Transverse-moving magnet magnetic heater

Abstract

A transverse-moving magnet magnetic heater is provided having a conductor assembly and a magnet assembly. The conductor assembly is operable to rotate relative to the magnet assembly about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductor assembly when relative motion is produced between the conductor assembly and magnet assembly. The magnet assembly is operable to translate transversely into and out of magnetic engagement with the conductor assembly. The conductor assembly defines a fluid path therethrough operable to drive a working fluid therethrough and for the transfer of heat from the conductor assembly to the working fluid. The magnetic heater may be a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the conductor assembly. The heat generated by the magnetic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a working fluid.

1 . A magnetic heater, comprising:
 a drive shaft defining a drive shaft axis and operable to rotate with respect to the drive shaft axis, the drive shaft defining a drive shaft first side and a drive shaft second side opposite the drive shaft first side;   a conductor plate unit comprising at least one conductor plate, the conductor plate comprises an electrically conductive material operable to enable inductive heating within the conductor plate when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux;   at least one magnet unit comprising at least one magnet assembly, the magnet assembly being operable to provide time-varying magnetic flux to the conductor plate when the conductor plate moves relative to the magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprises at least one magnet, wherein the magnet assembly is operable to dispose the magnet in close proximity to the conductor plate; and   drive means operable for translating the magnet assembly transversely with respect to the drive shaft axis between a magnetically disengaged position wherein the magnet is out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and a magnetically engaged position wherein the magnet is at least partially in opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate,   the conductor plate being coupled to the drive shaft such that the conductor plate rotates relative to the magnet assembly when the drive shaft is caused to rotate.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic heater of  claim 1 , comprising a first magnet unit adjacent the drive shaft first side and a second magnet unit adjacent the drive shaft second side, wherein the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit are operable to translate towards and away from each other transversely with respect to the drive shaft axis. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic heater of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor plate unit comprises a plurality of conductor plates being parallel and spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other defining conductor plate spaces therebetween,
 wherein the magnet unit comprises a plurality of magnet assemblies being parallel and spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, the magnet unit operable such that in the magnetically engaged position each of the plurality of magnet assemblies are positioned in alternating interleaved arrangement placing the magnet at least partially within the conductor plate space between each of the plurality of conductor plates.   
     
     
         4 . The magnetic heater of  claim 1 , further comprising two upper tracks and two lower tracks, the upper tracks and lower tracks being substantially parallel with respect to each other and substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis defined by the drive shaft, the upper tracks being located adjacent the drive shaft first side and the lower tracks being located adjacent the drive shaft second side,
 the magnet unit further comprising an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, and a plurality of wheels pivotally coupled to the upper side and a plurality of wheels pivotally coupled to the lower side, the upper and lower tracks operable to receive and guide the wheels in translation along a portion of a length of the upper and lower tracks such that the magnet unit may translate substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis defined by the drive shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The magnetic heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot actuator,
 wherein the magnet assembly comprises an arm having an arm first end and an arm second end opposite the arm first end, the at least one magnet being coupled to the arm second end, the magnet assembly further comprising a pivot element between the arm first end and the arm second end operable to facilitate pivoting motion of the arm in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction,   the pivot actuator operable to pivot the arm between the magnetically disengaged position with the magnet being out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and the magnetically engaged position with the magnet translating at least partially in opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate.   
     
     
         6 . The magnetic heater of  claim 3 , further comprising a pivot actuator,
 wherein each of the plurality of magnet assemblies comprises an arm having an arm first end and an arm second end opposite the arm first end, the at least one magnet being coupled to the arm second end, the magnet assembly further comprising a pivot element between the arm first end and the arm second end operable to facilitate pivoting motion of the arm in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction,   the pivot actuator is operable to pivot each of the arms between the magnetically disengaged position with the plurality of magnet assemblies being out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and the magnetically engaged position wherein each of the plurality of magnet assemblies are positioned in alternating interleaved arrangement translating the magnet at least partially within the conductor plate space between each of the plurality of conductor plates.   
     
     
         7 . The magnetic heater of  claim 6 , wherein the magnet unit further comprises a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis, wherein the plurality of magnet assemblies are coupled to the pivot shaft via the pivot element and operable such that the plurality of magnet assemblies pivot simultaneously about the pivot axis when the pivot shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic heater of  claim 7 , wherein the pivot actuator comprises a linear actuator having a fixed end and an extendable end opposite the fixed end, the extendable end being coupled to the arm, wherein movement of the extendable end from an extended position to a retracted position rotates the arm moving of the magnet between the magnetically disengaged position and magnetically engaged position. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic heater of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot actuator is operable to independently pivot each of the plurality of magnet assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic heater of  claim 6 , wherein the conductor plate comprises a plurality of spokes radiating from about a center of the conductor plate, the conductor plate being coupled to the drive shaft by the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic heater of  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid driver element operable for moving a working fluid through the annular passage and through the conductor plate spaces. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic heater of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid driver element comprises at least one fin projecting from the drive shaft between the conductor plates and adjacent the spokes, the fins driven in rotation by the drive shaft and operable to move air in through the annular passage from a substantially axial direction and substantially radially outwardly from the conductor plate spaces. 
     
     
         13 . An engine-driven heat generation system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft defining an axis of rotation;   a magnetic heater comprising:
 a drive shaft defining a drive shaft axis and operable to rotate with respect to the drive shaft axis, the drive shaft defining a drive shaft first side and a drive shaft second side opposite the drive shaft first side; 
 a conductor plate unit comprising at least one conductor plate, the conductor plate comprises an electrically conductive material operable to enable inductive heating within the conductor plate when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux; 
 at least one magnet unit comprising at least one magnet assembly, the magnet assembly being operable to provide time-varying magnetic flux to the conductor plate when the conductor plate moves relative to the magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprises at least one magnet, wherein the magnet assembly is operable to dispose the magnet in close proximity to the conductor plate; and 
 drive means operable for translating the magnet assembly transversely with respect to the drive shaft axis between a magnetically disengaged position wherein the magnet is out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and a magnetically engaged position wherein the magnet is at least partially in opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate, 
 the conductor plate being coupled to the drive shaft such that the conductor plate rotates relative to the magnet assembly when the drive shaft is caused to rotate; and 
   a fluid handling system, the drive shaft of the engine operable to rotate the conductor plates within the magnetic heater which in turn heats the conductor plates which in turn heats a secondary working fluid flowing about the conductor plates, the fluid handling system comprising:
 a fluid reservoir; 
 an exhaust heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and 
 a coolant heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, wherein the heat from the exhaust of the engine is transferred to the working fluid in the exhaust heat exchanger, the heat from the coolant heat exchanger is transferred to the working fluid in the coolant heat exchanger, the heat generated by the magnetic heater is transferred to the secondary working fluid passing within the magnetic heater, and the heat generated by the exhaust heat exchanger and the coolant heat exchanger is transferred to the secondary working fluid. 
   
     
     
         14 . The magnetic heater of  claim 13 , comprising a first magnet unit adjacent the drive shaft first side and a second magnet unit adjacent the drive shaft second side, wherein the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit are operable to translate towards and away from each other transversely with respect to the drive shaft axis. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic heater of  claim 13 , wherein the conductor plate unit comprises a plurality of conductor plates being parallel and spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other defining conductor plate spaces therebetween,
 wherein the magnet unit comprises a plurality of magnet assemblies being parallel and spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, the magnet unit operable such that in the magnetically engaged position each of the plurality of magnet assemblies are positioned in alternating interleaved arrangement placing the magnet at least partially within the conductor plate space between each of the plurality of conductor plates.   
     
     
         16 . The magnetic heater of  claim 13 , further comprising two upper tracks and two lower tracks, the upper tracks and lower tracks being substantially parallel with respect to each other and substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis defined by the drive shaft, the upper tracks being located adjacent the drive shaft first side and the lower tracks being located adjacent the drive shaft second side,
 the magnet unit further comprising an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, and a plurality of wheels pivotally coupled to the upper side and a plurality of wheels pivotally coupled to the lower side, the upper and lower tracks operable to receive and guide the wheels in translation along a portion of a length of the upper and lower tracks such that the magnet unit may translate substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis defined by the drive shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetic heater of  claim 13 , further comprising a pivot actuator,
 wherein the magnet assembly comprises an arm having an arm first end and an arm second end opposite the arm first end, the at least one magnet being coupled to the arm second end, the magnet assembly further comprising a pivot element between the arm first end and the arm second end operable to facilitate pivoting motion of the arm in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction,   the pivot actuator operable to pivot the arm between the magnetically disengaged position with the magnet being out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and the magnetically engaged position with the magnet translating at least partially in opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate.   
     
     
         18 . The magnetic heater of  claim 15 , further comprising a pivot actuator,
 wherein each of the plurality of magnet assemblies comprises an arm having an arm first end and an arm second end opposite the arm first end, the at least one magnet being coupled to the arm second end, the magnet assembly further comprising a pivot element between the arm first end and the arm second end operable to facilitate pivoting motion of the arm in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction,   
       the pivot actuator is operable to pivot each of the arms between the magnetically disengaged position with the plurality of magnet assemblies being out of opposing spaced apart facing relationship with the conductor plate and the magnetically engaged position wherein each of the plurality of magnet assemblies are positioned in alternating interleaved arrangement translating the magnet at least partially within the conductor plate space between each of the plurality of conductor plates. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic heater of  claim 18 , wherein the magnet unit further comprises a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis, wherein the plurality of magnet assemblies are coupled to the pivot shaft via the pivot element and operable such that the plurality of magnet assemblies pivot simultaneously about the pivot axis when the pivot shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic heater of  claim 19 , wherein the pivot actuator comprises a linear actuator having a fixed end and an extendable end opposite the fixed end, the extendable end being coupled to the arm, wherein movement of the extendable end from an extended position to a retracted position rotates the arm moving of the magnet between the magnetically disengaged position and magnetically engaged position. 
     
     
         21 . The magnetic heater of  claim 18 , wherein the pivot actuator is operable to independently pivot each of the plurality of magnet assemblies. 
     
     
         22 . The magnetic heater of  claim 18 , wherein the conductor plate comprises a plurality of spokes radiating from about a center of the conductor plate, the conductor plate being coupled to the drive shaft by the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
         23 . The magnetic heater of  claim 22 , further comprising a fluid driver element operable for moving a working fluid through the annular passage and through the conductor plate spaces. 
     
     
         24 . The magnetic heater of  claim 23 , wherein the fluid driver element comprises at least one fin projecting from the drive shaft between the conductor plates and adjacent the spokes, the fins driven in rotation by the drive shaft and operable to move air in through the annular passage from a substantially axial direction and substantially radially outwardly from the conductor plate spaces.