Wiper Blade Active Material Actuator Ice Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wiper blades face issues with ice accumulation during inclement weather, which affects their ability to conform to varying window curvatures and maintain effective wiping performance.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an active material actuator, such as a shape memory alloy or piezoelectric element, into the wiper blade to impart motion and deflection, allowing the blade to deflect away from the initial axis and break ice, combined with a biasing feature to return to the original position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wiper blade is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then it can effectively break ice accumulation, but it loses the ability to conform to varying window curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade incorporates an active material actuator that enables dynamic transformation between rigid and flexible states. The blade transitions from a flexible state during normal operation to a rigid state during ice breaking, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and conforming to window curvatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The active material actuator changes the physical parameters of the wiper blade by inducing phase transformation in the shape memory alloy. This phase change alters the blade's stiffness parameter, allowing it to switch between rigid and flexible states as needed for different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wiper blade is made flexible to conform to window curvatures, then it maintains good contact with the glass surface, but it cannot effectively break ice accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade uses an active material actuator to dynamically adjust its rigidity based on operational needs. During normal wiping, the blade remains flexible for conformability; during ice breaking, it becomes rigid through phase transformation of the shape memory alloy, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The active material actuator modifies the physical state of the wiper blade by inducing phase change in the shape memory alloy material. This changes the stiffness parameter from low (flexible) to high (rigid), enabling the blade to switch between conforming mode and ice breaking mode.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional heating element is used to melt ice, then ice accumulation can be removed, but energy consumption increases and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional thermal heating system with a mechanical ice breaking system using an active material actuator. The shape memory alloy converts electrical energy directly into mechanical motion through phase transformation, eliminating the need for continuous thermal heating and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The active material actuator utilizes phase transition of the shape memory alloy from austenite to martensite and back to generate mechanical force for ice breaking. This phase-based mechanical action provides an alternative to thermal melting, reducing energy requirements while effectively removing ice accumulation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If an active material actuator is integrated into the wiper blade to enable ice breaking, then ice removal capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active material actuator is integrated directly into the wiper blade structure, merging the ice breaking function with the existing blade components. This integration approach combines multiple functions (wiping and ice breaking) into a single unified structure, reducing overall system complexity despite adding ice breaking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating an active material actuator that enables both normal wiping operation and ice breaking function. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple tasks, avoiding the need for separate dedicated ice breaking mechanisms and thereby managing device complexity.
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
The active material actuator effectively breaks ice accumulation and maintains uniform contact pressure with the window, ensuring consistent wiping performance across varying curvatures and weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the active material actuator may include a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite in response to the electric actuation signal. Such a phase change may cause a corresponding expansion or contraction of the shape memory alloy that may deflect a portion of the wiper blade
Implementation Method 2
the active material actuator may include a piezoelectric element, where the imparted degree of motion is a vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length and an active material actuator provided along a portion of the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material actuator is configured to impart a degree of motion to a portion of the wiper blade in response to an electrical actuation signal.