a brake system, used on British and many overseas railways, in which the brake is held off by a vacuum on one side of the brake-operating cylinder. If the vacuum is destroyed by controlled leakage of air or a disruptive emergency, the brake is applied. It is now largely superseded by the Westinghouse brake system
vacuum brake in Automotive Engineering
(vækyum breɪk)
Word forms: (regular plural) vacuum brakes
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Brakes, steering, wheels, tires, and suspension)
A vacuum brake is a type of brake that works by atmospheric pressure acting on a piston in a vacuum cylinder.
Vacuum brake equipment has been replaced with modern air brake equipment.
A vacuum brake system is operated by a vacuum taken from the intake manifold or carburetor at apoint just above the throttle valve.
A vacuum hose runs from the intake manifold to the vacuum brake booster.