brake, in technology: The Vacuum Brake System

The vacuum brake system, or vacuum brake, depends upon the use of a vacuum to force a piston in a cylinder to hold a brake shoe off a drum; when the vacuum is destroyed, the shoe is released and presses on the drum. In an automotive power brake system, extra pressure can be exerted on the hydraulic master cylinder piston by a vacuum brake's piston.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• The Vacuum Brake System
• The Hydraulic Brake System
• The Air Brake System
• Braking Systems
• Electric Brakes
• Friction Brakes

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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