Vehicle: Car: Windshield Wiper
Fluted Cleaning Wipers   (+1)  [vote for, against]
I've been mulling this one around in my head for a while....

Make the wipers hollow, like a flute, and spray the cleaning solution through the holes before and during wiping to ensure good, blanket coverage of the entire area being wiped.

The sequence would go something like this:

1) spray fluid while the wipers are still folded down.

2) turn on wipers

3) while in the forward wiping motion, the wiper sprays, so the spray precedes the blade.

4) on the way back to folded position, the spray turns off.

I think this would be a lot more effective for getting splattered bugs and other filth off the windshield.
-- 21 Quest, Dec 09 2006

Magic Vision Control http://www.mbusa.co...model-SL550R#safety
So it should show up on normal cars in about 10 years. [DIYMatt, Jun 09 2012]

Seemed like a good time to dust this oldie off and let it breathe a little.
-- 21 Quest, Jun 08 2012


I think it's a good idea, but the title is off; 'fluted' already has a different meaning, which confused me a little bit until I realized that you meant 'flute-like in structure'.

'Washer Fluid Distributing Wiper Blade' would be most accurate, but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

It's a bit complicated, but I don't see why it wouldn't work if the internal channel were designed to provide equal pressure to each aperture. If the inside is just a straight tube, you're going to get a strong spray nearest the feed point and incontinent dribbling further away. The easiest way to get around that would be gang distribution, but that could get bulky.

[+] for concept, needs a little work.
-- Alterother, Jun 09 2012


Perhaps the diameter of the holes could be graduated to assist in distribution layering.

Given the abuse my windshield takes, I'm all for this idea.
-- normzone, Jun 09 2012


// designed to provide equal pressure to each aperture.// As long as all the holes are small compared to the bore of the tubing feeding them, the pressure drop across each hole will be similar.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jun 09 2012


I always thought that the dwell time of the cleaning solution was an important part of its effectiveness. I realize that you're not doing away with the 'spray before wiping' bit which allows the soaking action, but wonder if the simultaneously spraying and wiping enhancement would do much.
-- AusCan531, Jun 09 2012


Hey, this idea is baked now, but it was 7 years ahead of its time! 2013 Mercedes will include this feature.
-- DIYMatt, Jun 09 2012



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