air brake

air brake
1. a brake or system of brakes operated by compressed air.
2. Aeron. a device for reducing the air speed of an aircraft by increasing its drag.
3. a device for stopping the sails of a windmill by disrupting the flow of air around them.
[1870-75, Amer.]

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Either of two kinds of braking systems.

The first, used by trains, trucks, and buses, operates by a piston driven by compressed air from reservoirs connected to brake cylinders (see piston and cylinder). When air pressure in the brake pipe is reduced, air is automatically admitted into the brake cylinder. The first practical air brake for railroads was invented in the 1860s by George Westinghouse. The second type, used by aircraft and race cars, consists of a flap or surface that can be mechanically projected into the airstream to increase the resistance of the vehicle to air and lower its speed.

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      either of two kinds of braking systems. The first, used by railroad trains, trucks, and buses, operates by a piston driven by compressed air from reservoirs connected to brake cylinders. When air pressure in the brake pipe is reduced, air is automatically admitted into the brake cylinder. The first practical air brake for railroads was invented by George Westinghouse (Westinghouse, George) (q.v.) in the 1860s.

      The term is also used to refer to the braking system used by aircraft and race cars. This brake consists of a flap or surface that can be mechanically projected into the airstream to increase the resistance of the vehicle to air and lower its speed.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Air brake — Brake Brake (br[=a]k), n. [OE. brake; cf. LG. brake an instrument for breaking flax, G. breche, fr. the root of E. break. See Break, v. t., and cf. {Breach}.] 1. An instrument or machine to break or bruise the woody part of flax or hemp so that… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Air brake — may refer to the following contexts:* Air brake (aircraft), in aeronautics, a type of flight control system used on aircraft to reduce speed* Railway air brake, a type of brake operated by compressed air and used on locomotives and railroad cars… …   Wikipedia

  • Air brake — (Mach.) A railway brake powered by compressed air. Knight. Syn: airbrake. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • air brake — ☆ air brake n. 1. a brake operated by the action of compressed air on a piston 2. popularly SPEED BRAKE …   English World dictionary

  • air brake — air′ brake n. 1) mac a brake or system of brakes operated by compressed air 2) aer. a device for reducing the air speed of an aircraft by increasing its drag • Etymology: 1870–75, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • air-brake — airˈ brake noun 1. A brake worked by compressed air 2. A means of reducing the speed of an aircraft • • • Main Entry: ↑air …   Useful english dictionary

  • air brake — air ,brake noun count a type of BRAKE (=piece of equipment to make a vehicle stop or go more slowly) that works by air pressure, for example on a bus or truck …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • air brake — noun 1. : a brake operated by a piston driven by compressed air from reservoirs connected to brake cylinders by triple valves which upon reduction of air pressure in the brake pipe automatically admit air from the reservoirs into the brake… …   Useful english dictionary

  • air brake — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms air brake : singular air brake plural air brakes a type of brake (= piece of equipment to make a vehicle stop or go more slowly) that works using compressed air, for example on a bus or truck …   English dictionary

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