Patent ID: 7420144

Claim:
A magnetic heater, comprising: a drive shaft having an axis; one or more conductor assemblies comprising an electrically conductive material adapted to enable inductive heating within the conductor assembly when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux, the one or more conductor assemblies are adapted to translate transversely with respect to the axis of the drive shaft between a first, disengaged position and a second engaged position; one or more magnet assemblies comprising one or more magnets, each magnet assembly aligned along the axis about the drive shaft, wherein each magnet assembly is adapted to dispose the one or more magnets in close proximity to the conductor assembly, each magnet assembly coupled to the drive shaft adapted such that the magnet assembly rotates relative to the conductor assembly when the drive shaft is caused to rotate, wherein the magnet assembly is adapted to provide time-varying magnetic flux to the conductor assembly when moved relative thereto; and means for translating the one or more conductor assemblies transversely with respect to and on opposite sides of the axis of the drive shaft between the first, disengaged position and the second engaged position, into and out of opposing, spaced apart facing relationship with the magnet assemblies and therefore into and out of magnetic engagement therein.