# US 2018/0023855 A1 · Linearly-actuated magnetocaloric heat pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023855 A1 - Document ID: US20180023855A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/213,469 - Filed: 2016-07-19 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Alexander Benedict; David G. Beers; Brian Michael Schork; Michael Goodman Schroeder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023855A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/00: Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 17/02: for circulating liquids, e.g. brine - F25B 2321/0021: with a static fixed magnet - F25B 2321/0022: with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet - F25B 2321/0023: with modulation, influencing or enhancing an existing magnetic field - Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat pump, comprising: a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprising a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet spaced apart along a vertical direction such that a gap is defined between the first magnet and the second magnet and a magnetic field is created in the gap; a regenerator housing, the regenerator housing comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages comprising a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end; and a support frame, the support frame comprising an upper frame member and a lower frame member spaced apart along the vertical direction from the upper frame member, the support frame further comprising an adjustable intermediate member disposed between the upper frame member and the lower frame member, wherein the first magnet is connected to the upper frame member and the second magnet is connected to the lower frame member, and wherein adjustment of the adjustable intermediate member adjusts a length of the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly is a plurality of magnet assemblies, wherein each of the first magnets is connected to the upper frame member and each of the second magnets is connected to the lower frame member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the adjustable intermediate member is a screw jack. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, further the adjustable intermediate member is formed from a magnetically shielding material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the support frame defines an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space and the exterior space disposed on opposing sides of the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a C-shaped portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heat pump of claim 1, wherein one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly is movable relative to the other of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the transverse direction, and wherein in a first position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that a first stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field and a second stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field, and wherein in a second position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that the first stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field and the second stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat pump of claim 7, wherein the regenerator housing is movable relative to the magnet assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The heat pump of claim 7, further comprising a motor in mechanical communication with the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly and configured for moving the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heat pump of claim 9 wherein the motor is in mechanical communication with the regenerator housing. ### Claim 11 A heat pump system, comprising: a cold side heat exchanger configured for heat removal from a first local environment; a hot side heat exchanger configured for heat delivery to a second local environment; a first pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger; a second pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger; and a heat pump in fluid communication with the cold side heat exchanger, the hot side heat exchanger, the first pump and the second pump, the heat pump comprising: a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprising a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet spaced apart along a vertical direction such that a gap is defined between the first magnet and the second magnet and a magnetic field is created in the gap; a regenerator housing, the regenerator housing comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages comprising a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end; and a support frame, the support frame comprising an upper frame member and a lower frame member spaced apart along the vertical direction from the upper frame member, the support frame further comprising an adjustable intermediate member disposed between the upper frame member and the lower frame member, wherein the first magnet is connected to the upper frame member and the second magnet is connected to the lower frame member, and wherein adjustment of the adjustable intermediate member adjusts a length of the gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, wherein the magnet assembly is a plurality of magnet assemblies, wherein each of the first magnets is connected to the upper frame member and each of the second magnets is connected to the lower frame member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, wherein the adjustable intermediate member is a screw jack. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, further the adjustable intermediate member is formed from a magnetically shielding material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, wherein the support frame defines an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space and the exterior space disposed on opposing sides of the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, wherein the support frame comprises a C-shaped portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The heat pump system of claim 11, wherein one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly is movable relative to the other of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the transverse direction, and wherein in a first position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that a first stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field and a second stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field, and wherein in a second position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that the first stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field and the second stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heat pump system of claim 17, wherein the regenerator housing is movable relative to the magnet assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The heat pump system of claim 17, further comprising a motor in mechanical communication with the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly and configured for moving the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The heat pump system of claim 19, wherein the motor is in mechanical communication with the regenerator housing.