Vehicle Wiper Nozzle Mounting for Compact Height and Jet Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wiper devices face challenges in suppressing airflow effects on cleaning fluid jets and maintaining a compact height profile, especially when nozzles are attached to wiper arms or retainers, which can limit jet direction flexibility and increase device size.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a wiper arm with a nozzle attached to the arm piece positioned on the outward movement side of the wiper blade, routing the hose along the arm length, and a retainer with a recessed profile that allows the nozzle to be attached without side walls blocking the jet, enabling flexible jet direction settings and compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the nozzle body is disposed adjacent to the lower face of the arm piece, then the nozzle can be positioned close to the wiper blade, but the bulk of the vehicle wiper device is enlarged in the height direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking (nozzle above wiper blade increasing height) to horizontal arrangement (nozzle on outward movement side of wiper blade), utilizing the swing direction dimension to position components without increasing overall device height
2Length of stationary object
If the nozzle is disposed on the inward movement side of the wiper blade, then the device height is reduced, but the cleaning fluid is affected by airflow blowing up along the windshield glass, causing erratic landing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the nozzle on the outward movement side where airflow naturally flows, converting the harmful airflow into a beneficial shield that protects the cleaning fluid jet from turbulence and ensures stable, predictable landing on the windshield
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hose is routed along the wiper arm and the nozzle is positioned on the outward movement side, then airflow effect is suppressed, but the hose may be squashed by the wiper blade displacement, obstructing fluid flow or wiper arm swing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hose guide as an intermediary component that mediates between the hose and wiper blade, providing a protected pathway for the hose along the outer peripheral surface of the wiper arm, preventing direct contact and potential squashing by the wiper blade
4Stability of the object's composition
If the retainer is formed with inverted U-shaped cross-section and nozzle is disposed between side walls, then the nozzle is retained, but the jet direction flexibility is limited due to side walls blocking the jet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the side walls from the retainer structure, extracting the blocking elements that limited jet direction flexibility, while maintaining nozzle retention through alternative means such as the arm piece configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wiper device includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade, a nozzle body, a hose, and a cleaning fluid supply section. A leading end side portion of the wiper arm is configured by an arm piece, and the wiper arm swings back and forth. The nozzle body is attached to the arm piece, is disposed on an outward movement side of the wiper blade, and jets cleaning fluid toward a windshield. The hose conveys cleaning fluid under pressure. The cleaning fluid supply section is at an opposite side of a rubber holder from the windshield, extends from the nozzle body so as to extend across the rubber holder from the outward movement side toward a return movement side of the wiper blade, is connected to the hose, and supplies cleaning fluid to the nozzle body.