Movable Cladding Element for Vehicle Windshield Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle windscreen drainage systems create flow obstacles and are prone to failure due to ice and dirt accumulation, leading to increased air resistance and ineffective water management, especially at the transition area between the windscreen and side rails.
Innovation Solution
A window frame with a movably mounted cladding element that maintains a constant distance from the windscreen in dry conditions, converting to a position that stalls airflow and redirects water when moisture is detected, using flexible materials and actuators to ensure low-turbulence flow and effective water drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stationary water-collecting strip is provided on the side rail, then water drainage is ensured, but air resistance increases due to flow obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The water-collecting strip is made movable instead of stationary, allowing it to adapt its position based on weather conditions. The strip can be retracted into the side rail during dry periods to minimize air resistance, and deployed during rain to ensure water drainage, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable drainage and energy loss from drag.
2Loss of energy
If a movable water-collecting strip is provided, then air resistance is reduced, but the system becomes prone to failure due to ice and dirt accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect rain, ice, or snow conditions and automatically actuates the water-collecting strip without manual intervention. This self-service capability ensures the strip is deployed only when necessary, reducing wear and exposure to damaging conditions like ice accumulation, while maintaining reliability through automated response to actual weather conditions.
3Loss of energy
If the cladding element is kept at a constant distance from the windscreen, then low-turbulence flow is ensured, but water drainage capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding element's distance from the windscreen is dynamically adjusted based on weather conditions. During dry periods, it maintains a constant distance to ensure low-turbulence flow and reduced air resistance. During rain, it moves closer to the windscreen to enhance water drainage capability, thus resolving the contradiction between flow efficiency and drainage reliability.
4Reliability
If the cladding element is moved closer to the windscreen, then water drainage is improved, but air resistance increases due to flow separation
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding element operates in periodic cycles, alternating between a retracted position during dry periods (minimizing air resistance) and a deployed position during rain events (maximizing water drainage). This periodic action between two states resolves the contradiction by ensuring optimal performance for each condition rather than compromising continuously.
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 solution ensures smooth airflow around the transition area, prevents water from reaching adjacent side windows, and maintains robustness against ice and dirt, reducing air resistance and ensuring reliable water drainage without constant disturbance.
Implementation Method 1
ensures at least a low-turbulence flow around the transition area and/or the side rail with the airflow flowing sideways from the vehicle windscreen
Implementation Method 2
causes a stall in the laterally flowing relative wind
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle window frame has a covering element (1) for water drainage, which has a constant distance to a vehicle windscreen (3) in an inflow region (9) of an air stream. The covering element is arranged in a partially movable manner. The covering element is supported to realize a low-turbulence flow of a transition zone (4) to a primary position. The covering element has a joint (7), where a flexible material is formed in a segmented manner.