Flat-Blade Wiper Arm Nozzle Locking for Low-Fluid Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windscreen wiper devices often require excessive washing fluid and inefficiently spray it onto the windscreen, leading to waste and potential damage to vehicle surfaces due to the nozzle's distance from the windscreen and lack of precise control over fluid distribution.
Innovation Solution
A windscreen wiper device with a nozzle mounted directly onto the oscillating arm's rod-like extension, featuring cooperating protrusion and groove mechanisms for secure, controlled attachment, allowing the nozzle to closely follow the arm's movement and spray fluid directly onto the windscreen with minimal fluid usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the nozzle is fixedly mounted on the bonnet for spraying washing liquid, then the washing fluid can be sprayed onto the windscreen, but the nozzle is positioned at a large distance from the windscreen resulting in excessive washing fluid consumption and ineffective cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is integrated directly onto the oscillating arm assembly, merging the spraying function with the wiping function. This allows the nozzle to follow the oscillating arm's movement and position itself close to the windscreen during the wiping stroke, enabling precise fluid delivery exactly where needed on the windscreen surface, thereby reducing overall fluid consumption while improving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is mounted on the oscillating arm rather than being fixed on the bonnet, making it a dynamic component that moves with the arm during oscillation. This dynamic positioning allows the nozzle to approach the windscreen closely during the wiping stroke and retract during the return stroke, optimizing fluid delivery timing and location to reduce waste and improve cleaning efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the nozzle is positioned at a distance from the windscreen, then the spraying mechanism is simple, but a large amount of washing fluid is required and fluid may spread onto the car body causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
By mounting the nozzle on the oscillating arm, the system dynamically positions the nozzle close to the windscreen only when needed during the wiping stroke. This eliminates the need for complex positioning mechanisms while ensuring fluid is delivered precisely where required, preventing spread onto the car body and avoiding damage from corrosive washing fluid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is positioned to deliver washing fluid locally and precisely onto the specific area of the windscreen being wiped by the blade. This localized fluid delivery ensures that washing fluid is applied only where needed for cleaning, preventing unnecessary spread onto surrounding car body surfaces and reducing the risk of damage to paint, rubber, and plastics.
3Quantity of substance
If the nozzle is mounted directly onto the oscillating arm, then fluid consumption is reduced and cleaning precision is improved, but the mounting mechanism requires protrusion-groove locking components
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle mounting mechanism is integrated into the existing oscillating arm structure, combining the nozzle attachment function with the arm's mechanical components. The protrusion-groove locking mechanism is incorporated into the arm's existing geometry, avoiding the need for separate complex mounting hardware while achieving secure nozzle attachment and precise fluid delivery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively reduces fluid consumption and ensures precise cleaning of the windscreen without damaging the vehicle, enhancing visibility and reducing material costs by eliminating the need for additional tools or complex machinery.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic, elongated carrier element... which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed
Implementation Method 2
said nozzle and said connecting device are provided with mutually cooperating protrusion/groove means for locking said nozzle onto said connecting device upon insertion of said free end of said rod-like extension inside said channel of said connecting device
Data Source
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AI summary
A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device (3, 4) for a rod-like extension (2) of an oscillating arm, wherein said rod-like extension can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, with the special feature that said connecting device comprises a channel (15) arranged to receive said rod-like extension, wherein said windscreen wiper device comprises a nozzle (28) for spraying a washing liquid onto said windscreen to be wiped, said nozzle being mounted onto said rod-like extension, and wherein said nozzle and said connecting device are provided with mutually cooperating protrusion/groove means for locking said nozzle onto said connecting device upon insertion of said free end of said rod-like extension inside said channel of said connecting device.