Magnetic heat pump apparatus

A magnetic heat pump apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a work chamber, heat medium reciprocating between a first end part and a second end part of the work chamber in a reciprocation direction;
• a magnetic working element made of a magnetic working substance having magneto-caloric effect, the magnetic working element being arranged in the work chamber and located between the first end part and the second end part;
• a magnetic-field applier that alternately applies a magnetic field to the magnetic working element and removes the magnetic field from the magnetic working element in a magnetic-field direction intersecting with the reciprocation direction;
• a transportation device that transports the heat medium in synchronization with the applying and the removal of the magnetic field;
• a heat emitting portion that emits heat of the heat medium located adjacent to the first end part to outside;
• and a heat absorbing portion that absorbs outside heat into the heat medium located adjacent to the second end part, wherein the magnetic working element is one of a plurality of magnetic working elements arranged in the work chamber, each of the plurality of magnetic working elements has a column shape extending in the magnetic-field direction;
• the plurality of magnetic working elements are arranged in the reciprocation direction;
• the magnetic heat pump apparatus further comprising:
• a restricting portion is arranged between the magnetic working elements located adjacent to each other in the reciprocation direction, wherein the restricting portion restricts heat transport in the reciprocation direction;
• the plurality of magnetic working elements located adjacent each other in the reciprocation direction are integrally joined with each other into a unit, the restricting portion has a sectional area perpendicular to the reciprocation direction, and the sectional area of the restricting portion is smaller than that of the other portion of the unit other than the restricting portion, the restricting portion is defined by a joint part through which the plurality of magnetic working elements are integrally joined with each other;
• and each of the plurality of magnetic working elements has the same cross-section in the reciprocation direction and wherein the cross-section in the reciprocation direction continuously extends in the magnetic field direction.