Flat Wiper Blade Heating Foil Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically heatable flat wiper blades face inefficiencies in heat transfer and protection of heating elements, with complex designs and ineffective heat distribution through the wiping rubber, and are prone to faults due to exposed electrical connections.

Innovation Solution

A flat wiper blade design featuring a heating foil integrated into a spring rail within a retaining strip, with the foil protected from external influences and connected via flexible leads for reliable electrical connection, ensuring uniform heating and simplified production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heating elements are arranged in the wiping rubber, then heat transfer to the wiping surface is achieved, but the design becomes elaborate and heat transfer becomes ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer effectivenessVSAvoiddesign complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is extracted from the wiping rubber and placed on the spring rail instead. This simplifies the overall design by separating the heating function from the wiping function, allowing each component to be optimized independently while improving heat transfer efficiency to the glass surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring rail serves as an intermediary structure that carries the heating element and transfers heat to the wiping rubber assembly. This intermediary approach allows efficient heat transfer from the heating element through the spring rail to the wiping components, resolving the heat transfer inefficiency while maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heating elements are arranged on the underside of the wiper blade, then heat transfer is achieved, but the heating elements are unprotected against environmental influences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transferVSAvoidprotection against environmental influences

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is nested within the structure formed by the spring rail and retaining strip, positioning it on the upper side of the spring rail. This nested arrangement provides natural protection against environmental factors such as water, ice, and debris while maintaining effective heat transfer to the wiping components and glass surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If electrical connection is performed via plug connection and double plug connector, then electrical connection is achieved, but the wiper blade becomes susceptible to faults and requires elaborate manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection components are merged into a single integrated retaining strip structure that houses the heating element and provides electrical connections. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate plug connections and double plug connectors, reducing fault susceptibility and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Temperature

If heating foils are accommodated in longitudinal grooves of the wiping rubber, then heating is achieved, but the heating elements remain unprotected and require elaborate wiping rubber manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating functionVSAvoidprotection of heating elements

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is extracted from the wiping rubber grooves and repositioned on the spring rail structure. This extraction removes the heating element from the unprotected groove environment, providing natural protection against environmental factors while simplifying the wiping rubber manufacture by eliminating the need for complex groove structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design achieves uniform heating across the wiper blade, protects the heating elements from external influences, and provides a reliable electrical connection, enhancing heat transfer and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

an electric heating element in the form of a heating foil (19), which is accommodated in contact with the upper side of the spring rail (11) within a profile section (10.1) of the retaining strip (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

ensures optimum heat transfer from the at least one heating foil to the wiper blade and to the areas to be heated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10232826B2Flat wiper blade

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS

AI summary

Flat wiper blade for windscreen wiper modules, having a wiper blade body, which presents at least one wiping rubber (12) forming at least on e wiping lip (12.1), presents at least one spring rail (11) in addition to at least one retaining strip (10) on which the wiping rubber (12) is held and which (retaining strip (10)) possesses at least one profile section designed as a hollow profile, in which at least a partial length of the spring rail (11) is accommodated, wherein at least one heating foil (19) is arranged over at least a partial length together with the at least one spring rail (11) in the profile section (10.1) of the retaining strip (10).