Wiper Blade Fluid Dispensing for Wider Aircraft Windshield Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft windshield wiper systems are limited in their ability to effectively clean water or debris from the windshield due to the restricted reach of traditional fluid nozzles, which only cover a limited portion of the windshield and require additional apertures through the aircraft body, increasing manufacturing costs and drag.
Innovation Solution
A windshield wiper system that includes a wiper arm and blade with integrated nozzles, an actuator, controller, fluid control unit, and user interface, where the fluid line is routed through the wiper arm and nozzle is positioned on the blade to dispense fluid across a wider area, allowing for both-sided fluid dispensing and adjustable flow, temperature, and type selection, reducing the need for additional apertures and enhancing aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional fluid nozzles are positioned at the edge of the windshield, then the system structure is simple, but the fluid coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid dispensing system is segmented into multiple nozzles distributed along the wiper blade rather than using a single nozzle at the edge. This segmentation allows fluid to be dispensed at multiple locations simultaneously, significantly expanding the coverage area across the windshield while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid dispensing approach transitions from a single-point dispensing at the edge to a distributed linear arrangement along the wiper blade. This dimensional change from point to line distribution enables broader fluid coverage across the windshield surface without substantially increasing system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional apertures are added to the aircraft body for fluid nozzles, then fluid dispensing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is given multiple functions: it both wipes the windshield and serves as the mounting structure for fluid nozzles. By integrating the nozzle mounting function into the existing wiper blade assembly, the system achieves enhanced fluid dispensing capability without requiring additional apertures or structural modifications to the aircraft body, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional apertures are created in the aircraft body, then fluid nozzle installation is enabled, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid nozzle mounting function is merged with the existing wiper blade assembly. The nozzles are mounted on the exterior surface of the wiper blade, which already penetrates the aircraft body to reach the windshield. This merging eliminates the need for separate apertures, thereby maintaining aerodynamic efficiency while enabling fluid nozzle installation.
4Area of stationary object
If fluid nozzles are positioned away from the windshield edge, then fluid coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade itself serves as the mounting structure for the fluid nozzles. As the wiper blade moves across the windshield during normal operation, it automatically positions the nozzles in optimal locations for fluid dispensing. This self-positioning mechanism achieves improved windshield coverage without requiring complex active positioning systems or additional control mechanisms.
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 system provides more comprehensive windshield cleaning, reduces manufacturing costs, and improves aerodynamic efficiency by eliminating extra apertures and allowing for efficient fluid use, enhancing pilot visibility and aircraft safety.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid source fluidly coupled to the nozzle through a fluid line
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft windshield wiper system includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade coupled to a first end of the wiper arm, and an output shaft coupled to a second end of the wiper arm. The wiper blade includes a fluid dispensing system including nozzles, a fluid control unit, fluid lines, fluid source, and a user interface. The wiper blade with the fluid dispensing system is configured to dispense a variety of fluids directly from the wiper blade onto the windshield of an aircraft.