Wiper Arm Head Cover Rotating Mechanism Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mechanical strength of wiper arms is compromised at the location where the cover member is disposed, leading to reduced durability and efficiency in manufacturing due to the existing design configurations.

Innovation Solution

The cover member is attached to the arm head body via rotating shafts on the inner side surfaces, allowing it to rotate between open and closed positions, with a cylindrical fitting section and slits for secure fixation, thereby enhancing mechanical strength and reducing lateral width while enabling easy opening and closing without detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cover member is attached to the arm head body to hide the fixing member, then the appearance is improved and the fixing member is concealed, but the mechanical strength of the arm head is deteriorated in the portion where the cover member is disposed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcealment of fixing memberVSAvoidmechanical strength of arm head
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is divided into a front-side half section and a rear-side half section, with the front-side half section selectively disposed between the sidewalls. This segmentation allows the cover member to conceal the fixing member while avoiding interference with the high-strength sidewall region, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance/concealment and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover member is designed with different functional sections: the front-side half section provides concealment functionality by being disposed between the sidewalls, while the rear-side half section provides structural support and housing functionality. This local differentiation allows each section to optimize its function without compromising the other, maintaining mechanical strength while achieving concealment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the cover member covers the entire side surface of the arm head, then the concealment effect is improved, but the lateral width of the arm head increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcealment effectVSAvoidlateral width of arm head
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the cover member cover the entire side surface, only the front-side half section is disposed between the sidewalls to provide partial concealment. This partial action is sufficient to hide the fixing member while avoiding the need for excessive lateral width, thus resolving the contradiction between concealment effect and compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If the cover member is fixed to the arm head body, then the structure is simplified, but the ease of maintenance and access to internal components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidaccess to internal components
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is designed to be rotatably detachable from the arm head body, transitioning from a fixed state during normal operation to a detachable state during maintenance. The rotating shafts enable this dynamic transition, allowing the cover member to be easily removed for maintenance while maintaining structural simplicity during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3219559B1Wiper arm
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 DENSO WIPER SYSTEMS INC
  • EP3219559B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219559B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3219559B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a wiper arm including an arm head comprising an arm head body and a cover member, wherein the cover member is attached to the arm head body and is capable of opening and closing, and wherein the mechanical strength of the arm head can be increased. An arm head 4 of a wiper arm 2 includes a head cap 20 which is rotatably attached to rotating shafts 15A, 15B and is provided on the inner side surfaces of both side sidewalls 12A, 12B of an arm head body 10. When the head cap 20 is in its closed position, a front-side half section 21 of the head cap 20 is disposed between the both side sidewalls 12A, 12B. On the rear surface of a rear-side half section 22 of the head cap 20, a cylindrical cap-side fitting section 26 is provided and fits with a nut 9 disposed on the arm head body 10. The cap-side fitting section 26 includes slits 27C to 27C and is formed so that the height in the vertical direction of the cap-side fitting section 26 decreases in a front-side portion.