Wiper Blade Adapter Geometry for Aerodynamic Contact Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wiper devices require high contact pressure to ensure sufficient wiping performance, which can lead to unfavorable aerodynamics and reduced reliability, especially at high speeds, making them inefficient and potentially ineffective.
Innovation Solution
An adapter unit with a wind deflector surface that utilizes specific geometric angles and orientations to enhance aerodynamic effects, reducing the need for high contact pressure by using wind flow to press the wiper blade against the window, allowing for a simpler and more compact wiper arm design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high contact pressure is applied by the wiper arm to press the wiper blade against the vehicle window, then sufficient wiping performance is ensured, but the aerodynamic performance deteriorates and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful aerodynamic drag force into a beneficial force that presses the wiper blade against the window. The wind deflector surface is specifically designed to redirect airflow in a way that generates downforce on the wiper blade, eliminating the need for complex high-force wiper arms while maintaining wiping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact force system (complex wiper arm with large spring force) with an aerodynamic force system (wind deflector surface that redirects airflow). This substitution simplifies the mechanical structure while achieving the same pressing function through fluid dynamics.
2Force
If high contact force is exerted by the wiper arm to ensure wiping performance, then sufficient contact pressure is achieved, but unfavorable aerodynamic forces are generated that oppose the contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector surface captures the harmful aerodynamic drag force and redirects it to generate beneficial downforce on the wiper blade. The specific geometric design of the deflector surface ensures that the airflow, which would normally create opposing drag, instead creates a force component that presses the blade against the window.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind deflector surface acts as an intermediary element between the airflow and the wiper blade. It mediates the interaction by redirecting the airflow in a specific pattern that generates the desired pressing force, rather than allowing the airflow to directly oppose the wiper arm's contact force.
3Device complexity
If a simple wiper arm design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but insufficient contact force is generated to press the wiper blade against the window
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced mechanical contact force of a simple wiper arm by converting aerodynamic drag into beneficial downforce. The wind deflector surface generates additional pressing force through airflow redirection, allowing a simpler wiper arm design to achieve sufficient total contact force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the system by introducing aerodynamic forces through the wind deflector surface. This adds a new force component that supplements the mechanical contact force, allowing the use of a simpler wiper arm while maintaining adequate total pressing force on the 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
The adapter unit improves wiping performance by increasing the contact force on the vehicle window while reducing the required contact pressure, preventing adverse aerodynamic forces that could worsen performance or render wiping impossible, and ensuring a stable and efficient operation even at high speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a wind deflector surface which is designed to deflect incoming air and to press the wiper blade against a vehicle window
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an adapter unit which is provided for coupling, in particular releasably coupling, a wiper blade to a wiper arm, having a wind deflecting surface which is designed to deflect inflowing air and press the wiper blade against a vehicle pane, wherein the wind deflecting surface is bordered by a wind deflecting surface edge, and the wind deflecting surface edge has at least • a side which faces the wind and which extends largely in a wiper arm direction, • a side which faces away from the wind and which extends largely in the wiper arm direction, • a right-hand side which is arranged between the side facing the wind and the side facing away from the wind and which is arranged on the wiper arm side of the adapter and is designed to couple the adapter unit to the wiper arm, • a rear left-hand side which adjoins the side facing away from the wind and is arranged on the adapter side opposite the wiper arm side, and • a front left-hand side which adjoins the side facing the wind and is arranged on the adapter side lying opposite the wiper arm side. According to the invention, the side facing away from the wind and the right-hand side define a rear angle ranging between 110° and 160°, preferably between 120° and 150°, particularly preferably between 130° and 140°.