Liquid heating vessels

A liquid heating device for use on an induction hob, comprising:

• a vessel to accept, contain, heat and dispense water, the vessel made from a non-ferromagnetic material;
• a ferromagnetic heating plate arranged to be located inside the vessel adjacent to the base of the vessel, wherein the ferromagnetic heating plate is arranged to be movable vertically in a perpendicular direction away from the base of the vessel and return;
• and
• an arrangement to lift the ferromagnetic heating plate comprising a thermally sensitive actuator, wherein the ferromagnetic heating plate is mechanically coupled to the thermally sensitive actuator;
• the thermally sensitive actuator comprising:
• a means to store potential energy;
• a steam chamber fluidly connected to the vessel;
• and
• a releasable latching mechanism for the actuator which incorporates a thermally sensitive device set to operate at a predetermined temperature when influenced by the proximity of steam entering the steam chamber from boiling water in the vessel, wherein release of the latching mechanism permits the stored potential energy to be converted into kinetic energy and cause the actuator to move and lift the ferromagnetic heating plate;
• wherein, in a first mode of operation, the latching mechanism is configured to be released when the thermally sensitive device operates at the predetermined temperature so as to permit the stored potential energy to be converted into kinetic energy and cause the actuator to move and lift the ferromagnetic heating plate;
• the liquid heating device further comprising a push-button or switch;
• wherein, in a manual-intervention mode of operation, the latching mechanism is configured to be released by a user pressing down on the push-button or switch so as to permit the stored potential energy to be converted to kinetic energy and cause the actuator to move and lift the ferromagnetic heating plate, whereby the latching mechanism is released by moving or deflecting part of that latching mechanism.