Windscreen Wiper Arm Nozzle Keyhole Adapter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windscreen wiper systems are inefficient in cleaning the windshield due to the nozzle spraying washing fluid at a large distance, resulting in excessive liquid usage and potential damage to the car's body, as ethanol and other components in the washing fluid can be corrosive.

Innovation Solution

A windscreen wiper arm with a detachably connected nozzle via a keyhole connection, allowing the nozzle to closely follow the oscillatory movement and spray washing fluid directly onto the windshield from multiple locations, reducing liquid consumption and preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the nozzle is fixedly mounted on the bonnet at a large distance from the windscreen, then the washing fluid can be sprayed onto the windscreen, but the liquid consumption increases and the cleaning effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing fluid consumptionVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter serves as an intermediary component that couples the nozzle to the wiper arm system, enabling the nozzle to follow the wiper arm's oscillatory movement and maintain close proximity to the windscreen during the wiping cycle, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness and reducing fluid consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle is made dynamically positioned by attaching it to the adapter that moves with the wiper arm, allowing the nozzle to oscillate between upward and downward positions in sync with the wiper blade, ensuring consistent close proximity to the windscreen surface for efficient cleaning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the nozzle is positioned at a large distance from the windscreen, then the washing fluid can be sprayed broadly, but the fluid may damage the car's body through corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosive damage to car bodyVSAvoidwindscreen cleaning area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The washing fluid application is localized to the immediate windscreen area through the nozzle's close proximity positioning, ensuring that the corrosive fluid is applied only where needed for cleaning and does not spread to other car body surfaces, thereby preventing corrosive damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of repair

If the nozzle is detachably connected to the adapter, then the device complexity increases, but the ease of repair and replacement improves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle replacementVSAvoidconnection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle system is segmented into separable components (nozzle and adapter) with a detachable connection, allowing the nozzle to be easily removed and replaced independently from the wiper arm assembly, facilitating maintenance and repair operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3784533B1A windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 FEDERAL MOGUL SA
  • EP3784533B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3784533B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3784533B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles, being able to oscillate upwardly and downwardly between a downward position and an upward position, wherein said windscreen wiper arm at one end thereof is arranged to be pivotally connected to a mounting head mounted on a drive shaft, and wherein said windscreen wiper arm at another end thereof is rigidly connected to an adapter arranged to be connected to an elongated wiper blade to be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, wherein said adapter, at the location of its connection to said wiper blade, has a U-shaped cross-section with a base and two spaced-apart legs, and wherein said U-shaped cross-section is preferably mounted offset in a plane of said base relative to a longitudinal axis of said windscreen wiper arm, with the special feature that said windscreen wiper arm is provided with a nozzle for spraying a washing liquid onto said windscreen to be wiped, wherein said nozzle is detachably connected to said adapter through a key hole connection.