Wiper Arm Head Hose Feedthrough Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper arm heads face challenges in guiding hoses without excessive tensile forces during pivoting, leading to potential deformation and inefficient fluid supply to wiper blades.

Innovation Solution

A wiper arm head design featuring a feedthrough in the form of a longitudinal slot on the wiper arm head, with guide projections and a U-shaped covering cap to securely guide the hoses, ensuring minimal deformation and optimal fluid supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the hose is arranged within the cross section of the wiper arm head, then the hose guidance is integrated into the structure, but stretching of the hose occurs during pivoting of the wiper arm rod

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose guidance structureVSAvoidhose deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedthrough is designed as a longitudinal slot instead of a simple through-hole, extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm head. This dimensional change allows the hose to follow a longer, more gradual path through the wiper arm head, reducing bending radius constraints and deformation during pivoting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the hose is led from the upper side to the underside of the wiper arm head, then the hose can be guided within the contour of the wiper arm head, but the bend radius may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose path configurationVSAvoidhose deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The longitudinal slot extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm head, providing additional space for the hose to bend gradually. This dimensional extension allows the hose to maintain a larger bend radius while still being guided within the overall contour of the wiper arm head, preventing deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the wiper arm head is composed of aluminium with integral guide projections, then the guidance structure is integrated and strong, but the cross section is weakened by feedthroughs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiper arm head strengthVSAvoidfeedthrough structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a single large feedthrough, the design uses two smaller feedthroughs arranged offset to each other. This segmentation reduces the total cross-sectional area removed from the aluminium wiper arm head, maintaining structural strength while still providing adequate space for hose passage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feedthroughs are designed as longitudinal slots extending in the longitudinal direction rather than simple circular holes. This dimensional change allows the slots to be arranged offset to each other, distributing the material removal in a way that preserves the structural integrity of the wiper arm head.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If a covering cap is added to protect the hose, then the hose is well-protected in the region of U-shaped cross section, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose protectionVSAvoidoverall structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A covering cap is introduced as an intermediary protective element that encloses the hose in the region of the U-shaped cross section. This separate protective component shields the hose from external damage and environmental factors without requiring changes to the core wiper arm head structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3138742B1Wiper arm head for a wiper arm rod and wiper arm for vehicle windows
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS
  • EP3138742B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3138742B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3138742B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper arm head (14) for a wiper arm rod (11), with a first end region (178), which has an opening (15) for receiving a drive shaft, and a second end region (179) for the pivotable fastening of the wiper arm rod (11), and with means for directing at least one hose (31, 32) carrying a cleaning fluid. It is provided according to the invention that the means has a feedthrough (181, 182), which leads the hose (31, 32) from an upper side (187) in the direction of an underside (188) of the wiper arm head (14).