Flat-Beam Wiper Blade Structure for Secure Spring Rail Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper blade designs face challenges in providing a secure and durable connection between the spring rail, head strip, and spoiler, while minimizing noise and maintaining structural integrity, and often require painting to protect components.
Innovation Solution
A wiper blade design featuring a hollow head strip with guide profiles for embedding the spring rail, ribs on the spoiler for secure clipping, and a connecting element with a U-shaped cross-section and reinforcing wall for enhanced stability, along with beveled insetting or riveting for component protection and modified spring characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single elongated spring rail is used as the carrier element, then the device complexity is reduced, but the connection strength and structural integrity between components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spring rail is nested within the hollow profile of the head strip, which provides structural support while maintaining a compact design. The guide profiles are then nested within the head strip's hollow profile, creating a multi-layered nested structure that enhances connection strength without significantly increasing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The head strip is designed with a composite structure combining the head strip material with guide profiles made of different material that can be attached by extrusion. This composite approach allows optimization of each component's properties for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity
2Ease of manufacture
If the spring rail is exposed, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to painting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spring rail is nested within the hollow profile of the head strip, which is itself nested within the spoiler structure. This nested arrangement automatically shields the spring rail from exposure, eliminating the need for painting while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide profiles act as an intermediary element between the spring rail and the external environment. By positioning the guide profiles within the hollow profile and providing guide ribs on their outer longitudinal sides, the design mediates the connection while protecting the spring rail from exposure
3Ease of operation
If the head strip has high pliability, then the ease of operation improves, but the stability of the object's composition deteriorates due to lifting movements and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The spring rail nested within the hollow profile of the head strip provides internal support that stabilizes the head strip's structure while allowing it to maintain flexibility for operation. The nested guide profiles further reinforce this stabilizing effect
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting part with U-shaped cross section open towards the spring rail combines materials with different properties to achieve optimal balance between flexibility and stability. The composite structure allows the head strip to be pliable for operation while resisting lifting movements that cause noise
4Strength
If the spoiler is securely connected with ribs and mating profiles, then the strength increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide profiles with guide ribs are merged with the head strip structure, and the mating profiles on the spoiler are designed to engage with these ribs. This merging approach creates a secure connection while integrating the components into a unified structure rather than adding separate complex fastening mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The rib and mating profile connection is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The guide ribs on the guide profiles automatically guide the spoiler into place during assembly, and the mating profiles with undercuts and thickenings create a self-locking connection that secures the spoiler without requiring additional fasteners or complex assembly procedures
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) in a flat beam construction, having a wiper strip (12) and a single spring rail (20, 64, 68) serving as the carrier element, and a spoiler (22) connected to the head strip (18) of the wiper strip (12), wherein a connecting element (24) having a joint part (30) is disposed in the center region of the wiper blade (10). The invention proposes that the head strip (18) have a hollow profile that is open in the direction of the spoiler (22), on the longitudinal sides of which guide profiles (40) are disposed having open grooves (42) facing each other, in which the spring rail (20, 64, 68) is embedded.