Method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine

An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, having at least one piston (6) which is movable in a cylinder space and which bounds a combustion space (10) in the cylinder space, comprising a fuel metering system (50) for metering fuel which is directed into the combustion space (10), an ignition device (91) extends into said combustion space (10) for initiating ignition of the fuel for initiating starting by a combustion in the combustion chamber, a starting air source (33) is provided which is driven practically independently of the internal combustion engine and supplies air to the fuel before the ignition for starting the engine, and a setting drive (30) is provided which sets the piston (6), before ignition, in a starting position (X) favorable for achieving a high acceleration of the piston (6) during starting, and wherein the starting air source (33) is mechanically drive-connected to the setting drive (30) which is inactivated after combustion initiated in the combustion space has started the engine.

A method for starting an internal combustion engine, having at least one piston (6) which is movable in a cylinder space and which bounds a combustion space (10) in the cylinder space, comprising operating a setting drive (30) to set the piston (6) in a starting position (X) favorable for achieving a high acceleration of the piston (6), metering and directing fuel from a fuel source to the combustion space (10) via a fuel metering system (50), operating an ignition device (91) for initiating ignition so as to initiate starting by a combustion in the combustion chamber.