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A magnetic heater is provided having a conductive member and a first magnet assembly comprising a frame and at least one magnet disposed a distance adjacent the conductive member, wherein the first magnet assembly and the first frame are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as t

A magnetic heater is provided having a conductive member and a first magnet assembly comprising a frame and at least one magnet disposed a distance adjacent the conductive member, wherein the first magnet assembly and the first frame are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the conductive member and the first magnet assembly, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the frame in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the frame. The magnetic heater is provided with a passive relative-positioning actuator adapted to move one or more magnets in an axial direction and a radial direction relative to the frame. Such movement is exploited to control the magnetic field strength at the conductive member by controlling, among other things, the conductor/magnet spacing.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A magnetic heater, comprising: a conductive member having a conductive member first side and a conductive member second side; and a first magnet assembly comprising a first frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the first frame, the at least one magnet disposed a first distan

We claim: 1. A magnetic heater, comprising: a conductive member having a conductive member first side and a conductive member second side; and a first magnet assembly comprising a first frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the first frame, the at least one magnet disposed a first distance adjacent the conductive member first side, wherein the conductive member and the first magnet assembly are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the conductive member and the first magnet assembly, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the first frame in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the first frame, wherein the conductive member comprises a substantially disc-shaped center portion and a plurality of arms extending from the center portion. 2. A magnetic heater, comprising: a conductive member having a conductive member first side and a conductive member second side; and a first magnet assembly comprising a first frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the first frame, the at least one magnet disposed a first distance adjacent the conductive member first side, wherein the conductive member and the first magnet assembly are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the conductive member and the first magnet assembly, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the first frame in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the first frame, wherein the conductive member comprises a plurality of conductive portions separated by non-conductive portions. 3. A magnetic heater, comprising: a conductive member having a conductive member first side and a conductive member second side; and a first magnet assembly comprising a first frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the first frame, the at least one magnet disposed a first distance adjacent the conductive member first side, wherein the conductive member and the first magnet assembly are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the conductive member and the first magnet assembly, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the first frame in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the first frame, wherein the conductive member comprises a plurality of nested rings separated by non-conductive portions. 4. The magnetic heater of claim 3, further comprising: a fluid path proximate the conductive member, arranged such that heat generated in the conductive member is absorbable by fluid within the fluid path. 5. The magnetic heater of claim 4, further comprising a fluid driver adapted to drive fluid within the fluid path. 6. The magnetic heater of claim 3, further comprising: a shaft coupled with the magnet assembly adapted to couple with a drive mechanism to rotate the magnet assembly about the axis. 7. A magnetic heater comprising: a conductive member having a conductive member first side and a conductive member second side; a first magnet assembly comprising a first frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the first frame, the at least one magnet disposed a first distance adjacent the conductive member first side, wherein the conductive member and the first magnet assembly are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the conductive member and the first magnet assembly, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the first frame in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the first frame; and a second magnet assembly comprising a second frame and at least one magnet movably coupled to the second frame, the at least one magnet disposed a second distance adjacent the conductive member second side, wherein the second magnet assembly and the second frame are adapted to rotate relative to each other about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductive member when relative motion is produced between the second magnet assembly and the second frame, the at least one magnet adapted to move relative to the second frame in dependence with the rate of rotation of the second frame. 8. The magnetic heater of claim 7, wherein the at least one magnet of the first and second magnet assemblies face each other and rotate in unison with each other. 9. The magnetic heater of claim 7, wherein the first distance and the second distance are equal. 10. The magnetic heater of claim 7, further comprising: a fluid path proximate the conductive member, arranged such that heat generated in the conductive member is absorbable by fluid within the fluid path. 11. The magnetic heater of claim 10, further comprising a fluid driver adapted to drive fluid within the fluid path. 12. The magnetic heater of claim 10, further comprising: a shaft coupled with the magnet assembly adapted to couple with a drive mechanism to rotate the magnet assembly about the axis. 13. A magnetic heater apparatus, comprising: a rear housing; a first end plate; a heater housing; a magnetic heater; a second end plate; and a blower housing, the magnetic heater comprising: a shaft; a first magnet assembly; a conductive member; a second magnet assembly; and a fluid driver, the first and second magnet assemblies having a plurality of magnets, the conductive member disposed between and coaxial with the first and second magnet assemblies, the conductive member coupled with the shaft and adapted to rotate with respect to the first and second magnet assemblies, the shaft adapted to couple with an energy source, the rear housing coupled adjacent the first end plate and comprising apertures adapted to accept the shaft there through, the first end plate coupled adjacent the heater housing defining a volume adapted to contain the first and second magnet assemblies and conductive member, the second end plate coupled adjacent the heater housing defining a side of the volume, the heater housing comprises a fluid outlet, the second end plate comprises a second end plate aperture defining a portion of a fluid path, the fluid driver coupled to the shaft and located adjacent the second end panel on the opposite side from the second magnet assembly, the blower housing coupled adjacent the second end panel adapted to enclose the fluid driver there between, the blower housing defining a fluid inlet aperture defining a portion of the fluid path, the fluid path defined by the fluid inlet aperture, the fluid driver, the second end plate aperture, the heater housing and the fluid outlet, the first and second magnet assemblies further comprising a frame, and at least one passive relative-positioning actuator adapted to move one or more magnets in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction relative to the frame, wherein the relative motion is produced in dependence on the change in the rate of rotation of the frame. 14. The magnetic heater apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a spacing adjustment assembly comprising: a knob; a threaded spacer having a first spacer end and a second spacer end; a first retention coupler; and a second retention coupler, the first retention coupler disposed adjacent the first magnet assembly and the second retention coupler disposed adjacent the second magnet assembly, the threaded spacer disposed between the first and second magnet assemblies, the first spacer end coupled with the first retention coupler, the second spacer end disposed through the second retention coupler and coupled to the knob, wherein turning the knob in a first direction reduces the spacing between the first and second magnet assemblies and turning the knob in an opposite direction increases the spacing between the first and second magnet assemblies.