| abstract |
In a magnetic refrigerator, a permanent magnet unit shaped like a hub is so rotated as to face an annular magnetic unit having magnetic blocks arranged in a circumferential direction. The permanent magnet unit is also arranged to be concentric with a magnetic unit and has an inner and outer diameters substantially equal to those of the magnetic unit. Each of the magnetic blocks has positive and negative magnetic segments alternately arranged with predetermined gaps. As the permanent magnet unit rotates, heat conducting members are inserted into and removed from the gaps between the magnetic segments of the magnetic block. This allows heat generated from the magnetic segments to conduct in one direction. |