Opposed high pressure hydraulic system

Abstract

Braking systems and methods having above atmospheric pressure applied to the working hydraulic fluid of the braking system. In certain preferred arrangements, the braking system includes at least one source of pressure, which pressurizes a fluid. The pressurized fluid acts on respective pressure surfaces of the master plunger(s) and the slave piston(s) that are opposite the active or working surfaces of the master plunger(s) and the slave piston(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressurized brake system, comprising:
 a master cylinder at least partially defining a master chamber;   a master plunger that slides within the master cylinder, the master plunger having an active face facing the master chamber and a pressure face opposite the active face;   a slave cylinder at least partially defining a slave chamber;   a slave piston that slides within the slave cylinder, the slave piston having an active face facing the slave chamber and a pressure face opposite the active face, wherein the master chamber is in fluid communication with the slave chamber such that movement of the master plunger results in hydraulic movement of the slave piston;   at least one pressure chamber, wherein fluid pressure from the at least one pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the master plunger and the pressure face of the slave piston.   
     
     
         2 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber comprises a single pressure chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber comprises a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, wherein pressure from the first pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the master plunger and pressure from the second pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the slave piston. 
     
     
         4 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising a master reservoir housing at least partially defining a master reservoir chamber, wherein the master reservoir chamber is selectively put in fluid communication with the master chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 4 , further comprising a movable wall between the at least one pressure chamber and the master reservoir chamber such that pressure from the at least one pressure chamber acts on the master reservoir chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 1 , wherein the master plunger comprises a first portion and a second portion movable relative to one another, wherein a compensation chamber defined between the first portion and the second portion is in fluid communication with the at least one pressure chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one gas chamber containing a pressurized gas, wherein pressure from the at least one gas chamber acts on the at least one pressure chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The pressurized brake system of  claim 7 , further comprising a valve communicating with the at least one gas chamber that permits a pressure of the pressurized gas to be adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body;   at least one ground-contacting element configured to propel the vehicle along the ground;   a brake system comprising at least one braking mechanism configured to slow or stop the ground-contacting element, the brake system comprising:
 a master cylinder at least partially defining a master chamber; 
 a master plunger that slides within the master cylinder, the master plunger having a working face facing the master chamber and a pressure face opposite the working face; 
 at least one slave cylinder at least partially defining a slave chamber; 
 at least one slave piston that slides within the at least one slave cylinder, the slave piston having a working face facing the slave chamber and a pressure face opposite the working face, wherein the master chamber is in fluid communication with the slave chamber such that movement of the master plunger results in hydraulic movement of the at least one slave piston; 
 at least one pressure chamber, wherein fluid pressure from the at least one pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the master plunger and the pressure face of the at least one slave piston. 
   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber comprises a single pressure chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pressure chamber comprises a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, wherein pressure from the first pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the master plunger and pressure from the second pressure chamber acts on the pressure face of the at least one slave piston. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising a master reservoir housing at least partially defining a master reservoir chamber, wherein the master reservoir chamber is selectively put in fluid communication with the master chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a movable wall between the at least one pressure chamber and the master reservoir chamber such that pressure from the at least one pressure chamber acts on the master reservoir chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the master plunger comprises a first portion and a second portion movable relative to one another, wherein a compensation chamber defined between the first portion and the second portion is in fluid communication with the at least one pressure chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one gas chamber containing a pressurized gas, wherein pressure from the at least one gas chamber acts on the at least one pressure chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising a valve communicating with the at least one gas chamber that permits a pressure of the pressurized gas to be adjusted. 
     
     
         17 . A method of braking a vehicle, comprising:
 applying a user-initiated force to a master plunger to move the master plunger within a master cylinder such that a slave piston is moved within a slave cylinder via transfer of the force through a working hydraulic fluid while a source of pressurized fluid applies a pressure to surfaces of the master plunger and slave piston on opposite sides of the working hydraulic fluid; and   releasing the user-initiated force thereby allowing return movement of the master plunger and slave piston while the source of pressurized fluid maintains the pressure on the surfaces of the master plunger and slave piston on opposite sides of the working hydraulic fluid.