Patent ID: 7596955

Claim:
A device for generating a thermal flux with magneto-caloric material, the device comprising at least one thermal flux generation unit ( 10 , 30 ) provided with at least two thermal bodies ( 11 , 21 , 31 , 41 a , 41 b ), each containing at least one magneto-caloric element ( 12 , 22 , 32 ), magnetic means ( 103 , 203 , 303 , 403 ) being arranged for emitting at least one magnetic field, displacement means coupled to the magnetic means ( 103 , 203 , 303 , 403 ) for moving the magnetic means ( 103 , 203 , 303 , 403 ) relative to the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ) to subject the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ) to a magnetic field variation to vary a temperature the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ), and a recuperation means for recuperating at least one of calories and frigories that are emitted by the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ), the displacement means reciprocating and being arranged for moving the magnetic means ( 103 , 203 , 303 , 403 ) relative to the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ) in a reciprocating motion; the recuperation means comprises at least two heat transfer fluid circuits ( 410 a , 410 b ), circulating means ( 411 a , 411 b ) for circulating heat transfer fluid in each fluid circuit ( 410 a , 410 b ) and extraction means ( 413 a , 413 b ) for extracting the calories and frigories recovered by the heat transfer fluid, each fluid circuit ( 410 a , 410 b ) comprises at least two transfer zones ( 14 ) each of which are located immediately adjacent to one of the magneto-caloric elements ( 12 , 22 , 32 ) and arranged so that the heat transfer fluid at least partially recovers the calories and frigories emitted by the corresponding magneto-caloric element ( 12 , 22 , 32 ); and at least one of the at least two circuits ( 410 a , 410 b ) being a hot circuit ( 410 a ) for the calories and at least one of the at least two circuits ( 410 a , 410 b ) being a cold circuit ( 410 b ) for the frigories, and a commutation means ( 412 ) for connecting each of the at least two transfer zones ( 14 ) in alternation to one of the at least two circuits ( 410 a , 410 b ), and a synchronization means for synchronizing the reciprocating displacement means with the commutation means ( 412 ) such that, depending on the magnetic field to which each magneto-caloric element ( 12 , 22 , 32 ) is subjected, the corresponding transfer zone ( 14 ) is alternately connected to one or other of the at least two circuits ( 410 a , 410 b ).