Windshield Wiper Motor Mounting Tab for Vibration Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windshield wiper arrangements for vehicles do not effectively decouple vibrations from the vehicle, leading to potential discomfort and noise for occupants.

Innovation Solution

A strap that encompasses the pole pot of the electric motor, with a free end fastened to the vehicle, providing a large contact area for force and vibration absorption, and optionally featuring a stiffening rib and elastomer elements for enhanced damping and secure fastening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional mounting tab is used to attach the electric motor to the vehicle, then the attachment is simple and secure, but vibrations are effectively transmitted to the vehicle causing noise and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmission to vehicleVSAvoidattachment security
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vibration decoupling element as an intermediary component between the mounting tab and the vehicle. This element acts as a mediator that allows the mounting tab to remain securely attached while preventing vibration transmission. The decoupling element absorbs and dampens vibrations before they reach the vehicle structure, thus resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the vibration isolation function from the mounting tab itself by adding a separate decoupling element. This allows the mounting tab to focus on providing secure mechanical attachment, while the extracted decoupling element专门 handles vibration damping. This separation of functions enables both secure attachment and effective vibration isolation to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the mounting tab is made thicker or larger to improve vibration damping, then vibration decoupling improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration decoupling effectivenessVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mounting system into distinct functional components: the mounting tab for attachment and the separate decoupling element for vibration damping. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the tab remains simple for easy manufacturing, while the decoupling element is specifically designed for vibration absorption. This resolves the contradiction by avoiding the need to make the tab itself more complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The decoupling element is designed using composite material properties, combining rigid sections for structural support with elastomeric sections for vibration damping. This composite approach allows effective vibration decoupling without requiring the entire mounting structure to be thick or complex. The strategic placement of damping materials provides maximum vibration absorption with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a decoupling element is added to the mounting tab, then vibration isolation improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmission to vehicleVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mounting tab and decoupling element into a single integrated component in some embodiments, where the decoupling element is formed as an integral part of the tab. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity despite adding vibration isolation functionality. The combined component can be manufactured in one process, resolving the contradiction between improved vibration isolation and manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the tab circumferentially encompasses the pole housing to increase contact area, then vibration absorption improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration absorption capacityVSAvoidtab structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the tab from a simple linear attachment point to a circumferential structure that wraps around the pole housing. This dimensional change from one-dimensional to three-dimensional contact dramatically increases the contact area and vibration absorption capacity. The tab is configured to contact the pole housing at multiple points around its circumference, providing superior vibration damping without requiring excessive material or complex multi-component assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration effectively decouples vibrations, ensuring secure fastening and reduced noise and discomfort for vehicle occupants by distributing forces over a larger area and using damping materials to absorb vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

the entire length and, if applicable, width of the pole housing can be used to dissipate forces from the pole housing into the tab and thus into the vehicle. Due to the large contact area, vibrations can therefore be particularly advantageously compensated or decoupled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration decoupling: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a larger surface area is used over which forces, and thus vibrations, are absorbed and dampened or decoupled at the connection point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce distribution: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the tab is designed to be elastically deformable, at least in certain sections, with the elastic constant selected to provide advantageous vibration decoupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

the tab is designed to dampen vibrations, at least in certain sections. This allows vibrations to be dampened directly by the tab

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 5

the tab has at least one stiffening rib. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve sufficient damping for vibration decoupling even with a relatively low material thickness of the tab. In addition, the stability and robustness of the mounting of the windshield wiper assembly to the vehicle is increased

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural stiffening:

Implementation Method 6

the tab is designed to curve from the free end, used for attachment to the vehicle, to the section surrounding the pole piece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCurved geometry for damping:

Data Source

PatentEP3174764B1Windshield wiper assembly
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3174764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3174764B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A windshield wiper assembly for a vehicle having a drive device provided with an electric motor having a pole-well, and a transmission that can be driven by the electric motor, which is operatively connected to at least one wiper arm, and having a device for fastening the drive device to the vehicle. The device is provided with a tab surrounding the pole-well of the electric motor on the peripheral side, at least in some areas, which is provided with a free end, which protrudes from the pole-well and which is fastened to the vehicle.