Windshield Wiper Scrubber Assembly for Ice Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wipers are ineffective in removing debris such as insect residue, bird droppings, and tree sap, and struggle with ice buildup, leading to obstructed views and safety issues during inclement weather, while also wasting fuel and emitting harmful emissions when idling to clear ice.
Innovation Solution
A windshield wiper system incorporating a movable scrubber assembly that can be raised and lowered to contact the windshield, equipped with a scrubber element and a servo motor for enhanced debris removal and ice scraping, along with a washer fluid line design that minimizes fluid usage and evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional wiper blade with squeegee action is used, then liquid removal is effective, but debris removal capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a conventional wiper blade with a separate scrubber assembly into a single integrated unit. The scrubber assembly includes a scrubbing member with abrasive particles that can be deployed to scrub the windshield surface, while the wiper blade handles liquid removal. This merging of functions allows the system to effectively remove both liquids and adhered debris like insect residue and bird droppings.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated wiper and scrubber system performs multiple functions: the wiper blade squeegees liquid from the windshield, while the deployable scrubber assembly scrubs adhered debris. The system can adapt between wet wiping and dry scrubbing modes, making it universally effective against various types of contamination including rain, insect residue, bird droppings, and tree sap.
2Shape
If the wiper blade is made thin and flexible to follow windshield contours, then contact with curved surfaces is improved, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cleaning function into separate components: a thin, flexible wiper blade for contour following and liquid removal, and a separate scrubber assembly with abrasive particles for debris removal. The scrubber assembly is deployed only when needed, allowing the wiper blade to remain thin and flexible without requiring additional structural reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrubber assembly is designed to be deployable rather than permanently attached, allowing it to be engaged only when debris removal is needed. This dynamic configuration enables the wiper blade to maintain its thin, flexible design for optimal contour following, while the scrubbing capability is available on-demand through the deployable assembly.
3Length of moving object
If the wiper blade width is reduced to maintain flexibility, then contour adaptation is improved, but contact force with debris is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the wiper blade with a scrubber assembly that provides additional mechanical force for debris removal. The scrubbing member contains abrasive particles that can scrub adhered debris with sufficient force, compensating for the reduced contact force of the thinner wiper blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrubbing member is constructed with composite materials including abrasive particles embedded in a flexible substrate. This composite structure provides both the necessary scrubbing force to remove adhered debris and the flexibility to conform to windshield contours,弥补ing the reduced force of the thinner wiper blade.
4Reliability
If a movable scrubber assembly is added to enhance debris removal, then cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scrubber assembly is designed as a movable, deployable component that can be engaged and disengaged as needed. This dynamic design allows the system to maintain simplicity during normal wiper operation, while providing enhanced debris removal capability only when required, thus minimizing the impact on overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated unit combines the wiper blade and scrubber assembly into a single assembly that attaches to the wiper arm. This universal design allows one component to perform multiple functions (wiping and scrubbing), reducing the need for separate systems and thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
5Reliability
If washer fluid is sprayed to liquefy debris for squeegee removal, then debris removal is improved, but fluid evaporation and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/mechanical approach of spraying washer fluid to liquefy debris with a mechanical scrubbing approach. The scrubbing member with abrasive particles mechanically scrubs adhered debris from the windshield surface, eliminating or reducing the need for washer fluid spray, thereby reducing fluid evaporation and waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrubbing member is designed to be self-contained with abrasive particles that provide the necessary scrubbing action without requiring additional washer fluid. The system uses its own mechanical components (the abrasive scrubbing surface) to perform the cleaning function, rather than relying on external fluid application.
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 system effectively removes debris and ice from windshields, improving visibility and reducing fuel waste and emissions by efficiently using a reduced amount of washer fluid and utilizing a heating element to thaw ice quickly.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a heating element to thaw ice quickly
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for removing ice from a windshield. A windshield wiper includes a wiper assembly, a scrubber assembly, and an engaging assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper support structure and a wiper blade attached to the wiper support structure. The scrubber assembly includes a scrubber support structure, an elongated scrubber element and a motor. The scrubber element is movably attached to the scrubber support structure and extends between a first end and a spaced apart second end along a central longitudinal axis. The scrubber element can have a hardness value sufficient to remove ice from the windshield. The motor is mounted to the scrubber support structure and is engaged with the scrubber element to move the scrubber element to remove ice. An engaging assembly can be coupled with the wiper assembly and the scrubber assembly to raise and lower the scrubber assembly with respect to the wiper assembly.