Windscreen Wiper Blade Cavity Design for Play Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior wiper blades for vehicle windshields often fail to maintain effective contact due to residual play between the wiping blade and the support element, leading to reduced wiping effectiveness and uncontrollable blade angle.

Innovation Solution

A wiper blade design featuring a longitudinal body with a cavity to house an elongated elastic support element, where the support element and holding member have the same length, ensuring secure placement and reducing movement during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the wiping blade and support element are formed in one piece, then the manufacture is simplified, but residual play exists between the vertebra and body causing blade movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacture simplificationVSAvoidblade positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the one-piece structure into separate components: a body, a holding member housed in a cavity within the body, and a support element housed in a recess of the holding member. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently and assembled together, eliminating residual play while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a nested structure where the holding member is housed inside the body's cavity, and the support element is housed inside the holding member's recess. This nested arrangement ensures tight fitting and eliminates play between components while keeping the overall structure compact and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the blade is allowed to move relative to the support element, then assembly is easier, but the blade angle becomes uncontrollable reducing wiping effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidblade angle control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member is pre-configured with a recess that precisely receives the support element, and the body contains a cavity that houses the holding member. This preliminary structuring ensures that when components are assembled, the blade angle is automatically controlled and positioned correctly, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a connector and adapter are used to connect the broom to the arm, then the connection is secure, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidnumber of connecting parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of the holding member and connector into a single integrated component. The holding member serves both to secure the support element and to connect to the wiper arm, eliminating the need for separate adapters and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining connection security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances the wiper blade's ability to maintain contact with the windshield, improving wiping effectiveness and aerodynamic performance by preventing relative movement between the blade and support element.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic elongated support element in the form of a strip, also called stiffening vertebra, which optionally confers a bending to the wiper blade, so as to promote the application of this blade on the windshield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2883762B1Windscreen-wiper blade for a windscreen-wiper system of a vehicle and method for assembling same
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS
  • EP2883762B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2883762B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9
  • EP2883762B1 patent drawingFigure 10~12

AI summary

Windshield wiper blade (110) for a vehicle window wiping system, in particular for automobiles, comprising a longitudinal body (114) and a wiper blade (116) formed in one piece, said piece comprising a cavity (130) for receiving an elongated elastic support element in the form of a band (118), the elongated elastic support element in the form of a band being housed in a recess (160) of a longitudinal member (132) for retaining the wiper blade, this retaining member being housed in said cavity (130).