THE AIRBRAKE

FACTS

• Invented by George Westinghouse
• Invented in 1869
• Was used to stop trains
• Westinghouse also made a railroad signal system

HOW IT CHANGED THE WORLD

• Before the westinghouse airbrake, there was no efficient way to stop a train
• Led to the automatic airbrake
• The company westinghouse now makes air conditioners

HOW IT WORKED

• Used compressed air as an operating medium
• When applied, train line pressure would decrease, when brakes where released, pressure increased
• Three functions: charging air into air tank, apllying brakes, and releasing them
• Any failure in train line, including separation would cause a loss in train line pressure, applying the brakes

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