Windscreen Wiper Blade Conductive Coating for Cold Weather
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windscreen wiper devices experience reduced flexibility and performance in cold conditions, leading to poor wiping efficiency due to ice and snow accumulation, which can cause damage and noise during operation.
Innovation Solution
An electrically conductive coating is applied to the wiper blade to generate heat when a voltage is applied, melting snow and ice and maintaining the wiper's flexibility and performance in cold conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper blade is made of flexible material, then wiping performance is improved, but in cold conditions the flexibility is lost due to ice and snow accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically conductive coating is applied to the wiper blade surface in advance, enabling it to generate heat when voltage is applied. This preliminary preparation allows the blade to actively melt ice and snow before they can accumulate and compromise flexibility, maintaining wiping performance in cold conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal parameter of the wiper blade by incorporating an electrically conductive coating. When voltage is applied, the coating's electrical resistance generates heat, raising the blade's temperature above freezing point. This parameter change (from ambient temperature to elevated temperature) prevents ice formation and maintains material flexibility.
2Reliability
If heating is applied to melt ice and snow, then wiping performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical or thermal heating systems with an electrical heating system based on Joule heating. The electrically conductive coating converts electrical energy directly into thermal energy through its resistance, providing efficient and controllable heating with lower energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically conductive coating provides self-heating capability when voltage is applied. The system uses its own electrical resistance as the heating mechanism, eliminating the need for external heating elements or complex thermal management systems. The blade serves its dual function of wiping and self-heating.
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 solution ensures consistent high wiping performance by preventing ice and snow accumulation, reducing noise, and protecting the wiper blade material from damage in freezing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive coating is provided on at least a part of the flexible material of the wiper blade along at least a portion of its length in order to transfer electrically generated heat to the wiper blade upon applying a voltage to the electrically conductive coating
Implementation Method 2
The skin will then transfer its heat to other parts of the wiper blade in order to melt any snow and/or ice on the wiper blade
Data Source
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AI summary
A windscreen wiper device (1) of the flat blade type, comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade (2) of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove (3), in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device (6) about a pivot axis near one end thereof, with the special feature that an electrically conductive coating (12) is provided on at least a part of the flexible material of the wiper blade along at least a portion of its length in order to transfer electrically generated heat to the wiper blade upon applying a voltage to the electrically conductive coating.