Safety Coupling for Fin Ray Wiper Blade Torque Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Windshield wiper devices often lose contact with curved windshields, leading to streaks and fogging, especially under varying rain, snow, and temperature conditions, and lack effective overload protection, compromising safety and user-friendliness.
Innovation Solution
A windshield wiper device with a bendable upper and lower part connected by spaced-out elements, featuring a coupling device that provides a rotationally rigid connection up to a defined torque, then releases to prevent damage from excessive loads, incorporating a slipping clutch mechanism for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper arm is made rigid to maintain contact with the windshield, then wiping reliability is improved, but the wiper arm cannot adapt to curved windshields and loses contact under temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is divided into multiple fin rays (upper part, lower part, and connecting elements) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each segment to adapt to the local curvature of the windshield while maintaining overall contact, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for reliability and flexibility for adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements enable dynamic movement between the upper and lower parts of the wiper blade, allowing the structure to change its configuration in response to windshield curvature and temperature changes. This dynamic capability maintains reliable contact without requiring a completely rigid structure.
2Reliability
If the coupling device provides strong connection to prevent wiper blade detachment, then reliability is improved, but the wiper arm cannot be protected from damage under excessive loads
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is designed with a defined torque threshold that changes the connection state from rigid to released. Under normal operating conditions, the connection is strong and reliable; when excessive load exceeds the defined torque, the connection automatically releases to protect the wiper arm from damage. This parameter-based state change resolves the contradiction between strong connection and overload protection.
3Reliability
If the wiper blade structure is made complex to optimize wiping for various conditions, then wiping performance is improved, but assembly and disassembly become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is segmented into modular components (upper part, lower part, connecting elements) that can be assembled and disassembled independently. The fastening part on the wiper blade side can be releasably connected to the fastening element, allowing easy attachment and detachment while maintaining the complex segmented structure needed for optimized wiping performance.
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
Ensures reliable, streak-free wiping and protects the wiper arm from high loads, enhancing safety and ease of use by maintaining contact with curved windshields and preventing damage from excessive torque.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling device, wherein the fastening part on the wiper blade side and the fastening element can be connected in a rotationally rigid manner by the coupling device until a defined torque value is exceeded
Implementation Method 2
a windshield wiper device with a bendable upper and lower part connected by spaced-out elements, featuring a coupling device that provides a rotationally rigid connection up to a defined torque, then releases to prevent damage from excessive loads, incorporating a slipping clutch mechanism for safety
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B~4C
AI summary
Disclosed is a windscreen wiper device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a fastening element fastened to a drive shaft. The windscreen wiper device comprises a wiper blade having an elongated upper part which is designed at least partially flexibly, an elongated lower part which is designed at least partially flexibly, and a plurality of connecting elements for connecting the upper part and the lower part, wherein the connecting elements are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade, and wherein the connecting elements are configured to enable a movement of the upper part and lower part relative to each other with a movement component along a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade. The windscreen wiper device further comprises a fastening part on the wiper blade side, wherein the fastening part on the wiper blade side can be connected to the fastening element in a detachable manner, and a coupling device, wherein the fastening part on the wiper blade side and the fastening element can be connected for conjoint rotation via the coupling device until a defined torque value is exceeded.