Streamlined Windscreen Wiper Retention for High-Load Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streamlined windscreen wipers face issues with reduced rigidity and potential disarticulation under heavy loading conditions, such as in automatic car washes or icy/snowy situations, due to the introduction of additional tolerance from adapter elements.
Innovation Solution
A streamlined windscreen wiper design featuring a central mounting with an adapter element having a central web and legs, a retention means with a tongue and shoulders for enhanced resistance to lateral and torsional forces, and a locating pin for precise positioning, which increases the wiper's resistance to disassembly and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an adapter element is introduced to articulate the end cap to the central mounting, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to additional tolerance and reduced rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter element is merged with the central mounting by forming it as an integral part of the central mounting structure. This eliminates the separate adapter component and its associated tolerance accumulation, while maintaining the articulation function through the integrated design. The central mounting now directly provides the articulation interface to the end cap without requiring a separate adapter element.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an adapter element is used to permit free rotation of the end cap, then the adaptability is improved, but the strength deteriorates under heavy loading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter element's articulation function is merged into the central mounting structure itself. The central mounting is designed with integrated articulation features that directly engage the end cap, eliminating the need for a separate adapter element. This integration maintains the required rotational adaptability while providing superior structural strength and rigidity under heavy loads.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple individual pieces are used in the fairing structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central mounting and adapter element are merged into a single integral structure, reducing the total number of components. The fairing structure is simplified by integrating the articulation mechanism into the central mounting itself, eliminating the need for separate adapter elements and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular fairing pieces.
Data Source
AI summary
A streamlined windscreen wiper comprises a longitudinal wiper blade, fairing comprising a central mounting and at least one end cap, at least one adapter element fixed to the central mounting which comprises a central web and two legs, one of said at least one end caps being articulated to said adapter element, and a retention means comprising a first portion formed in said adapter element and engaging a complementary second portion extending from a lower surface of the central mounting, the first portion of the retention means comprises a tongue extending from the central web of the adapter element at a longitudinal extremity thereof.