Windshield Wiper Piston Pressurization for Uniform Blade Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wipers fail to provide uniform pressure distribution, leading to poor cleaning of curved windshields and increased fatigue wear in elastic components, while magnetic solutions are expensive and complex.
Innovation Solution
A windshield wiper design featuring a plurality of pistons along the blade, with a pressurizing system applying constant fluid pressure to ensure uniform pressure distribution, reducing unwiped areas and fatigue wear, and incorporating a flexible blade made of rigid and rubber materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If elastic means are used to press the blade against the windshield, then the blade is pressed against the windshield, but the pressure distribution is non-uniform and the elastic means are subjected to fatigue wear
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is divided into multiple independent piston elements (at least ten pistons) distributed along the blade length. Each piston acts as an independent force application point, replacing the continuous elastic means with discrete segmented elements that can be individually controlled and replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic mechanical means (springs, rubber elements) are replaced with a pneumatic or hydraulic piston system. The pressurizing system supplies fluid to multiple pistons, converting elastic mechanical force into controlled pneumatic/hydraulic force application along the blade.
2Device complexity
If common wiper design is used, then the structure is simple, but unwiped areas occur on curved windshields
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into multiple sections with individually actuated pistons, allowing each segment to independently conform to curved windshield surfaces while maintaining overall structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston system enables dynamic adjustment of blade pressure and shape along its length, allowing the blade to adapt to curved windshield geometries while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to fully flexible or actively controlled systems.
3Force
If elastic means are concentrated in certain areas, then those areas have higher pressure, but the pressure distribution becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
Different areas of the blade can have different numbers of pistons distributed along its length, allowing local pressure adjustment. Areas requiring higher pressure can have more pistons or higher individual piston force, while maintaining overall pressure uniformity through localized quality variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed piston system with centralized pressurizing supply enables feedback control of pressure distribution. Pressure sensors can monitor force application at different blade locations, and the pressurizing system can adjust fluid pressure to maintain uniform distribution across the entire blade length.
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
The solution achieves a more uniform and constant pressure distribution, reducing unwiped areas on curved windshields and minimizing fatigue wear in the wiper components, while also reducing annoying noise and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurizing system for applying a constant fluid pressure on the plurality of pistons
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a windshield wiper (10), comprising : a blade (20) for wiping a windshield (2), and a body (30) supporting the blade (20); wherein the windshield wiper (10) comprises a plurality of pistons (40) distributed all along the blade (20) for pressing the blade (20) against the windshield (2). The invention further concerns a motor vehicle comprising at least one such windshield wiper (10), and a method for operating such a windshield wiper (10).