Patent ID: 6935294

Claim:
A method for starting an engine including first and second pairs of mutually connected pistons, a first piston of each pair moving in a first cylinder, a second piston of each pair moving in a second cylinder, each cylinder having inlet ports and exhaust ports, a source of pressurized fluid, a motor-pump driveably connected to the pistons, and a starting fluid motor releasably driveably connected to the pistons, the method comprising the steps of: using the fluid source and the pump-motor to move the pistons to a position where the inlet ports and exhaust ports of the first cylinder are closed; injecting fuel into the first cylinder; using the fluid source and starting fluid-motor to drive the pistons in the first cylinder together and to compress an air-fuel mixture in the first cylinder sufficiently to produce combustion of the mixture in the first cylinder; releasing the drive connection between starting motor and the pistons; and injecting fuel into the second cylinder; and compressing an air-fuel mixture in the second cylinder sufficiently to produce combustion of the mixture in the second cylinder.