Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of stages, a plurality of conduits and a plurality of flow restrictors. Each stage includes a caloric material disposed within a respective chamber of a plurality of chambers. Each conduit is coupled to a regenerator housing at a respective one of the plurality of chambers. Each flow restrictor is coupled to the regenerator housing or a respective one of the plurality of conduits. A related method for regulating fluid flow through a plurality of stages of a caloric heat pump is also provided.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump system includes a pump is operable to circulate a working fluid through a stage. The pump includes a motor. A cam is coupled to the motor such that the cam is rotatable by the motor. The cam has a non-circular outer profile surface. Each piston of a pair of pistons has a cam follower positioned on the non-circular outer profile surface of the cam.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump is constructed from a continuously rotating regenerator where MCM is cycled in and out of a magnetic field in a continuous manner. A heat transfer fluid is circulated therethrough to provide for heat transfer in a cyclic manner. The MCM may include stages having different Curie temperature ranges. A field of varying magnetic flux may be used. The rotating regenerator can be equipped with one or more gaskets to improve fluid seals between the rotating regenerator and stationary parts. An appliance using such a heat pump system is also provided. The heat pump may also be used in other applications for heating, cooling, or both.

Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a piston slidably received within a chamber of a cylinder assembly and a mover positioned in a driving coil. The linear compressor also includes features for coupling the piston to the mover such that motion of the mover is transferred to the piston during operation of the driving coil and for reducing friction between the piston and the cylinder during motion of the piston within the chamber of the cylinder.

Abstract: An appliance includes an ice maker and a caloric heat pump system for cooling the ice maker. The caloric heat pump system includes a pump for circulating a heat transfer fluid between first and second heat exchangers and caloric material stages in order to cool the ice maker with the first heat exchanger. A related ice making appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating and cooling a wash chamber of a tub. A field generator is positioned such that caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system. A pump circulates a heat transfer fluid between a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages.

Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a first heat exchanger that is coupled to a tank. The water heater appliance also includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating liquid within the tank via the first heat exchanger. The caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of caloric material stages. A field generator is positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system.

Abstract: A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump can include one or more stages of MCM, each stage having an original peak Curie temperature. In the event the magneto caloric response of one or more stages of MCM degrades, the present invention provides for operating the heat pump system so that one or more stages of MCM are held at a different temperature from the original peak Curie temperature so as to restore the MCM to its original peak Curie temperature or to within a certain interval thereof. The present invention can be used with e.g., an appliance, air-conditioning systems (heating or cooling), or other devices using such a heat pump system as well.

Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a piston slidably received within a chamber of a cylinder assembly and a mover positioned in a driving coil. The linear compressor also includes features for coupling the piston to the mover such that motion of the mover is transferred to the piston during operation of the driving coil and for reducing friction between the piston and the cylinder during motion of the piston within the chamber of the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerator having magneto caloric material (MCM) configured with flow channels for the passage of a heat transfer fluid through the MCM. The flow channels are created by positioning elongate elements of the MCM adjacent to each other. The elongate elements provide surface area necessary for heat transfer while the flow channels reduce the pressure drop incurred by the heat transfer fluid as it flows through the regenerator. The elongate elements can also be configured with MCM having different Curie temperatures (e.g., different Curie temperature ranges) in order to accommodate a variety of ambient conditions in which the regenerator may be used.

Abstract: A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump can include one or more stages of MCM, each stage having an original peak Curie temperature. In the event the magneto caloric response of one or more stages of MCM degrades, the present invention provides for operating the heat pump system so that one or more stages of MCM are held at a different temperature from the original peak Curie temperature so as to restore the MCM to its original peak Curie temperature or to within a certain interval thereof. The present invention can be used with e.g., an appliance, air-conditioning systems (heating or cooling), or other devices using such a heat pump system as well.

Abstract: A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump is constructed from a continuously rotating regenerator where MCM is cycled in and out of a magnetic field in a continuous manner. A heat transfer fluid is circulated therethrough to provide for heat transfer in a cyclic manner. The MCM may include stages having different Curie temperature ranges. A field of varying magnetic flux may be used. The rotating regenerator can be equipped with one or more gaskets to improve fluid seals between the rotating regenerator and stationary parts. An appliance using such a heat pump system is also provided. The heat pump may also be used in other applications for heating, cooling, or both.