Windshield Cleaning Head Positioning for Large-Area Debris Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wipers on large vehicles like electric automobiles, busses, and RVs fail to effectively clean substantial areas of the windshield due to their design, leading to obscured views from dirt and debris, especially with increased impact force and adherence of debris, and inefficient removal of hardened-on debris.
Innovation Solution
A windshield cleaning system with an active positioning system comprising extension members and a cleaning head that can be deployed from a storage cavity, featuring a motorized brush for agitation, a wiper blade for drying, and a spray bar for fluid application, controlled via a touch-screen display to clean the entire windshield or spot-clean localized areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional rotating windshield wipers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning area coverage is insufficient for large windshields
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaning heads, each capable of cleaning a specific zone of the windshield. The first cleaning head cleans a first zone while the second cleaning head cleans a second zone, allowing comprehensive coverage of large windshield areas without requiring a single complex rotating mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning heads are made movable along the windshield surface rather than being fixed in rotation. The cleaning heads can be positioned and repositioned dynamically to cover different areas, transitioning from static rotating wipers to dynamic movable cleaning units that adapt to the large windshield geometry
2Reliability
If conventional windshield wipers are used, then the ease of operation is simple, but the effectiveness on hardened-on debris is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning heads incorporate vibration mechanisms that generate oscillating motion to effectively remove hardened-on debris from the windshield surface. The vibration action loosens and removes stubborn contaminants that conventional static wiper blades cannot effectively clear
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid delivery system acts as an intermediary between the cleaning head and the windshield surface, applying cleaning fluid or solvent to soften hardened-on debris before the mechanical cleaning action. This intermediary fluid application enhances the effectiveness of debris removal without requiring excessive mechanical force
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 efficiently cleans the entire windshield surface, including areas missed by conventional wipers, effectively removing debris and ensuring clear visibility by combining mechanical agitation, fluid application, and drying mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
activating a motorized brush of the cleaning head to agitate against the surface of the window
Implementation Method 2
The brush, wiper blade and spray bar move along the tracks across the windshield from the starting side to the opposing, return side where the wiper blade first contacts the windshield and the brush stops rotating
Implementation Method 3
The spray bar provides washer fluid to the brush as it rotates against the windshield
Implementation Method 4
The wiper blade scrapes water while air blows water off the windshield as they move back to the starting side
Implementation Method 5
The wiper blade scrapes water while air blows water off the windshield as they move back to the starting side
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device for a surface, such as a windshield of a vehicle, includes an active positioning system and a cleaning head. The active positioning system is configured to deploy from a storage position hidden from view within a covered storage space and to position the cleaning head upon the windshield. The active positioning system includes a first extension member and a second extension member that move relative to one another to position the cleaning head, and also move the cleaning head across the windshield along a path. The cleaning head can have a brush portion configured to agitate debris from the window, and a drying portion configured to dry the window after cleaning. The cleaning device can be controlled via a touch-screen display in the vehicle, enabling a user to direct that specific portions of the windshield be cleaned as desired.