Abstract: An electrical apparatus for removing ice and snow from the exterior top surface of the roof of a vehicle comprises at least one electrical heating element disposed against, and in direct contact with, the interior bottom surface of the roof. The heating element may be installed by the vehicle manufacturer or may be retrofit, and in the case of an automobile having a roof liner, the heating element is disposed below and in contact with the roof, but above the liner. Current to the heating element may be controlled by the vehicle's rear window defogger switch, through a relay.

Abstract: Cooling of a workpiece is conducted at selected workpiece locations in accordance with predetermined heat flux, at the locations, required to result in a desired workpiece cooling rate for workpiece integrity, microstructure and mechanical properties. A cooling fluid is controlled to follow the workpiece surface according to preselected cooling fluid convective cooling parameters including, but not limited to, cooling fluid direction, mass flow rate, and velocity at the selected locations.