Hydraulic actuation system for improved engine control

A system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• an energy storage device configured to store energy;
• a hydraulic pump configured to be powered at least partially by the energy storage device;
• an adjustable hydraulic engine actuator configured to be adjusted by hydraulic fluid supplied by the pump;
• an energy conversion device configured to convert at least one of a portion of an output of the engine and motion of the vehicle to energy storable by the energy storage device;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• during a first engine running operating mode with the hydraulic pump on, provide a first amount of energy to the hydraulic pump,
• during a second engine running operating mode with the hydraulic pump on, provide a second amount of energy to the hydraulic pump that is different than the first amount, and
• during each of the first engine running operating mode and the second engine running operating mode, adjust said adjustable hydraulic engine actuator.

A system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having at least an adjustable valve;
• a hydraulic actuator configured to adjust said adjustable valve;
• a secondary power source;
• an oil pump configured to be driven at least partially by the secondary power source, wherein the oil pump is configured to supply oil pressure to at least the hydraulic actuator;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• during a first engine running operating mode with the oil pump on, provide a first amount of energy to the oil pump,
• during a second engine running operating mode with the oil pump on, provide a second amount of energy to the oil pump that is different than the first amount, and
• during each of the first engine running operating mode and the second engine running operating mode, vary the oil pressure supplied by the oil pump to the hydraulic actuator to thereby adjust the hydraulic actuator.

A method of operating a hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle including at least an internal combustion engine, an electric oil pump configured to provide oil pressure to the engine, wherein the oil pump is configured to operate independent of engine speed, and a battery configured to provide electrical energy to the oil pump, the method comprising:

• during engine running and with the electric oil pump running:
• operating the engine with a first valve operation;
• supplying a first amount of electrical energy to the electric oil pump from the battery;
• operating the electric oil pump with the first amount of electric energy to supply a first oil pressure to the engine for the first valve operation;
• supplying a second amount of electrical energy to the electric oil pump from the battery;
• operating the electric oil pump with the second amount of electric energy to supply a second oil pressure to the engine for a second valve operation;
• adjusting a condition of a valve of said engine with said second oil pressure, based on a change in an engine operating condition;
• and
• operating the engine with the second valve operation, wherein the second valve operation is different from the first valve operation.