Wiper Arm Cover Plate Structure for Protected Spray Conduits
Solution Overview
Problem
Conduits in wiper assemblies are susceptible to external environmental influences, leading to premature aging and damage, which affects their service life and requires a reliable structure to prevent exposure.
Innovation Solution
A wiper arm design with a cover plate that seals the conduit, incorporating a U-shaped cross section and a cover plate to protect internal components, and a snap-fit mechanism for the spray nozzle to ensure secure installation and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the conduit is integrated into the wiper arm structure, then the spray system can be compactly arranged, but the conduit becomes exposed and susceptible to environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is nested within the U-shaped arm portion structure, with the conduit positioned inside the enclosed space formed by the U-shaped cross-section. This nesting arrangement allows the conduit to be protected within the structural framework of the wiper arm itself, reducing exposure while maintaining compact integration.
Solution Approach 2:
A cover plate is introduced to seal the open side of the U-shaped arm portion, creating a protective enclosure for the conduit. The cover plate acts as a thin film barrier that prevents direct exposure of the conduit to environmental factors such as sunlight and foreign objects, thereby extending the conduit's service life.
2Reliability
If the conduit is protected by enclosing it within the wiper arm structure, then the conduit is protected from environmental damage, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is merged with the existing U-shaped arm portion structure, where the cover plate simply seals the open side of the U-shape. This combining approach protects the conduit without requiring a completely separate enclosure system, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving reliable conduit protection.
3Reliability
If the spray nozzle is securely fixed to the cover plate, then the spray system is reliable, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is first installed onto the U-shaped arm portion, creating a pre-assembled protective enclosure. This preliminary action establishes a stable base structure to which the spray nozzle can then be attached, ensuring reliable positioning while organizing the assembly process into manageable sequential steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzle assembly is segmented into separate components that can be attached to the cover plate through standardized connection features. This segmentation allows for modular assembly, where the nozzle can be independently positioned and secured without requiring complex integrated tooling, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable fixation.
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper arm and a wiper for a vehicle, and a vehicle are disclosed. The wiper arm of a wiper for a vehicle has a wiper arm seat for connecting to a driver, a wiper arm end piece for holding a wiper blade of the wiper, and an arm portion arranged between the wiper arm seat and the wiper arm end piece. The arm portion is fixedly connected to the wiper arm end piece and can rotate relative to the wiper arm seat, the wiper arm is provided with at least one spray unit, wherein the spray unit is provided with a conduit and a spray nozzle, the conduit being guided along the wiper arm, and the spray nozzle being arranged at one end of the conduit, wherein the arm portion is provided with a cover plate, and the spray nozzle is at least held at the cover plate.