Telescopic Windshield Wiper Assembly for Curved Glass Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wiper systems for vehicles, particularly those with larger windshields, often fail to adequately clean the upper areas and corners of the windshield, and struggle with maintaining a consistent wiping angle on curved surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A wiper system with a support assembly that includes a motorized wiper arm and blade, capable of sliding, rotating, and pivoting movements, controlled by a control unit, to adjust pressure and coverage area, using motors and sensors for optimal wiping on curved surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If two pendulum wipers are used, then the wiper system can cover a larger windshield area, but the upper areas and corners of the windshield remain unwiped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindshield coverage areaVSAvoidwiping completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper blade is made dynamically adjustable through a telescopic arm mechanism that allows the blade length to vary during operation. The arm can extend and retract to adjust the blade's reach and angle, enabling comprehensive coverage of the windshield surface including upper areas and corners that fixed pendulum wipers cannot reach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If three pendulum wipers are used to cover larger windshields, then more area is covered, but un-wiped areas at the upper end and corner areas still remain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindshield coverage areaVSAvoidnumber of wipers
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single wiper system performs multiple functions by combining the telescopic arm mechanism with an adjustable blade angle. The arm can extend to reach upper areas, angle to cover corner regions, and maintain consistent contact pressure throughout the wiping motion, replacing the need for multiple separate pendulum wipers with one multi-functional device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If conventional wiper systems are used on highly curved windscreens, then the system structure remains simple, but the attack angle of the wiper blade cannot be maintained normal to the windscreen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiper system structureVSAvoidblade attack angle consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper blade is mounted on a telescopic arm that can dynamically adjust its angle and position during the wiping motion. This dynamic adjustment allows the blade to maintain a substantially constant attack angle normal to the windscreen surface throughout the complete wiping motion, even on highly curved windscreens, by compensating for surface variations in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures comprehensive windshield cleaning by adjusting pressure and coverage, eliminating the need for multiple wipers and effectively wiping curved surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the first motor is arranged for interacting with a first coupling element to rotate the wiper arm around a rotation axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical rotation:

Implementation Method 2

a second motor adapted to pivot the tilting table around a pivot axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical pivoting:

Implementation Method 3

the wiper blade is inclined relative to the vertical, the wiper blade thus applying a pressure on the vehicle windshield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical pressure:

Data Source

PatentEP4674696A1A wiper system for a vehicle windshield
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4674696A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4674696A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B
  • EP4674696A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper system (100) for a vehicle windshield (10), the wiper system (100) comprising: - a support assembly (120) that is slidably movable along a guide rail (101), - a wiper (110) rotatably mounted on the support assembly (120), the wiper (110) comprising a wiper arm (112) and a wiper blade (114) connected thereto, wherein the support assembly (120) comprises : • a first motor mounted on a motor base, the motor base being slidably movable relative to a tilting table between at least two different positions, i.e. a first position in which the first motor is arranged for interacting with a first coupling element to rotate the wiper arm around a rotation axis, and a second position in which the first motor is arranged for interacting with a second coupling element to adjust a length of the wiper, • a second motor adapted to pivot the tilting table around a pivot axis, the tilting table being movable between at least two different positions, i.e. a non-operating position in which the wiper arm is substantially vertical, the pressure applied by the wiper blade (114) on the vehicle windshield (10) thus being null, and a tilted position in which the wiper blade (114) is inclined relative to the vertical, the wiper blade (114) thus applying a pressure on the vehicle windshield (10).