Heated Wiper Blade System for Ice Melting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current windshield wiper systems require prolonged idling and defroster use to clear ice and snow, which is inefficient and inconvenient, especially in cold conditions, affecting visibility and driver safety.
Innovation Solution
A heated windshield wiper system with temperature-controlled heating elements, a key fob remote, and automatic motion sensors to maintain ice-free wipers and windshields, supplementing the vehicle's defroster for improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the vehicle defroster is used to clear ice and snow from the windshield, then visibility is improved, but the vehicle must idle for a prolonged period consuming excessive energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the windshield clearing function into two independent parts: (1) the vehicle defroster for the windshield glass, and (2) heated wiper blades for the wiper arms. This segmentation allows the wiper blades to be heated independently without requiring prolonged vehicle idling, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements in the wiper blades are activated before the wipers come into contact with ice and snow on the windshield. This preliminary heating action prevents ice accumulation on the wiper blades themselves, ensuring they can effectively clear the windshield without requiring extended defroster operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle defroster runs for a long time to clear the windshield, then ice and snow are removed, but time is lost and driver convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements in the wiper blades are activated in advance before the wipers contact the windshield. This preliminary heating prevents ice and snow from bonding to the wiper blades, allowing for rapid clearing of the windshield and reducing the time needed to restore visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements continue to operate during the wiper cycling process, maintaining continuous heat application to the blade edges. This ensures that ice and snow are consistently prevented from adhering to the blades throughout the clearing operation, accelerating the overall process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If heated elements are added to the wiper blades, then ice and snow are prevented from accumulating, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are integrated into the existing wiper blade structure, merging the heating function with the mechanical wiper component. This combination approach adds the anti-ice capability without requiring a completely separate system, thus limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical wiping and thermal heating. By making the wiper blade multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated heating apparatus, thereby reducing the complexity increase that would result from entirely separate systems.
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 effectively keeps the windshield clear by melting snow and ice, enhancing driver safety and convenience by reducing the need for prolonged idling and defroster use.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element 104 heats the blade 102 when a current is passed through it
Implementation Method 2
the heated wiper blades effectively melt the snow and ice on the windshield
Data Source
AI summary
A heated wiper blade system, comprising a windshield wiper blade, an elongated heating element embedded along the length of the blade, a mounting bracket configured to snap into a wiper arm of a vehicle and into which the wiper blade is securable, and a control unit electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to provide a current to the heating element.