Patent ID: 8448453

Claim:
A refrigeration device, comprising: a magnetic field source; a magnetocaloric bed, one of the magnetocaloric bed and the magnetic field source being arranged to substantially surround the other, the magnetocaloric bed being arranged for relative rotation with respect to the magnetic field source such that during said relative rotation, the magnetic field experienced by parts of the magnetocaloric bed varies; plural pathways formed within the magnetocaloric bed for the flow of a working fluid during the relative rotation between the magnetocaloric bed and the permanent magnet; and a flow distributor placed at each end of the magnetocaloric bed, for controlling the part of the magnetocaloric bed able to receive working fluid during a cycle of operation wherein each flow distributor has at least two openings and is fixed with respect to the magnetic field source such that as the magnetocaloric component moves relative to the flow distributors, the part of the magnetocaloric bed exposed to the openings changes wherein the flow through each of the openings is unidirectional.