Wiper Blade Adapter Hinge Structure for Stable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wiper blades suffer from poor assemblability and hinge strength, leading to vibration during glass surface wiping, which deteriorates operational performance and can cause damage to the primary cover.
Innovation Solution
The wiper blade design incorporates an adapter with a guide rib and locking projection, a spacer with tapered sides, and a high-strength hinge member to enhance the connection between the primary cover and secondary lever, increasing the contact area and assembly stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the secondary lever is forcibly inserted into the hinge of the primary cover, then the wiper blade can be assembled, but the primary cover may be damaged and the outer appearance is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
An adapter component is introduced as an intermediary element between the secondary lever and the primary cover. The adapter includes a guide rib that fits into a guide groove in the primary cover, and a locking projection that engages with a locking groove. This mediator enables the secondary lever to be assembled with the primary cover without direct forced insertion, preventing damage to the primary cover while maintaining assembly capability.
2Device complexity
If the hinge contact area between the primary cover and secondary lever is narrow, then the structure is simple, but vibration is generated during wiping and operational performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is expanded from a narrow hinge contact area to a two-dimensional contact surface. The guide rib and guide groove create a broad sliding contact area, and the locking projection with locking groove adds a secondary contact point. This dimensional expansion of the contact area reduces vibration during wiping operations while maintaining structural simplicity through the integrated adapter design.
3Strength
If the hinge strength is increased by adding reinforcing ribs, then the connection strength improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the guide rib for alignment and sliding, the locking projection for secure engagement, and the contact surfaces for vibration reduction. By merging these previously separate elements (guide structure, locking mechanism, and reinforcing features) into one adapter component, hinge strength is increased without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper blade for a vehicle may include a secondary lever including a lever rivet hole, an adapter including a guide rib formed in the longitudinal direction thereof, a locking projection formed at the rear thereof, and an adapter rivet hole, a primary cover including a guide groove formed in the longitudinal direction thereof and into which the guide rib of the adapter is inserted, and a locking groove into which the locking projection of the adapter is inserted, and a hinge member penetrating the lever rivet hole and the adapter rivet hole and pivotally coupling the adapter and secondary lever.