Wiktionary
n. A brake which can be used by passengers in a vehicle to stop in event of an emergency.
WordNet
n. a brake operated by hand; usually operates by mechanical linkage [syn: hand brake, emergency, parking brake]
Wikipedia
On trains, the expression emergency brake has several meanings:
- The maximum brake force available to the engine driver from his/her conventional braking system, usually operated by taking the brake handle to its furthest position, through a gate mechanism, or by pushing a separate plunger in the cab.
- A completely separate mechanism from the conventional braking system, designed to stop the train as quickly as possible.
- A handle or plunger which may be applied by a passenger in an emergency situation, either stopping the train directly or sending an alarm to the driver so that he can stop the train.
The emergency brake applies considerably more braking force than the standard full-service brake. The engine driver or motorman will only use the emergency brake as a last resort, since it may cause damage; even with modern wheel slide protection, a train may develop wheel-flats, and the rails themselves can suffer profile damage.
An emergency brake is a separate brake system in a vehicle for use in case of failure of the regular (hydraulic or air) brakes and commonly used as a parking brake in automobiles.
- For road vehicles, see Parking brake
- For trains, see Emergency brake (train)
- Autobrake
- Emergency brake assist
Usage examples of "emergency brake".
Mary pulled up the emergency brake, then switched off the headlights and the wipers.
His hand found the emergency brake and he turned the handle, releasing the catch and easing the brake off.
When she was in position, she put the vehicle in park and set the emergency brake.
He pulled up the emergency brake, but there was no traction to lock the tires.
Vachel Patterson jerked his car to a halt and slammed on the emergency brake.
He stopped the car within five feet of the building and put on the emergency brake.
He reached his foot forward, resting it on the emergency brake just out of his dad's sight.
Crane imagined that a car way out there without its emergency brake on would roll right back down to this highway&mdash.
Aware of the three men, the truck slowed to a halt, shifted gears and pulled on its emergency brake.
She was a heavy car to hold on that stiff grade, and in spite of the full emergency brake helped out with the service brake, she inched backward until the rear wheels came full against a hump across the road and held.