METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A HYDRAULICALLY-POWERED COMPRESSION RELEASE BRAKE ASSEMBLY ON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a hydraulic supply circuit, a hydraulically-powered fuel injector assembly, and a hydraulically-powered compression release brake assembly includes the step of advancing a pressurized hydraulic fluid to the fuel injector assembly from the hydraulic supply circuit so as to cause fuel to be injected into a cylinder associated with the engine when the engine is being operated in a drive mode of operation. The method also includes the step of advancing the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the compression release brake assembly so as to cause a piston to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position when the engine is being operated in a brake mode of operation. Yet further, the method includes the step of rotating a rocker arm about a rocker arm shaft so as to cause the rocker arm to contact an exhaust valve thereby urging the exhaust valve into an open exhaust valve position in response to movement of the piston from the retracted position to the extended position. An internal combustion engine is also disclosed.