Acute-Angle Keder Track for Wiper Torsional Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle windscreen wiper devices lack sufficient torsional rigidity and durability in their holding units, which can lead to instability and reduced performance, especially when subjected to varying wind conditions and wear over time.

Innovation Solution

The wiper device incorporates a holding element with a piping rail featuring vertical and horizontal walls that form acute angles, an intermediate wall parallel to the horizontal walls, and a spring element, enhancing torsional rigidity and stability. Additionally, a wind deflector element with a triangular cross-section is used, which is produced via extrusion to save material and weight while maintaining strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the piping rail uses conventional vertical and horizontal walls, then the structure is simple, but the torsional rigidity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional rigidityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the piping rail with vertical walls and horizontal walls that form acute angles (less than 85°, preferably less than 80°) rather than conventional right angles. This asymmetric angular configuration increases torsional rigidity while maintaining structural simplicity, directly resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and complexity avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If the contact surface for the wiper strip is enlarged, then the stability and durability are improved, but the holding unit size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability and durabilityVSAvoidholding unit size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediate wall with surfaces extending parallel to horizontal walls, creating additional contact surfaces in a new spatial dimension. This allows the wiper strip to engage with multiple surfaces (vertical walls, horizontal walls, and intermediate wall surfaces) simultaneously, enlarging the effective contact surface area without proportionally increasing the overall holding unit volume, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and volume control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the wind deflector element has joints in the main flow area, then it is easier to manufacture, but noise and flow resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise and flow resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the wind deflector element with the holding unit by having the wind deflector rest laterally on the holding unit in the area of the longitudinal guide channel, creating a jointless integrated structure in the main flow area. This eliminates joints that would generate noise and flow resistance, while the extrusion process maintains ease of manufacture by producing the wind deflector as a continuous piece, thus resolving the contradiction between harmful factor reduction and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If conventional materials and designs are used, then production costs are higher, but strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the wind deflector element by giving it a triangular cross-section instead of conventional shapes. This parameter change allows the use of extrusion manufacturing processes that are more cost-effective, while the triangular geometry inherently provides high strength-to-weight ratio, thus resolving the contradiction between strength maintenance and production cost reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2726344B1Wiping device, in particular wiping device for a motor vehicle pane
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2726344B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2726344B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2726344B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, having a retaining unit (10a - 10g) with a retaining element (12a - 12g), said retaining element (12a - 12g) comprising a keder track (70a - 70g) that is provided in order to interlockingly accommodate a wiper strip (40a - 40g). According to the invention, at least one vertical wall (62a - 62g, 64a - 64g) of the keder track (70a - 70g) forms an acute angle (32a - 32g, 34a - 34g) with at least one horizontal wall (66a - 66g, 68a - 68g) of said track (70a - 70g).