Wiper Nozzle Positioning for Reduced Wind Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper devices face challenges in improving wiping performance while maintaining a low cost, as they often result in wind resistance, increased complexity, and high costs due to long hoses and inefficient washer fluid ejection, which obstructs the driver's view and affects the appearance.
Innovation Solution
A wiper device with a pantograph type wiper arm and a washer nozzle fixed closer to the wiper blade, ejecting washer fluid at an acute angle to ensure effective spreading along the wiper blade, reducing hose length and avoiding wind resistance, with the nozzle positioned to prevent obstruction and improve wiping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the washer nozzle is arranged to extend across the upper side of the wiper blade and project toward the front of the wiper blade, then the washer fluid can be ejected toward the front of the wiper blade in the moving direction, but the washer nozzle receives wind resistance, produces wind noise, and adversely affects the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The washer nozzle is positioned at the basal end of the wiper blade and ejects washer fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the wiping surface, utilizing the horizontal dimension along the wiper blade rather than projecting forward. This dimensional change allows effective washer fluid distribution without creating wind resistance or noise during vehicle travel.
2Reliability
If the washer nozzle projects toward the front of the wiper blade in the moving direction, then the washer fluid can be ejected toward the front of the wiper blade, but the washer fluid is ejected substantially orthogonal to the wiping surface over a very short distance and may not spread over the wiping surface
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection direction parameter of the washer fluid is changed from substantially orthogonal to the wiping surface to substantially parallel to the wiping surface. The washer nozzle is positioned to eject washer fluid in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, allowing the fluid to spread effectively along the wiping surface rather than being ejected orthogonally over a short distance.
3Reliability
If the hose is arranged along the wiper arm from a distal end to a basal end of the wiper arm and fixed to the wiper arm, then the washer nozzle can be supplied with washer fluid, but the hose becomes long, making it difficult to couple and increasing the cost
Solution Approach 1:
The washer nozzle is extracted from the distal end of the wiper arm and repositioned at the basal end, closer to the wiper blade. This repositioning significantly reduces the required hose length for washer fluid supply, simplifying the coupling process and reducing overall system cost while maintaining reliable washer fluid delivery.
4Reliability
If the washer nozzle is positioned to eject washer fluid toward the front of the wiper blade, then dry wiping can be avoided and wiping performance improved, but the washer nozzle must be arranged to extend across the upper side of the wiper blade, increasing the amount projected from the wiper arm
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of projecting the washer nozzle forward in the vertical dimension, the nozzle is positioned at the basal end and ejects washer fluid in the horizontal dimension parallel to the wiping surface. This allows effective wetting of the wiper blade to prevent dry wiping without increasing the projection amount that would affect appearance or create wind resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper device including a wiper arm, a wiper blade, and a washer nozzle. The wiper blade moves in a first direction and a second direction. The wiper arm is arranged at a position in the second direction with respect to the wiper blade when the wiper blade is at the home position. The washer nozzle is fixed to a position located toward a basal side from the wiper blade on a main arm or a sub-arm that is closer to the wiper blade. The washer fluid is ejected toward the distal portion of the wiper blade at a position in the first direction with respect to the wiper blade when the wiper blade is arranged at the home position. The falling point of the washer fluid is set at a position located toward the basal side of the wiper blade from a central part of the wiper blade.