Hysteresis heating unit

Claim 1

A portable hysteresis oven for use in automotive vehicles comprising: A. a three-dimensional thin-walled ferromagnetic container in the form of a box of rectangular cross section closed at one end, B. at least one coil of electrically conductive material wound about the exterior surface of said container in a closely spaced magnetic coupling with the container and electrically insulated therefrom, each coil comprising a single winding and the turns of said coil being spaced apart between about oneeighth to one-half inch, C. means for connecting the ends of said coil to the alternator of an automotive vehicle as a source of alternating electric current, whereby upon rapid alternating magnetization and demagnetization of the ferromagnetic container heat is generated in the container by hysteresis, D. an outer protective shell surrounding said container, said outer shell being of generally the same configuration as said container with greater dimensions sufficient to provide a substantially uniform space between about three-fourths and 1 1/2 inches thick between the container and shell, E. protective heat insulative material disposed over said coil within said shell to substantially fill the space between said container and outer shell, F. heat-responsive control means for regulating flow of current to said coil to maintain substantially uniform heat in said container, and G. a double-walled heat insulated door hinged along one side of the open end of the oven to provide a closure for the open end of said container.