside cylinder express locomotive (Midi no. 51) in 1878](/Images/godic/202501/15/Gooch_valve_gear0716.jpg")
![Allan outside valve gear as applied to a French 0-8-0 outside cylinder freight locomotive (Midi no.701) in 1863](/Images/godic/202501/15/Allan_valve_gear0716.jpg")
The Stephenson valve gear or Stephenson link or shifting link is a simple design of valve gear that was widely used throughout the world for all kinds of steam engines. It is named after Robert Stephenson but was actually invented by his employees.