Wiper Arm Coupling Structure for Curved Rods and Hidden Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper arm coupling devices face challenges in accommodating curved wiper rods and ensuring secure, tool-free connections while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency and easy assembly.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with two coupling units and a connecting element, where the connecting element is made of a flexible material, designed to be longer than the coupling units, and features a wind deflector shape with concave surfaces to ensure secure attachment to the wiper rod and fluid channel, allowing for adaptable installation on curved surfaces and invisible hose routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single coupling unit is used to connect to the wiper rod, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate curved wiper rods and ensures unstable connection
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into two separate coupling units (first coupling unit and second coupling unit) that are spaced apart along the connecting element. Each coupling unit independently contacts the wiper rod at different locations, allowing the device to adapt to curved wiper rod geometries while maintaining connection stability through distributed contact points
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connecting element is made rigid to ensure structural strength, then connection strength is improved, but it cannot adapt to curved surfaces and complex geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is constructed from a flexible material that enables it to bend and conform to curved wiper rod surfaces and complex geometries. This flexibility allows the coupling device to adapt to various installation scenarios while the two coupling units provide distributed contact points that maintain adequate connection strength
3Adaptability or versatility
If the connecting element is made longer to accommodate curved paths and provide spacing between coupling units, then adaptability is improved, but aerodynamic efficiency deteriorates due to increased wind resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element features a wind deflector shape with concave surfaces that are aerodynamically optimized to reduce wind resistance. The curved geometry allows the element to deflect airflow smoothly around the wiper arm assembly, minimizing turbulent flow and pressure drag while maintaining the necessary length for adaptability to curved paths
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is based on a coupling device, in particular a wiper arm coupling device, with at least one connecting element (12) and with at least one first coupling unit (14) which, when mounted, is designed to be connected to a wiper rod (16) of a wiper arm (18) and to at least partially accommodate a wiper fluid channel (20), and which is connected to the at least one connecting element (12) in a first region (24) of said at least one connecting element (12) . According to the invention, the coupling device has at least one second coupling unit (22) which, when mounted, is designed to be connected to the wiper rod (16) of the wiper arm (18) and to at least partially accommodate the wiper fluid channel (20), and which is connected to the at least one connecting element (12) in a second region (32) of said at least one connecting element (12), the second region being in a different location, along the main direction of extent (66), from the first region (24).