Abstract: A liquid heating assembly including a heat-conductive displaceable element and a liquid heating enclosure defining a liquid heating volume including a primary liquid heating volume portion and a secondary liquid heating volume portion, separated by the heat-conductive displaceable element, the primary liquid heating volume portion including a heat exchanger for directly heating liquid in the primary liquid heating volume portion and for indirectly heating liquid in the secondary liquid heating volume portion via the heat-conductive displacement element.

Abstract: A liquid heating unit for use in a vehicle surface cleaning and deicing system, the liquid heating unit including a liquid heating assembly, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning at least one vehicle surface, at least one heating element for heating fluid in the liquid heating assembly and a freeze protection element located in the liquid heating assembly, the freeze protection element including a deformable container being deformable in at least two generally perpendicular axial directions.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle, including a vessel, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window. There is a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.

Abstract: A liquid heating unit for use in a vehicle surface cleaning and deicing system, the liquid heating unit including a liquid heating assembly, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning at least one vehicle surface, at least one heating element for heating fluid in the liquid heating assembly and a freeze protection element located in the liquid heating assembly, the freeze protection element including a deformable container being deformable in at least two generally perpendicular axial directions.

Abstract: A liquid heating assembly including a heat-conductive displaceable element and a liquid heating enclosure defining a liquid heating volume including a primary liquid heating volume portion and a secondary liquid heating volume portion, separated by the heat-conductive displaceable element, the primary liquid heating volume portion including a heat exchanger for directly heating liquid in the primary liquid heating volume portion and for indirectly heating liquid in the secondary liquid heating volume portion via the heat-conductive displacement element.

Abstract: A liquid heating assembly (102) including a heat-conductive displaceable element (250) and a liquid heating enclosure (210, 212) defining a liquid heating volume including a primary liquid (258) heating volume portion and a secondary liquid heating volume portion (254), separated by the heat-conductive displaceable element (250), the primary liquid heating volume portion including a heat exchanger for directly heating liquid in the primary liquid heating volume portion and for indirectly heating liquid in the secondary liquid heating volume portion via the heat-conductive displacement element (250).

Abstract: A solenoid valve comprises a first coil, a plunger, a first and a second opening in the valve, and a latching mechanism placed in association with the first opening. The latching mechanism causes latching, with a predetermined latching force, of the plunger to the first opening, and energization of the first coil along a predetermined first polarity causes at least a reduction of the latching force. The plunger has a first end towards the first opening and a second end towards the second opening, and a magnetic field extensor extends a first pole of the magnetic field produced by the first coil to the first end of the plunger. The extensor comprises a hollow cylindrical ferrous member terminated by a ferrous endpiece and is movable, with the plunger, relative to the first opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, including a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid, a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window, and a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, characterized by an auxiliary heating element being disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, wherein the auxiliary heating element is disposed at a bottom portion of the vessel and is operative to heat a quantity of fluid which is not necessarily sufficient to cover the first heating element.