Composite Wiper Blade Attachment Without Piercing

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional aircraft windshield wiper blades experience weakness and bending due to rivets extending through both the frame and rubber blade, leading to difficulties in meeting specified sweep angle requirements during high-speed operation.

Innovation Solution

A wiper blade design featuring a support member coupled to a blade element via a clip and fastener, eliminating apertures through the support member to enhance rigidity and attachment, and a coupler for secure attachment to the wiper arm, ensuring precise sweep angles without deflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rivets are used to extend through both the frame and rubber blade, then the blade elements are securely attached, but the support member develops locations of weakness that cause bending and flexing during high-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidsweep angle precision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: the clip provides clamping force to secure the blade element to the support member, while the fastener (rivet) provides structural attachment. This segmentation allows the clip to distribute stress and prevent bending at the attachment points, eliminating the weakness locations that occurred when rivets directly penetrated both components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clip acts as an intermediary component between the support member and blade element. Instead of the rivet directly connecting both components (which created weakness points), the clip is introduced as a mediator that surrounds and secures both parts, distributing the attachment forces and preventing bending while the rivet provides structural fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If apertures are present in the support member for rivet attachment, then the blade elements can be securely fastened, but the support member experiences reduced rigidity and increased deflection during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening capabilityVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment approach transitions from a one-dimensional pierce-through method (rivets passing through apertures in the support member) to a three-dimensional surrounding approach (clip encircling the support member). This dimensional change allows the clip to apply clamping force from multiple directions, securing the blade element without creating aperture-induced weakness in the support member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The clip applies localized clamping force at the attachment points where needed, while the rest of the support member maintains its full structural integrity and rigidity. This localized approach avoids the need for apertures throughout the support member, preserving its overall stiffness and resistance to bending during high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If traditional rivet attachment is used, then the structure is simple, but the wiper blade bends and flexes during high-speed operation causing overshoot of sweep angle requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment structureVSAvoidsweep angle precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: the clip provides clamping force to secure the blade element to the support member, while the fastener (rivet) provides structural attachment. This segmentation allows the clip to distribute stress and prevent bending at the attachment points, eliminating the weakness locations that occurred when rivets directly penetrated both components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clip acts as an intermediary component between the support member and blade element. Instead of the rivet directly connecting both components (which created weakness points), the clip is introduced as a mediator that surrounds and secures both parts, distributing the attachment forces and preventing bending while the rivet provides structural fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11685341B2Composite wiper blade assembly

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

An aircraft windshield wiper system includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade coupled to a first end of the wiper arm, and an output shaft coupled to a second end of the wiper arm. The wiper blade includes a support member coupled to a blade element through a clip and a fastener extending through the blade element. The support member can be made from a composite material and the clip and fastener allow for attachment of the blade element to the support member without piercing the support member.