Adaptive Wiper Blade Actuator for Aerodynamic Lift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wiper devices lack the ability to automatically adjust their properties in response to varying environmental conditions and parameters, such as air inflow speed, pressure, and temperature, leading to suboptimal wiping performance and increased liquid accumulation on surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an actuating unit with an actuator and control unit that adjusts the wiper unit's properties, such as angle of attack, mechanical pretension, flexibility, and position, based on parameters like driving speed, air inflow speed, and wiper blade contact pressure, using a combination of sensors and actuators like piezo or hydraulic units to optimize wiping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wiper devices are used without automatic adjustment capability, then the device complexity is low, but the wiping performance is suboptimal under varying environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade incorporates adjustable properties such as angle of attack, mechanical pretension, flexibility, and position that can be dynamically modified based on environmental conditions. The actuating unit enables real-time adaptation of these parameters to optimize wiping performance under varying driving speeds, air inflow conditions, and contact pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives parameter inputs (driving speed, air inflow speed, contact pressure) and automatically adjusts the wiper unit properties through the actuator. This closed-loop feedback system continuously optimizes wiping performance by comparing actual conditions with optimal parameters and making necessary adjustments.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the wiper unit properties are fixed, then the manufacturing cost is lower, but the liquid accumulation increases under changing environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating unit modifies physical parameters of the wiper unit including angle of attack, mechanical pretension, flexibility, and position. These parameter changes enable the wiper blade to adapt to varying environmental conditions, preventing liquid accumulation by maintaining optimal contact characteristics with the surface being wiped.
3Productivity
If the wiper blade contact pressure is not optimized, then the energy consumption is lower, but the wiping efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit optimizes the mechanical pretension and contact pressure parameters of the wiper unit based on received data about driving speed and air inflow conditions. This ensures that the wiper blade maintains optimal contact pressure with the surface, maximizing wiping efficiency while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding excessive pressure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for improved wiping efficiency, reduced liquid accumulation, and enhanced adaptation to changing conditions, ensuring optimal contact pressure and resistance, thereby improving wiping results and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
EP 0 930 207 A2, in which a control device with the aid of piezoceramic actuators enables the shape of the wiper blade to be changed
Implementation Method 2
The actuator unit can be designed as any actuator unit that appears to be useful to the person skilled in the art, in particular as a hydraulic and / or pneumatic actuator unit
Implementation Method 3
A spoiler element is to be understood in particular to mean an element which is intended to repel a head wind acting on the wiper device and / or to use it for pressing the wiper strip onto the surface to be wiped
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a wiper device having at least one wiper unit (14a; 14b; 14c; 14d) arranged on a wiper arm (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d) and/or on a wiper blade (12a; 12b; 12c; 12d), the wiper unit comprising, in particular, a spoiler element (16a; 17a; 16b; 17b; 16c; 17c; 16d; 17d) and/or a wiper strip (18a; 18b; 18c; 18d) and/or a spring strip (20a; 20b; 20c; 20d). The wiper device comprises at least one adjustment unit (22a; 22b; 22c; 22d) for at least partially automatically adjusting at least one characteristic of the wiper unit (14a; 14b; 14c; 14d) depending on at least one parameter.