Internal combustion engine and method of operating same

A method of operating an engine, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engine block having at least one cylinder bank including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein;
• reciprocatingly disposing a piston in each of the cylinder bores;
• rotatably mounting a crankshaft to the engine block, the crankshaft having at least one throw being formed as a complete disc over at least a portion of its thickness;
• providing a plurality of connecting rods having a first end and a second end, rotatably attaching the first end to the crankshaft, and coupling the second end to the piston;
• mounting a cylinder head to the cylinder bank and covering the cylinder bores therewith;
• including within the cylinder head an intake valve and an exhaust valve in fluid communication with each of the cylinder bores;
• disposing at least one permanent magnet in the disc of the at least one throw;
• disposing at least one electromagnet in at least one of:
• the engine block,
• a brace coupled to the engine block, and
• an oil pan mounted to a lower end of the engine block;
• positioning the at least one electromagnet opposite the at least one permanent magnet;
• configuring a control system to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the crankshaft in respect of the engine block;
• and
• disposing an annular array of permanent magnets in the disc of the at least one throw concentric with a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft.