Deformable Wiper Bracket Structure for Pedestrian Impact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wiper brackets in vehicles, particularly those with a vertical portion rising from the suspension tower, pose a risk to pedestrian safety due to their high rigidity against frontal loads, which can lead to increased impact during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A wiper bracket design featuring a leg portion that is easily deformable in the front-rear direction, which reduces the impact on pedestrians by allowing deformation upon collision, and a two-bracket configuration that allows for easy detachment and inspection of the wiper mechanism without additional openings in the dash panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wiper bracket includes a vertical portion rising forward from the dash panel to provide structural support, then the structural strength is improved, but the pedestrian protection performance deteriorates due to high rigidity against frontal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different rigidity characteristics in different portions of the wiper bracket. The upper end portion (wiper support plate) maintains high rigidity for structural support, while the lower end portion (leg portion) is designed with easily deformable portions that have lower rigidity. This localized differentiation allows the bracket to provide structural strength where needed while reducing impact on pedestrians through controlled deformation in the leg portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the leg portion by forming easily deformable portions with specific geometric characteristics (reduced thickness, bent shapes) that alter the rigidity parameter. These parameter changes enable the leg portion to deform under frontal impact loads, transforming the rigid structure into a semi-flexible one that can absorb impact energy while maintaining adequate structural support functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the wiper bracket uses a single integrated structure with multiple attachment points, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of maintenance deteriorates due to complex disassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wiper bracket into distinct functional portions: the wiper support plate portion (upper end) and the leg portion (lower end). These portions are connected through a standardized connection structure that allows them to be separated. This segmentation enables the wiper support plate to be detached for maintenance while leaving the leg portion and dash panel attachment intact, thus maintaining structural stability during operation while facilitating easy maintenance through selective disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wiper support plate portion as a separable component that can be removed from the leg portion. This extraction allows the wiper mechanism to be maintained or replaced without disturbing the dash panel attachment points or the leg portion structure, thereby maintaining overall structural stability while significantly improving ease of maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If additional openings are provided in the dash panel for wiper bracket attachment and maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity of the dash panel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the connection structure between the wiper support plate and leg portion to enable tool-free or simple-tool detachment. This preliminary design allows the wiper support plate to be removed for maintenance without requiring additional openings in the dash panel, as the detachment can be accomplished from the vehicle interior side. This maintains dash panel structural integrity while providing ease of maintenance operation.
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
The deformable leg portion absorbs impact, enhancing pedestrian protection, and the two-bracket design simplifies maintenance while minimizing the number of openings required in the dash panel.
Implementation Method 1
the leg portion includes an easily deformable portion which is easy to deform when a load in the front-rear direction is input
Implementation Method 2
when a pedestrian collides with a front surface of a vehicle and even collides from front with the leg portion of the wiper bracket which rises forward from the dash panel side, the leg portion can be deformed by the easily deformable portion. Accordingly, an impact on the pedestrian can be reduced by the deformation of the leg portion
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper bracket includes a wiper support plate portion including a shaft support portion which rotatably supports a pivot shaft of the wiper, a leg portion having a shape of a plate which intersects an upper-lower direction and extending from a lower end side of the wiper support plate portion toward the dash panel on a rear side, and a fixed plate portion having a shape of a plate which intersects the front-rear direction, extending upward or downward from a rear end of the leg portion, and fixed to the dash panel. The leg portion includes an easily deformable portion which is easy to deform when a load in the front-rear direction is input.