Windscreen Wiper Connecting Device Rotation Limit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windscreen wiper devices with 'flat blade' or 'yokeless' designs face issues during cleaning and replacement, as the wiper blade may not touch the windscreen correctly when returning to its use position, potentially causing damage when repositioned with force.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating limitation means, such as a protrusion on the connecting device's rod, to restrict the oscillating arm's rotation angle to 30-90°, and using increased wall thickness to prevent deformation, ensuring the wiper blade can be easily cleaned or replaced without damaging the windscreen or device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the wiper blade is rotated more than 90° from its use position during service, then the wiper blade can be easily cleaned or replaced, but the upper holding part may touch the windscreen causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaning and replacementVSAvoiddamage to windscreen and wiper device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating limitation means (protrusions on the rod) that prevent the oscillating arm from being rotated beyond a safe angle range. These protrusions create mechanical stops that block excessive rotation before the upper holding part can contact the windscreen, thereby preventing damage in advance rather than reacting to it after occurrence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The limitation means consisting of protrusions on the rod act as an intermediary element between the oscillating arm and the potential harmful contact. These protrusions mediate the rotation movement by providing physical barriers that guide and restrict the motion, allowing sufficient rotation for maintenance while preventing dangerous over-rotation that would cause damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the connecting device is made with standard thin walls, then manufacturing is simpler and cost lower, but deformation occurs under pressure from the wiper arm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidresistance to deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively increasing the wall thickness only in specific critical areas of the connecting device where structural strength is needed to resist deformation from the wiper arm. Rather than uniformly thickening the entire device, the thicker walls are localized to regions experiencing highest stress, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while providing necessary strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2493731B1Windscreen wiper device
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 FEDERAL MOGUL SA
  • EP2493731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2493731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2493731B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade consists of an upper holding part holding at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element disposed in at least one longitudinal groove of said upper holding part, as well as a lower wiping part, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to a rod of said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein said connecting device comprises limitation means for limiting the maximum rotation angle of the pivotal movement of the oscillating arm.