Internal combustion engine with combined cam and electro-hydraulic engine valve control

A system for controlling the actuation of an internal combustion engine valve, said system comprising:

• an engine cam;
• an engine rocker arm shaft including an internal hydraulic passage;
• an engine rocker arm mounted on the shaft;
• said rocker arm having a first end in operative contact with the cam, a slave piston recess in a second end, and an opening at an outer surface;
• a slave piston slideably disposed in the slave piston recess;
• a hydraulic control valve disposed in the rocker arm outer surface opening, said control valve being adapted to open and close at least once per cycle of the cam;
• and
• a hydraulic subcircuit provided in the rocker arm;
• said subcircuit providing selective hydraulic communication between the shaft internal passage, the control valve, and the slave piston recess.

A system for controlling the actuation of an internal combustion engine valve, said system comprising:

• an engine cam;
• an engine rocker arm shaft including an internal hydraulic passage;
• an engine rocker arm mounted on the shaft;
• said rocker arm having a first end in operative contact with the cam, a slave piston recess in a second end, and an opening at an outer surface;
• a slave piston slideably disposed in the slave piston recess;
• a accumulator disposed in the rocker arm;
• a hydraulic control valve disposed in the rocker arm outer surface opening, said control valve being adapted to release hydraulic fluid to the accumulator;
• and
• a hydraulic subcircuit provided in the rocker arm, said subcircuit providing selective hydraulic communication between the shaft internal passage, the control valve, the accumulator, and the slave piston recess.