Wiper Arm Spring Mechanism for Reduced Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wiper arms with spring biasing systems are limited in thickness due to the need for a protruding hook member to direct the spring force, which prevents the spring from being fully enclosed within the arm main body.
Innovation Solution
A wiper arm design featuring a link member and a coil spring sandwiched between the arm main body and link member side spring seats, allowing the biasing means to be disposed in front of the hinge pin without a protruding portion, enabling a thinner configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the spring force is directed at a certain angle with respect to the line segment connecting the rotation center and the point of application to generate sufficient moment, then the biasing force is sufficient, but the fixing pin must be disposed on the lower side of the pivot shaft causing the hook member to protrude from the retainer, which increases the thickness of the wiper arm
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the spatial arrangement from a protruding configuration (increasing thickness in one dimension) to a contained configuration within the retainer body. By repositioning the spring mechanism and using a pin connecting the retainer and arm head, the spring force is transmitted through an internal pathway rather than requiring external protrusion, thus maintaining sufficient biasing force while reducing the overall thickness of the wiper arm assembly.
2Power
If the hook member protrudes from the lower side of the retainer to direct the spring force, then the moment generation is effective, but the entire spring cannot be disposed within the interior of the retainer, which prevents the wiper arm from being thinner
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the spring mechanism with the retainer body by positioning the spring entirely within the retainer's interior space. The pin connecting the retainer and arm head serves as a shared structural element that transmits force without requiring separate protruding components. This integration eliminates the need for external hook members while maintaining effective moment generation, thereby reducing structural complexity and enabling a thinner wiper arm design.
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 allows for a thinner wiper arm with a compact structure while maintaining sufficient biasing force for the arm's rotation, as the coil spring is coaxial with the shaft section and the link member side spring seat accommodates the spring force effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring which is sandwiched between a front end surface of the hinge block and a front end wall of the spring plate
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper arm includes a spring for applying a biasing force to the rotation of an arm main body with respect to an arm head and enables the thickness of the wiper arm to be thinner while ensuring the suitable biasing force. The wiper arm also includes a coil spring and a spring plate. The arm main body includes a hinge block rotatably connected to the arm head through a hinge pin and a shaft section extending from the hinge block. The spring plate includes a front end wall including an insertion hole into which the shaft section is inserted and leg sections rotatably attached to the arm head through a roller pin. The coil spring is disposed to be coaxial with the shaft section and is held to be sandwiched between the front end surface of the hinge block and the front end wall of the spring plate.