Extendable Windshield Wiper Blade for Curved Glass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wiper systems with fixed-length wiper arms and blades are ineffective in clearing a sufficient surface area, especially on curved and steeply raked windshields, as they fail to adapt to changes in windshield curvature.
Innovation Solution
An extendable windshield wiper system featuring a resilient wiper blade connected to a wiper extension rod that moves in an arc of rotation, actuated by a fluid system and a cam mechanism, allowing the wiper blade to extend and retract to traverse an extended arc of travel, ensuring effective cleaning of curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional fixed-length wiper arms and blades are used, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning coverage area is insufficient on curved and steeply raked windshields
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade assembly incorporates an extendable wiper arm with a telescopic mechanism that allows the wiper arm length to dynamically adjust during operation. The wiper blade itself is designed with flexible segments that can articulate and adapt to curved windshield surfaces, transforming the static fixed-length structure into a dynamic system that extends its reach to cover larger cleaning areas on complex windshield geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade is divided into multiple segmented elements that can independently articulate and conform to the curvature of the windshield. This segmentation allows each blade element to adapt to different surface angles while maintaining continuous contact, thereby increasing the effective cleaning coverage area without requiring a completely redesign of the entire wiper system
2Area of moving object
If fixed arc length wiper swing is used, then the mechanism is simple, but the wiper blade cannot clear sufficient surface area of the windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper arm incorporates a telescopic mechanism that dynamically extends and retracts during the wiper cycle, increasing the arc length of the wiper swing beyond the conventional fixed limit. This dynamic extension allows the wiper blade to reach farther across the windshield surface, clearing a larger area while the control system manages the articulation complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed length wiper blade is used, then the design is simple, but the blade becomes ineffective when there is a change in curvature of the windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is constructed from multiple articulated segments that can independently pivot and adjust their angles relative to each other. This segmentation enables the blade to conform to varying windshield curvatures by allowing each segment to adapt to the local surface geometry, maintaining effective contact across complex curved surfaces without requiring a completely flexible or soft blade design
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the wiper blade are designed with varying degrees of flexibility and articulation capability tailored to their specific positions and the local curvature requirements of the windshield. This local quality approach allows the blade to optimize its adaptation to curvature at each location while maintaining overall structural integrity and manageable complexity
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 system provides enhanced cleaning coverage by adapting to the curvature of the windshield, ensuring improved visibility and efficiency in clearing water, snow, and ice from the windshield, even on complexly shaped surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a piston when displaced acts to outwardly displace a fluid from the cylinder into the bore or inwardly return the fluid from the bore to the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
a cam rotated by a wiper motor; and a piston rod connected to the piston and contacted by the cam. Rotation of the cam alternately displaces the piston rod and thereby the piston
Implementation Method 3
a resilient material wiper blade
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable windshield wiper system includes a wiper blade assembly having: a resilient material wiper blade; and a wiper extension rod connected to the wiper blade. A wiper sleeve is configured to move about an arc of rotation with respect to an axis of rotation of the wiper sleeve. A bore of the wiper sleeve has the wiper extension rod slidably disposed within the bore. An actuation portion directs a pressurized fluid to outwardly extend the wiper extension rod from the wiper sleeve and thereby to outwardly extend the wiper blade in an extension direction during a first portion of the arc of rotation. The wiper blade is induced to traverse an extended arc of travel during rotation of the wiper extension rod and the wiper sleeve along the arc of rotation.