Westinghouse brake

American  

noun

1. a railroad air brake operated by compressed air.

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Westinghouse brake British  

/ ˈwɛstɪŋˌhaʊs /

noun

1. a braking system, invented by Westinghouse in 1872 and adopted by US railways, in which the brakes are held off by compressed air in the operating cylinder: controlled leakage of the air or a disruptive emergency causes the brakes to be applied. The system is used on most heavy vehicles and is replacing the vacuum system on many railways

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Etymology

Origin of Westinghouse brake

Named after G. Westinghouse, its inventor

Example Sentences

People drink soda water all their lives, and along comes a genius and hears the fizz, and goes and invents a Westinghouse brake.

From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume III. (of X.) by Wilder, Marshall Pinckney

The reversing gear is automatic and exceedingly ingenious, the compressed air from the Westinghouse brake reservoir being employed to do the heavy work.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various

A modification of the device for obtaining accelerated action, described above in connexion with the Westinghouse brake, is also applicable.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various

The Westinghouse brake has been made to comply thoroughly with the Board of Trade conditions.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 392, July 7, 1883 by Various

The feed-water is heated by a portion of the exhaust steam and the exhaust from the Westinghouse brake, and the boiler is consequently fed by pumps, is kept cleaner, and makes steam better.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 458, October 11, 1884 by Various