Patent ID: 6281611
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: A47J,A61F,A61N,H01F,H02K,H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
Apparatus for heating a substance, comprising:(a) a container adapted to hold the substance, said container including:(i) a base portion;(ii) a ferromagnetic conductor disposed within the base portion; and(ii) an upper portion connected to the base portion, said upper portion being adapted to receive the substance so that the substance is in thermal heat transfer relationship with the base portion of the container; and(b) a flux generator including:(i) a housing adapted to support the base portion of the container;(ii) a varying magnetic field generator that includes at least one permanent magnet and is disposed within the housing of the flux generator; and(iii) a prime mover drivingly coupled to an element of the magnetic field generator, causing said element of the magnetic field generator to move relative to the ferromagnetic conductor, movement of said element of the magnetic field generator producing a varying magnetic field that induces an electrical eddy current to circulate within the ferromagnetic conductor, thereby generating heat due to eddy current losses, so that the substance in the container is heated by the heat transferred through the base portion of the container.