Wiper Blade Damping Web Segmentation via Material Hardness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper strip designs with damping webs lack efficient methods for controlled separation and manufacturing flexibility, leading to challenges in modifying spring characteristics and maintaining manufacturing tolerances.
Innovation Solution
The damping ribs are designed with separable predetermined breaking points, allowing for separation by tearing or cutting, using a different material that supports crack propagation, and featuring tailored end faces for precise separation, which can be integrated into the manufacturing and assembly lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If damping webs are made from the same material as the rest of the wiper strip, then manufacturing is simpler, but controlled separation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The damping webs are manufactured from a different material (softer material with Shore hardness of approximately 30 Shore A) compared to the rest of the wiper strip (approximately 60 Shore A). This local material differentiation enables controlled crack propagation and separation at predetermined breaking points while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency through co-molding or post-attachment processes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If damping webs are integrally connected to both contact shoulders and header, then structural stability is improved, but separation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping webs are designed with predetermined breaking points that segment the integral connection into separable sections. The separation line runs in the longitudinal direction of the damping webs, allowing them to be torn or cut into segments (typically separated approximately up to the tilting web) while maintaining structural stability during operation. The free end face is given a shape tailored to the position of the separation point to facilitate controlled separation.
3Ease of operation
If damping webs use material supporting crack propagation, then separation ease is improved, but material selection flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using a softer material with Shore hardness of approximately 30 Shore A for the damping webs, compared to approximately 60 Shore A for the rest of the wiper strip. This parameter change in material hardness enables crack propagation and easy separation while maintaining sufficient structural stability during operation. The material is typically a synthetic rubber or blend that balances these opposing requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If free end face has tailored shape for separation point, then separation precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The free end face of the damping webs is given a shape tailored to the position of the separation point during the molding process. This preliminary shaping creates notches or specific geometries (such as concave contours, sharp fillets, or curly bracket shapes) that concentrate stress and guide crack propagation to the intended separation points. This approach integrates the separation feature into the manufacturing process rather than adding it as a separate operation.
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 approach enables cost-effective and precise separation of damping webs, allowing for flexible design modifications and improved manufacturing efficiency while maintaining small tolerances, enhancing the wiper strip's performance and manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
the damping webs are torn at the point of separation and separated approximately up to the tilting web. To this end, it is advantageous for the damping webs to consist of a different material from the rest of the wiper strip, specifically a material that supports the propagation of the crack.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a wiper blade (20, 58), the wiper lip (24, 60) of which is integrally molded onto a head strip (44, 66) in the region of abutment shoulders (28, 64) via a tilted wedge (32, 74), wherein, in the longitudinal grooves (34, 36, 76, 78) formed by the tilted wedge (32, 74), the abutment shoulders (28, 64) and the adjacent parts of the head strip (44, 66), attenuation wedges (38, 40, 70) are provided that extend transversely to said grooves, said attenuation wedges being integrally molded onto the adjacent parts of the longitudinal grooves (34, 36, 76, 78) in a bonded manner. The invention provides for the attenuation wedges (38, 40, 70) to be separated in the longitudinal direction thereof.