Segmented Wind Deflector with Form-Fit Fastening for Wiper Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle window wiper devices lack stability and resilience, particularly in wind deflector units, which can lead to instability and inefficiency in wind resistance and contact forces.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a holding unit with a longitudinal guide channel and a wind deflector unit produced via coextrusion, featuring partial wind deflector elements of different hardness, and a form-fitting fastening mechanism to enhance stability and torsion resistance, while avoiding air turbulence through specific angle configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional wind deflector unit is used, then the wiper device can be manufactured simply, but the stability and resilience are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind deflector unit is divided into multiple wind deflector sub-elements (first and second sub-elements) that can be independently designed and assembled. This segmentation allows each sub-element to be optimized for specific functions while maintaining overall structural stability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different material hardness levels for different wind deflector sub-elements. The first wind deflector sub-element has a first hardness value while the second has a second hardness value, creating a composite structure that optimizes both stability and resilience through material differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a single hardness material is used for the wind deflector unit, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the strength and weight efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the wind deflector unit are assigned different material properties (hardness values). The first wind deflector sub-element uses a material with a first hardness value optimized for strength, while the second sub-element uses a material with a second hardness value optimized for weight efficiency, allowing each region to have the quality needed for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the fastening means are positioned at acute angles, then assembly is simple, but air turbulence occurs in the transition area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair turbulenceVSAvoidassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening means are designed with specific angular configurations (obtuse angles rather than acute angles) to create smoother transitions and reduce air turbulence in the transition area between the holding unit and wind deflector unit, optimizing aerodynamic performance while maintaining assembly feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the wind deflector unit lacks torsion resistance, then the structure is lightweight, but the operational stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsion resistanceVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wind deflector unit is segmented into multiple sub-elements with different hardness values, allowing the structure to achieve torsion resistance through strategic material placement rather than uniform reinforcement, thereby maintaining lightweight construction while improving operational stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 results in a more stable, resilient, and cost-effective wiper device with reduced weight and increased strength, effectively managing wind turbulence and contact forces, thereby improving operational performance.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e) which is elastically changeable, and which in particular generates a counterforce which is dependent on a change in extension and is preferably proportional to the change and which counteracts the change

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the wind deflector unit be produced in a coextrusion process, as a result of which the wind deflector unit can be produced particularly cost-effectively and the wind deflector unit can be made very strong

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoextrusion: Extrusion

Data Source

PatentEP2726343B1Wiping device, in particular wiping device for a motor vehicle pane
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2726343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2726343B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2726343B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining unit (10a - 10e) that has a retaining element (12a - 12e) with a longitudinal guide channel (14a - 14e) for guiding a spring element (16a -16e), and comprising a spoiler unit (22a - 22e). According to the invention, the retaining element (12a -12e) has at least one fixing means (18a -18e, 20a - 20e), the free end (24a - 24e, 26a - 26e) of which faces the longitudinal guide channel (14a -14e) and which is provided to interlock with the spoiler unit (22a - 22e).