Wiping Device Asymmetric Fluid Ejection for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windshield wiper systems are inefficient in using cleaning fluid and often obstruct visibility, leading to suboptimal cleaning quality and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
The wiper device is designed to eject a greater quantity of cleaning fluid along the leading side of the wiper blade during the initial movement and a lesser quantity on the trailing side during the return movement, with dynamically controlled nozzle openings and pressure adjustments to optimize fluid distribution across the windshield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning fluid is ejected on both longitudinal sides of the wiper blade during both initial and return movements, then cleaning quality is improved, but cleaning fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device dynamically adapts its operation to the wiper blade movement direction. During the initial movement, spray openings on both longitudinal sides are activated to ensure thorough cleaning. During the return movement, spray openings are selectively deactivated based on which side is trailing, reducing fluid consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness on the leading side.
Solution Approach 2:
Different spray openings are activated depending on the local conditions created by the wiper blade position and movement direction. The spray device provides localized cleaning fluid application - full bilateral spray during initial movement when cleaning quality is prioritized, and selective unilateral spray during return movement when fluid thriftiness is prioritized.
2Reliability
If cleaning fluid is ejected on the trailing side during return movement, then cleaning quality is improved, but visibility obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device dynamically controls which spray openings are activated based on the wiper blade movement phase. During the return movement, spray openings on the trailing side are deactivated, preventing cleaning fluid from being deposited in the driver's field of view while the wiper blade traverses across the windshield from the driver's perspective.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts what would normally be a harmful effect (fluid ejection on the trailing side causing visibility obstruction) into a beneficial control strategy. By selectively deactivating spray openings on the trailing side during return movement, the system eliminates the harmful visibility obstruction while maintaining cleaning effectiveness on the leading side where fluid ejection is still activated.
3Loss of substance
If spray openings are selectively activated based on wiper blade movement direction, then fluid thriftiness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system merges the activation control of multiple spray openings into a unified system that responds to the wiper blade movement direction. A single control mechanism determines which spray openings are activated based on whether the wiper blade is in initial or return movement, simplifying the overall control architecture while achieving selective fluid ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray device utilizes information about the wiper blade movement direction (which is inherently available in the wiper system) to automatically control which spray openings are activated. The system serves itself by using the existing movement detection capability to intelligently manage fluid ejection without requiring additional complex sensing or control mechanisms.
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
This method achieves improved cleaning quality with thriftier fluid use and reduced visibility obstruction, enhancing traffic safety by ensuring effective fluid distribution during both initial and return wiper blade movements.
Implementation Method 1
a larger quantity of washing or cleaning fluid is ejected along the side of the wiper blade which is ahead of the other side in the wiper motion out of the spray or nozzle openings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
In a wiping device for vehicle windows with a wet wiper blade (1), which is intended for an initial movement (A) from a home position into a reversal position and a return movement (B) from the reversal position into the direction of the home position on at least one wiper arm (11), and is provided with a spray device which has, on each longitudinal wiper blade side of the wiper blade, numerous spray or nozzle openings which are successively arranged in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (1) for the purpose of ejecting a washing or cleaning fluid onto the vehicle window, wherein the spray device is formed so that after activation of the spray and wiping process, and at least during the first initial movement (A) of the wiper blade (1), a larger quantity of the washing or cleaning fluid is ejected on the longitudinal wiper blade side which leads in this initial movement, than on the longitudinal wiper blade side which follows in this initial movement and leads in the return movement (B).