Method and apparatus for operating a hydraulically-powered compression release brake assembly on internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• an engine block having a first cylinder defined therein and a second cylinder defined therein;
• a first exhaust valve movably secured to said engine block and associated with said first cylinder;
• a second exhaust valve movably secured to said engine block and associated with said second cylinder;
• a rocker arm shaft secured to said engine block;
• a rocker arm rotatably coupled to rocker arm shaft;
• a hydraulically-powered fuel injector assembly secured to said engine block so as to selectively inject fuel into said first cylinder or said second cylinder;
• a hydraulically-powered compression release brake assembly having (i) a first piston mechanically coupled to said first exhaust valve and (ii) a second piston mechanically coupled to said second exhaust valve;
• an engine control module electrically coupled to said hydraulically-powered fuel injector assembly and said hydraulically-powered compression brake assembly;
• and
• a hydraulic supply circuit fluidly coupled to both said fuel injector assembly and said compression brake assembly, wherein (i) said hydraulic supply circuit is configured to advance a pressurized hydraulic fluid to said fuel injector assembly in response to an injection pulse generated by said engine control module so as to cause said fuel to be injected into said first cylinder when said engine is being operated in a drive mode of operation, (ii) said hydraulic circuit is further configured to advance said pressurized hydraulic fluid to said compression release brake assembly in response to a brake pulse generated by said engine control module so as to selectively cause said first piston to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position when said engine is being operated in a brake mode of operation while said second piston remains in a retracted position, and (iii) said rocker arm is rotated about said rocker arm shaft so as to cause said rocker arm to contact said first exhaust valve thereby urging said first exhaust valve into an open exhaust valve position when said first piston is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.