single-disk brake. An aircraft brake in which a single steel disk rotates with the wheel and rides between two or more pads, or linings. These linings are mounted in the jaws of a stationary clamp which is closed by hydraulic pressure. When the brake is applied, the disk is clamped tightly between the linings, and the resulting friction slows the aircraft and converts energy of motion of the aircraft into heat.
single-face repair (bonded structure repair). The repair to a piece of laminated structural material in which the damage extends through only one face of the material and partly into the core.
single flare (rigid tubing flare). A flare made on a piece of rigid tubing in which there is only one thickness of the tubing material in the flare.
single-loop rib stitching (aircraft fabric attachment). A method of attaching the fabric to the wing of an airplane in which only one loop of rib-stitching cord passes around the rib in each stitch.
single-point fueling (aircraft fueling). A method of filling multiple fuel tanks in large aircraft from a single fueling point. The fuel hose is attached to the fueling station in the aircraft, and the correct tank valves are opened. Fuel flows into the tank until either the correct level is reached or the tank is full. Then, fuel to that tank is automatically shut off.
Single-point fueling is fast, efficient, and safe, and it is used on almost all transport-type aircraft.
single-point grounding (electrical grounding). A method of grounding an electrical circuit by connecting all of the wires that go to ground to a single point on the equipment chassis. When single-point grounding is used, there is very little current flow in the chassis, and the interference from magnetic fields in the chassis is avoided.
single-servo brake (aircraft brake). A type of brake installed on some aircraft that uses the momentum of the rotating wheel to wedge the brake shoe tightly against the brake drum when the aircraft is moving in a forward direction. A double-servo (duo-servo) brake produces a wedging action between the shoes and the drum, whether the aircraft is moving forward or backward. A nonservo brake does not produce a wedging action in either direction.
single-shaft turboprop engine. A turboprop engine in which the propeller reduction gears are driven by the same shaft which drives the compressor for the gas generator.