Wiper Blade Adapter With Integrated Heating And Spray Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper arm/wiper blade connections in vehicle windshield wiper systems are complex and do not allow for a simplified, simultaneous mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical connection, especially for electrically heatable wiper blades with spray nozzles, making it difficult to easily attach and detach these blades from the wiper arm.
Innovation Solution
A wiper arm/wiper blade connection system featuring a two-part adapter with a hinge pin, allowing for easy pivoting and attachment, which includes a U-profile receptacle on the wiper arm and a rider-like attachment mechanism for the wiper blade, enabling hydraulic and electrical connections through integrated liquid and electrical lines within the adapter, facilitating the connection and disconnection of heatable wiper blades with spray nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional multi-component connection system is used for wiper blades with heating elements and spray nozzles, then the functionality is complete, but the connection complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical support function, hydraulic spray delivery, and electrical heating connections into a single integrated adapter component. This adapter includes a support element with spray channel connections and electrical contacts, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, fluid couplings, and electrical connectors that would otherwise be required individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support for the wiper blade, delivers washing liquid through integrated spray channels, and provides electrical connections for heating elements. This single component performs multiple functions that traditionally would require separate specialized parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional multi-component connection system is used for wiper blades, then the functionality is complete, but the number of parts increases making attachment and detachment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter integrates mechanical support, hydraulic spray delivery, and electrical heating connections into a single component, reducing the number of separate parts that must be assembled and disassembled. This allows the entire connection system to be attached or detached as one unit rather than requiring coordination of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into two main detachable parts: the adapter that remains on the wiper arm, and the wiper blade assembly that can be easily removed and replaced. This segmentation allows for quick blade changes while maintaining the integrated functionality of the adapter with its combined mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical connections are used for heatable wiper blades with spray nozzles, then the functionality is complete, but the connection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter combines mechanical support structure, hydraulic spray channel connections, and electrical contacts into a single integrated component. When the wiper blade is attached to the adapter, all three types of connections (mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical) are established simultaneously in a single action, eliminating the need for separate connection steps for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is pre-assembled with all necessary spray channel connections and electrical contacts already in position and configured. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid connection when the wiper blade is mounted, as the connections are already aligned and ready to engage without requiring additional assembly steps during the attachment process.
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 solution simplifies the connection and disconnection of electrically heatable wiper blades with spray nozzles by providing a mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical interface, ensuring easy attachment and detachment while maintaining the functionality of the wiper arm/wiper blade system.
Implementation Method 1
The adapter parts on the wiper arm side and on the wiper blade side are connected to one another in an articulated manner by means of a hinge pin
Implementation Method 2
a spring rail on which (wiper blade body) the squeegee is held
Implementation Method 3
an electrical heating element formed by a heating wire or a heating foil is provided in each case. The heating current is supplied to the heating element
Implementation Method 4
a spray or distribution channel with a large number of nozzle openings for dispensing a cleaning or washing liquid onto the vehicle window
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a wiper arm/wiper blade connection between a wiper blade (3, 3a, 3b) and a wiper arm (1) of a windscreen wiper installation for vehicles, comprising a wiper blade adapter (4) which is mounted on the wiper blade for detachably fastening the wiper blade to the wiper arm. The wiper blade is designed as a flat wiper blade and comprises at least one nozzle opening (11.1, 12.1) and/or at least one spray or distribution channel (11, 12) having nozzle openings for applying a cleaning or washing liquid to a vehicle screen on at least one wiper blade longitudinal side. The connection further comprises at least one liquid connection (32, 33) on the wiper blade adapter on the adapter end for detachably connecting the at least one nozzle opening and/or the at least one spray or distribution channel to at least one outer liquid line (14) for supplying the washing or cleaning liquid, namely via a coupling unit (39) that is connected to the at least one liquid line and detachably connected to the at least one liquid line. The invention is characterized in that, if the wiper blade is configured as an electrically heated wiper blade, the wiper blade adapter has at least one electrical connection (35) in addition to the at least one liquid connection, said electrical connection being detachably connected to the at least one outer electrical line (15) via the coupling unit to supply the heating current to the wiper blade.