Abstract: An elastocaloric heat pump requiring little installation space wherein the elastocaloric heat pump includes an elastocaloric element, a first coolant duct and a second coolant duct and at least one drive device, wherein the elastocaloric element is connected to a carriage on the end sides in each case, the carriages are arranged displaceably on two guide mechanisms which are not parallel to each other, and the drive device cyclically displaces the carriages along the guide mechanism so the elastocaloric element is displaced cyclically and cyclically expanded between the first coolant duct and the second coolant duct.

Abstract: In order to provide a cascade heat pump with which a large temperature lift can be provided with high efficiency, a cascade heat pump comprising n stages where n?2 is proposed. Each of the n stages has a heat pump with a coolant inlet, a first coolant outlet, and a second coolant outlet. Each heat pump has a hot side and a cold side and a flow divider to divide a coolant flow entering the coolant inlet between the hot side and the cold side. The first coolant outlet of the heat pump of each stage i, where i=1 . . . n?1, is connected to the coolant inlet of the heat pump of a subsequent stage i+1. The second coolant outlet of the heat pump of at least one subsequent stage i+1 is connected by a recirculation line to the coolant inlet of the heat pump of a preceding stage.