Wiper Drive Device with Rack and Pinion for Panoramic Windshield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windscreen wiper systems struggle to effectively wipe complex, curved surfaces like panoramic windshields due to inconsistent contact pressure and angle of attack, particularly at steeply curved side ends, where the wiper blade's plane of deformation does not remain perpendicular to the window.
Innovation Solution
A compact drive device where the motor is integrated with a pivotable guide housing, utilizing a pinion and rack mechanism to adjust the inclination of the drive shaft relative to the bearing body, ensuring the wiper blade maintains optimal contact angle across the windshield's curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper blade uses a deformable articulated structure to maintain contact with the glass surface, then the squeegee remains in contact along its entire length, but the deformation plane does not remain perpendicular to the window due to curvature, causing the attack angle to vary
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is made pivotable relative to the bearing body through a rack and pinion mechanism, allowing the inclination of the drive shaft axis to vary dynamically according to the angular position of the shaft around its rotation axis. This dynamic adjustment ensures the wiper blade maintains optimal attack angle on curved surfaces while preserving continuous contact through the deformable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the drive shaft relative to the bearing body is varied as a function of the angular position of the drive shaft. This parameter change is achieved through a cam mechanism or rack and pinion system that controls the pivoting motion, optimizing the attack angle at different positions along the curved windshield surface.
2Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is used to control the pivoting of the drive shaft, then the inclination varies with angular position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional cam mechanism is replaced with a rack and pinion system where the rack is fixed to the bearing body and the pinion is attached to the drive shaft. This substitution achieves the same inclination control function with potentially simpler manufacturing and assembly, while maintaining the ability to vary the drive shaft inclination according to angular position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drive device is designed for complex panoramic windshields, then it can effectively wipe curved surfaces, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device is designed with a pivotable drive shaft mechanism that can adapt to various windshield configurations including panoramic windshields with complex curvatures. The rack and pinion system provides universal adaptability by allowing the drive shaft inclination to be adjusted according to the specific angular position and curvature requirements, making the same device suitable for different windshield types without requiring multiple specialized 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
This solution allows for a consistent and adaptive angle of attack of the wiper blade, improving wiping quality by varying the inclination based on the windshield's curvature, ensuring effective cleaning of both front and side areas with reduced mechanical complexity and adaptability to various windshield configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanism comprises a pinion (28) which is supported by the drive shaft (20) to which it is rotationally linked, and a complementary rack (30) that is supported by the bearing housing (12)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a windshield wiper drive device (10), comprising a bearing housing (12), a drive shaft (20) rotatably mounted relative to the bearing housing (12), a guide housing (19) for the drive shaft (20) rotating about its axis (A1), which is pivotally mounted relative to the bearing housing (12) about an axis (A2) orthogonal to the axis (A1) of the drive shaft (20), a motor (16) for driving the shaft (20), and a rack and pinion mechanism (28) and rack (30) that pivots the shaft (20) to vary the inclination of the axis (A1) of the shaft (20) relative to the bearing housing (12) as a function of the angular position of the drive shaft (20), characterized in that the drive motor (16) is supported by the housing (19) guidance.