Patent ID: 8866350

Claim:
An engine, comprising: a support structure; at least one electric magnet connected to the support structure; a crankshaft rotatably connected to the support structure; at least one piston assembly having one end operably connected to the crankshaft and a second end positioned in a spaced apart relationship to the electric magnet such that a magnetic field created by the electric magnet provides an attractive force which pulls the piston assembly toward the electric magnet so as to impart reciprocating mechanical energy to the piston assembly; and means for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electric magnet, wherein the piston assembly comprises: a piston rod having a first end and a second end, the first end journaled to the crankshaft; and a piston head fabricated of a ferrous material, the piston head pivotally connected to the second end of the piston rod to define a first pivot point and pivotally connected to the support structure to define a second pivot point such that the piston head travels between a first position and a second position along an angular path about the second pivot point.