Textured Wiper Blade Geometry for Debris Removal Without Chatter
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wipers often fail to completely remove debris such as ice, dirt, and insects due to improper attack angles and limited flexibility, leading to incomplete wiping and obscured driver vision.
Innovation Solution
A wiper blade design featuring a plurality of scrubbing elements with varying heights along the blade, increasing engagement with the windshield, and a support structure for parallel wiper blades to maintain a preferred attack angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the attack angle is increased to improve debris removal, then the wiper blade engages better with the windshield, but the blade experiences chattering and incomplete wiping
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade incorporates scrubbing elements with varying heights at different locations along the blade edge. Elements closer to the heel are taller while those near the tip are shorter, creating localized variations in engagement characteristics that prevent chattering while maintaining effective debris removal across the entire blade width
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the blade edge by introducing scrubbing elements with specific height variations. This changes the attack angle characteristics locally along the blade, allowing the blade to maintain optimal engagement without excessive steepness that causes chattering
2Reliability
If the attack angle is decreased to reduce chattering, then the blade operates more smoothly, but the blade lacks sufficient pressure and struggles to pivot at direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
Taller scrubbing elements positioned at the heel provide additional leverage and pressure during direction changes and pivoting, while shorter elements at the tip maintain smooth operation during straight-line wiping, creating localized force enhancement where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to the blade edge geometry by protruding scrubbing elements beyond the blade surface. This third dimension (protrusion height) provides additional mechanical advantage and pressure application capability without changing the basic blade attack angle
3Area of stationary object
If the blade material flexibility is increased to improve contact area, then more of the blade surface contacts the windshield, but the blade structure becomes less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous blade edge is segmented into multiple discrete scrubbing elements spaced along the blade length. This segmentation allows each element to independently contact the windshield surface, increasing effective contact area while the spaced arrangement maintains structural stability of the overall blade
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
Enhances debris removal by ensuring a greater area of the wiper blade remains in contact with the windshield, improving wiping performance and maintaining an optimal attack angle for effective debris clearance.
Implementation Method 1
the scrubbing configuration may include a number of rows of scrubbers that engage with and impinge on debris during the wiping motion
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper blade includes: an elongated elastomeric body having an axial length, the body including a base and a blade projecting from the base, wherein the blade includes a blade edge on the opposite side of the body from the base; and a first set of scrubbing elements forming a first array located on a first side surface of the blade, wherein the first set of scrubbing elements includes a first plurality of scrubbing elements and a second plurality of scrubbing elements, wherein each of the first plurality of scrubbing elements is located closer to the blade edge as measured perpendicular to the axial length of the body than each of the second plurality of scrubbing elements, wherein each of the first plurality of scrubbing elements protrude a shorter height from the side surface of the blade than each of the second plurality of scrubbing elements.