Wiper Blade Connecting Plate Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper blades with plastic carriers and spring rails face challenges in secure attachment, ease of installation, and minimizing friction during relative movements, while maintaining flexibility and protection of the support element.
Innovation Solution
The wiper blade design integrates a connecting plate and connecting element with overlapping side parts, detent lugs, and a centering pin for secure articulation with the wiper arm, featuring a multicomponent extrusion process that forms the longitudinal channel and receiving profile, allowing for few parts, easy installation, and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the support element is exposed in the carrier, then the installation is simpler, but the support element is not protected and friction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support element (spring rail) is nested within the longitudinal channel of the carrier, with only the necessary portions exposed for articulation. This nesting protects the support element while maintaining functionality, reducing friction and improving reliability without complicating installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for the carrier and connecting elements, then the design is more flexible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is merged with the longitudinal channel to form an integrated center section, reducing the number of separate parts. This integration maintains design flexibility for articulation while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal channel serves multiple functions: it protects the support element, provides structural support, and integrates the connecting element for articulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the device while maintaining versatility.
3Device complexity
If the connecting element is integrated into the longitudinal channel, then the number of parts is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated center section is divided into functional segments: the longitudinal channel portion and the connecting element portion with overlapping side parts. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing with standard tolerances, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining the integrated structure's benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) having a wiper strip (50), the head strip (56) of which is held by a receiving profile (30, 62, 70), which is connected to a longitudinal channel (60) for a support element (12), wherein a connecting element (16) is provided in the center region of the wiper blade (10) for the articulated connection to a wiper arm. The invention provides that the connecting element (16) forms part of the longitudinal channel (60) along with a connecting plate (22) in that the connecting plate (22) forms the side facing the wiper strip (50) with the base (24) thereof, and encloses the support element (12, 92) with the side walls (26) thereof, while the connecting element (16) forms the side opposite the base (24) and overlaps the side walls (26) with side parts (44) thereof, wherein part of the receiving profile (30) is integrally formed on the base (24) of the connecting plate (22) toward the wiper strip (50).