Patent ID: 7902703

Claim:
An apparatus for producing mechanical work comprising: a plurality of first magnets having a north pole and a south pole; a plurality of second magnets having a north pole and a south pole, wherein each of the plurality of first magnets is associated with at least one of the plurality of second magnets such that a pole of each of the plurality of first magnets can be positioned proximate a similar pole of the associated second magnet; a mechanical element coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of first magnets by one or more magnet supports such that movement of at least a portion of the plurality of first magnets actuates the mechanical element; a plurality of ferromagnetic elements interposed equidistantly between the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets; an externally powered temperature control device to selectively alter the temperature of the plurality of ferromagnetic elements to change the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic elements, thus causing the ferromagnetic elements to temporarily lose their ferromagnetic property; wherein the movement of the mechanical element is used to generate electrical energy, said energy then being used to drive the externally powered temperature control devices.