How Does a Windshield Wiper Work?
2 Answers
Windshield wipers operate as follows: The motor on the wiper drives the output through the worm gear on the armature shaft and then drives the output gear via the idler and idler shaft. The output arm, which is connected to the wiper linkage, is then manipulated by the output shaft. When the motor rotates, the output arm and linkage are driven to move back and forth. The windshield wiper is a blade-like structure installed in front of the windshield, consisting of a motor, a reducer, a four-bar linkage mechanism, a wiper arm spindle, and a wiper blade assembly. The key to the wiper's effective operation lies in the rubber wiper blade maintaining sufficient moisture. Only with adequate moisture can the blade retain excellent flexibility, ensuring tight contact with the windshield.
The windshield wiper may seem simple, but it's actually a sophisticated linkage system. The key lies in the small motor inside the vehicle that provides power. When the motor rotates, it drives a reduction gear set to lower the speed and increase the torque. Then, through a crank linkage mechanism, the rotational motion is converted into a left-right swinging motion of the wiper arm, much like a human arm moving back and forth. The most crucial component is the control module, which acts like an intelligent butler, commanding the motor to work when the lever is activated, and adjusting the wiper blade's swing speed and frequency via the speed of electrical pulses. Modern wiper blades also pay great attention to pressure distribution – high-quality ones can closely conform to the curvature of the windshield. Especially frameless wipers, which rely on internal spring steel strips to apply even pressure, ensuring a clean wipe without damaging the glass. Factors like rubber blade aging or oil film on the windshield can affect performance, so remember to regularly inspect and replace the rubber blades.
