Windshield Wiper Research Articles

Animation of water droplets moving down a surface

Rendering a scene containing water is among the most challenging aspects in the field of computer graphics. Researchers have developed a wide variety of algorithms for rendering water, but there still remain unaddressed problems due to water's multiformity and complex patterns of motion. This paper proposes a method for generating realistic animation of water droplets on transparent surfaces such as the windshield of a vehicle. One of the method's applications can be considered the animation of water droplets on a windshield, a process vital for drive simulators. The proposed method employs a particle system in a discrete environment to calculate the movement of water droplets on a surface, and environment mapping for indicating the property of transparency to quickly render scenes through transparent objects. Using the method, windshield wipers moving on a windshield and other obstacles moving against water droplets can also be taken into account. Fully computer-generated animations and video compositions of water droplets on a windshield demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Generic test environment for single-throw mechanical equipment

The design and development of a generic test environment for life-cycle testing and reliability analysis of single-throw mechanical equipment (STME) is outlined. STME is a generic class of 'switching mechanisms' or 'reciprocating machinery' widely used in industry. Everyday examples of STME are a car's windscreen wiper and an automatic car-park barrier system. The case study considered in this article is that of a pneumatic train door. The benefits of such a robust environment in terms of flexibility and adaptability as well as an efficient method of data management and a platform for intelligent data analysis are demonstrated.

Novel ‘windscreen wiper’ cavity structures formed by the cycloaddition of N-substituted isoindoles onto molrac bis-alkenes

Abstract A strong N -substituent effect is observed in the reaction of isoindoles with cyclobutene-1,2-diesters: N -alkyloxycarbonyl derivatives react to form adducts with bent-frame stereostructures; N -alkylisoindoles produce both extended-frame (stable) and bent-frame (unstable) stereoisomers, but require high-pressure conditions (10–15 kbar); N -acyl isoindoles fail to react. Reaction of N -benzyl tetrafluoroisoindole 6c with bis -alkene 13 produced the first ‘windscreen wiper’ N -bridged cavity compound 12 , the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

A forceful ‘windshield wiper’?

A forceful ‘windshield wiper’?

A study of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's out-of-service criteria

This paper summarizes a two-phase project that reviewed the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's out-of-service criteria for vehicles. The first phase examined relevant background information and conducted a questionnaire survey of CVSA inspectors and industry representatives. The second phase of the project involved extensive collection and evaluation of accident data. The results of both phases show a high level of support, in terms of contribution to vehicle accidents, for four of the vehicle criteria (regarding brakes, load securement, tires, and wheels and rims). There was some support for coupling devices, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering and suspension. The support for the remaining vehicle criteria (exhaust systems, frames, van and open top trailer bodies, and windshield wipers) was little to none. Further research continuing the study of accident data is recommended to confirm these findings. However, the data must be collected in a consistent and detailed manner if accurate information on the relationship of accidents and vehicle criteria is to be established.

The Kiss: Racial and Gender Conflict in a 1950s Automobile Factory

The trim department of the Chrysler Corporation's Dodge Main Plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, was an unlikely spot for carnival. It was a massive space-it covered two floors, each 1,080 feet longbut it seemed much smaller, its cramped walkways filled with boxes of material, its windows blackened with paint and years of dirt. The congestion was intensified by the 750 men and women who worked there each shift, applying roofs, molding, body chrome, windshield wipers, instrument panels, and other final parts to the car chassis moving inexorably down the line. Production quotas were high, and many workers struggled to keep up the pace. On the last day of production before Christmas, though, plant management lifted the burdens of industrial labor. Though the line kept moving, workers were welcome to celebrate the holiday in their own fashion. Alcohol flowed freely as the entire trim department foremen and everybody, according to a participant wish[ed] their Christmas tidings as the year's work well done. In 1955, the celebration fell on December 22.1 The incident began innocently enough. James Major, a thirty-five-year-old African American, and Catherine Young, a Caucasian.probably in her late twenties, regularly worked together installing hard tops and side chrome. About halfway through their shift that evening, they managed to get ahead of their production quota. As she had many times before, Young suggested that she and Major move

Comparative Reactivity of Triruthenium and Triosmium μ3-η2-Imidoyls. 1. Dynamics and Reactions with Carbon Monoxide, Phosphine, and Isocyanide

The reactivity and ligand dynamics of the μ3-η2-imidoyl clusters Ru3(CO)9(μ3-η2-RCNR‘)(μ-H) (R = CH3, R‘ = Et 2; RR‘ = (CH2)3, 3; RR‘ = (CH2)2C(H)CH2OCH3 4, R = R‘ = CH3, 5) are compared with the previously reported osmium analogs. The lowest energy dynamical process in these clusters is the “windshield wiper” motion over the face of the cluster whereas tripodal rotation of the carbonyl groups on the unbridged metal atom is the fastest process in the analogous osmium compounds. Although the structures of the phosphine and isocyanide substitution products reported, Ru3(CO)8(μ3-η2-RCNR‘)(μ-H)L (R = CH3, R‘ = CH2CH3, L = PPh3 (8a), L = CNMe (12); R = R‘ = (CH2)3, L = PPh3 (9), L = CNMe (13); R = R‘ = CH3, L = PPh3 (10), are identical to their osmium analogs, the pathway to their formation reflects the lower CO dissociation energies for ruthenium clusters and a greater sensitivity to the substituents on the imidoyl group. The solid state structures of 9 and 12 are reported as well as that of Os3(CO)8(μ-η2-CN(CH2)3(μ-H)(PPh3)(MeNC) (15). The latter illustrates the hemilabile nature of the μ3-imidoyl ligand even in phosphine-substituted derivatives and the structural preferences of phosphine and isocyanide ligands in this class of clusters.

Design Aspects of an Intelligent Windscreen Wiper Based on Fuzzy Inference and the General Framework for a Hybrid Control System Managing Passenger Comfort in Automobiles

Design Aspects of an Intelligent Windscreen Wiper Based on Fuzzy Inference and the General Framework for a Hybrid Control System Managing Passenger Comfort in Automobiles

A fuzzy logic-based smart automatic windshield wiper

An innovation for a standard intermittent windshield wiper is the concept of a smart wiper that automatically turns itself on or off and adjusts its wiping cycle according to the intensity of rain. This article describes the development of a smart automatic windshield wiper system using a fuzzy logic-based conductive rain sensor scheme. Fuzzy logic is used to compensate nonlinearities in the sensor and implement intuitive reasoning for automatic operation of the wiper. An M68HC11-based microcontroller was developed to implement and test the smart wiper concept for a car. The proposed approach can be extended to other applications related to rain detection and system actuation.

The Uranian aurora and its relationship to the magnetosphere

About 32 h of Voyager Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) observations of Uranus H2 band airglow emission (875 ≤ λ ≤ 1115 Å) have been analyzed using the singular value decomposition (SVD) approach to inversion, producing an intensity map showing aurora at both magnetic poles. An H Lyman α aurora may also be present but is difficult to separate from scattered solar and local interstellar medium components. SVD analysis of variance shows that the intensity estimate is significantly larger than the error estimate over both Uranographic poles and part of the equatorial region, fortuitously including both magnetic polar regions. The Goddard Space Flight Center Q3 magnetic field model correctly predicts that the aurora should be larger in area and emit more power at the weaker N magnetic pole than at the stronger S magnetic pole. However, the auroral emissions are quite localized in magnetic longitude and so do not form complete auroral ovals. The brightest auroral emission at each magnetic pole is confined to a range of ≈ 90° of magnetic longitude centered on the magnetotail direction, at moderate magnetic L parameter (5 ≤ L ≤ 10), but some emission at each pole is distributed over a range of more than 180° of longitude. The S polar auroral intensity maximum is coincident with the source of the broadband bursty and broadband smooth Uranian kilometric radio emission (UKR), while the N polar auroral intensity maximum may coincide with the dayside UKR source. The N and S auroral intensity maxima also lie at the conjugate magnetic footprints of the maximum intensities of whistler‐mode plasma wave emission and 22‐ to 35‐keV electron fluxes observed by Voyager. The magnetic longitudes of the aurora are completely inconsistent with the “windshield wiper” effect for either ions or electrons, indicating that some other effect, such as rapid depletion of the population of precipitating particles or highly localized strong pitch‐angle diffusion, may be acting to localize emission. The low apparent L of the precipitating particles indicates that their energies may be ≤ 10 keV. Hence magnetospheric convection is likely to be important, and thus particles exciting the aurora may not remain on constant L shells. The precipitating particles may be a relatively low‐energy population at high L that is heated to aurora‐exciting energy by adiabatic compression during convection to low L. We estimate that the total auroral power output at H Lyman α and shorter wavelengths is about 3 × 109 to 7 × 109 W, requiring about 10 times that much power for excitation.

Environmentally durable elastomer materials for windshield wiper blades

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTEnvironmentally durable elastomer materials for windshield wiper bladesAres N. Theodore, Marsha A. Samus, and Paul C. Killgoar Jr.Cite this: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992, 31, 12, 2759–2764Publication Date (Print):December 1, 1992Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 December 1992https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00012a020RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views245Altmetric-Citations8LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (769 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Zirconium and hafnium polyhydrides. 2. Preparation and characterization of M3H6(BH4)6(PMe3)4 and M2H4(BH4)4(dmpe)2

Prolonged treatment of the tetrakis (tetrahydroborate) complexes Zr(BH{sub 4}{sub 4}) or Hf(BH{sub 4}){sub 4} with trimethylphosphine has given the first trinuclear group 4 polyhydrides, M{sub 3}H{sub 6}(BH{sub 4}){sub 6}(PMe{sub 3}){sub 4}, where M is Zr or Hf. The {sup 1}H, {sup 31}P, and {sup 11}B NMR data suggest that these trinuclear compounds contain noncyclic M ({mu}-H){sub 3}M({mu}-H){sub 3}M backbones with the phosphine and tetrahydroborate ligands distributed in 2:2:0 and 2:1:3 ratios among the three metal centers. Interestingly, several of the {eta}{sup 3}-BH{sub 4} groups are bonded asymmetrically, so that of the three Zr-H bonds to each BH{sub 4} ligand, one Zr-H bond is longer than the other two. Addition of 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino) ethane(dmpe) to the previously reported polyhydrides of stoichiometry M{sub 2}H{sub 3}(BH{sub 4}){sub 5}(PMe{sub 3}){sub 2} results in phosphine exchange and loss of one BH{sub 3} unit to yield the new dinuclear hydrides M{sub 2}H{sub 4}(BH{sub 4}){sub 4}(dmpe){sub 2}. The NMR and X-ray crystallographic data show that three of the hydrides bridge the Zr{hor_ellipsis}Zr axis; the fourth hydride, one {eta}{sup 2}-BH{sub 4} group, and the two dmpe ligands are coordinated variable-temperature NMR data show that the terminal and bridging hydrides on zirconium exchange with each other via a {open_quotes}windshield wiper{close_quotes}more » type of motion with an activation energy of 12.6 {plus_minus} 0.1 kcal mol{sup -1}. 35 refs., 9 figs., 6 tabs.« less

An investigation of steric effects along a cyclopentadienyl substituent: a study by 1H, 13C and 29Si NMR spectroscopy of bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl iron complexes

The syntheses of a range of complexes, [(η 5-C 5H 3(SiMe 3) 2)Fe(CO)(L)I], (L  tBuNC, 2,6-Me 2C 6H 3NC (xylNC), P(OMe) 3, PMe 2Ph, P(O- o-tol) 3 PPh 3, P( m-tol) 3, P( p-tol) 3, and P(CH 2Ph) 3) are reported. Three separate cyclopentadienyl ring proton resonances were observed in the NMR spectra of the iron complexes, and their assignments determined from NOE experiments (L  P(OMe) 3, P(O- o-tol) 3). The 13C NMR spectra were recorded and assignments made from a knowledge of the 1H spectra by use of CH correlated spectroscopy. 29Si and 31P NMR data were also obtained. Three-dimensional correlations were observed between separations of pairs of NMR resonances ( 29Si, 13C and 1H) and (i) steric effects as measured by the Tolman cone angle, θ, and (ii) electronic effects as measured by ν CO, the stretching frequency of the carbonyl group. The degree of correlation varied with the distance of the NMR-active nuclei from the iron atom (ring C and Si(CH 3) 3 Si, C and H atoms), and the result is taken as an indication of the best region, in space, in which the Tolman cone angle concept is most appropriate. The best correlation occurred between the chemical shift difference of the two 29Si resonances and θ and ν(CO) ( R 2 = 0.96, mse = 0.00640). Conformational data obtained from the NOE spectra suggest that the Group 15 donor ligand resides close to a SiMe 3 group and near the two adjacent ring protons. The steric demand of the two bulky SiMe 3 groups hinders rotation of the P(OMe) 3 and P(O- o-tol) 3 ligands around the ring, resulting in a windscreen wiper motion of the ligand between the two SiMe 3 groups.

The Role of the Nitrotec Process in Vehicle Weight Reduction

Nitrotec is characterized as a low-distortion treatment for ferrous materials where surface enrichment, predominantly by nitrogen, forms a hard surface layer of epsilon iron nitride, beneath which there is a nitrogen diffusion zone. The surface layer imparts wear and corrosion resistance and the diffusion zone increases the yield and fatigue strength, particularly in thin section sizes. Process developments have significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance and aesthetic appearance of treated components to make Nitrotec competitive with electroplated finishes. Major commercialization took place during the 1980s with a wide range of successful applications from windscreen wiper systems to bumper armatures, using combinations of the unique properties obtainable from the process to provide cost and weight savings.

Academy Panel Split on Greenhouse Adaptation

In stark contrast to the popular vision, the impact of greenhouse warming in the US will be, by and large, mild and the nation should have little trouble adapting to the several-degree temperature rise predicted for the middle of the next century. That message comes not from the National Coal Association of Sciences in a new report released last week. In assessing the ultimate impact of climate change, the crux of the issue is both the rate of change and the speed with which society and nature can respond. Indeed, the report reads like a virtual paean to human adaptability, technological innovation, and the market. It describes the myriad innovations that have climate-proofed humans and their activities over the past century - such as refrigeration, air conditioning, windshield wipers, and irrigation - the sorts of technologies that will help society cope with greenhouse warming, the panel notes. It concludes that both the speed of innovation and the turnover rate of capital investments - the time it takes to replace equipment in industry or cultivars in agriculture - are faster than the projected rate of climate change. The bulk of the report is an analysis of how sensitive various activities ormore » ecosystems are to climate change, and how adaptable.« less

Generation of a bridging ethenyl ligand at a di-iron centre via carbonphosphorus bond cleavage

UV irradiation of [Fe 2(CO) 6(μ-CO)(μ-dppm)] ( 1) with diphenylvinylphosphine yields [Fe 2(CO) 5(μ-Ph 2PCHCH 2)(μ-dppm)] ( 2) in which the vinylphosphine acts as a bridging four electron donor ligand to the di-iron centre. Thermolysis of 2 results in carbonphosphorus bond cleavage giving the μ-alkenyl complex [Fe 2(CO) 4(μ-CHCH 2)(μ-PPh 2)(μ-dppm)] ( 3). The μ-ethenyl moiety in 3 is static at room temperature but at higher temperatures “windshield wiper” fluxionality is observed, a process conveniently monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy.

Headlight Use

Headlight use around dawn, midday and dusk on city and rural roads, as well as freeways, and when the weather was clear, cloudy and rainy was measured. The percentage of 14,220 vehicles using headlights, parking lights only, or no lights was recorded, as was ambient lighting. Direction of travel (into the sun vs. away from it) as a factor affecting headlight use was evaluated. The need for an automatic warning advising drivers to turn on headlights at critical combinations of ambient lighting, road speed, and windshield wiper use is discussed.

Organische Synthesen mit Übergangsmetallkomplexen, 42 Allene als Liganden in zweikernigen Eisencarbonyl‐Komplexen; Carbonylierungen von Allenen sowie deren Kupplung mit Alkinen und Allenen; dynamische “Keten‐Scheibenwischer”‐Komplexe

Organic Syntheses via Transition Metal Complexes, 42. - Allenes in Dinuclear Iron Carbonyl Complexes; their Carbonylation and Coupling with Alkynes and Allenes; Fluxional “Ketene Windshield-Wiper” Complexes On photochemically induced metallation with pentacarbonyl iron allenes H2C = C = CHR 1 (R = H, C6H5) give dinuclear acyl iron complexes 2, in which the central carbon of the C = C = C unit is attached to a carbonyl group. 2 on warming yield π-ally1,σ complexes 3 by loss of carbon monoxide. The reaction 2 ⇌ 3 + CO is reversibel. 3 add alkynes R1 - C = C - R24 (R1 = C6H5r, CH2OCH3; R2 = Hr C6H5) with insertion of the C = C triple bond into the M - C σ-bond to give dinuclear ketene complexes 5. The latter are fluxional, as was shown by NMR measurements. The ketene unit is moving back and forth like a windshield wiper. Thermolysis of 5 under normal pressure affords ferracyclopentadiene iron complexes 6 (by 1,3-hydrogen shifts) and 4-methylene-2-cyclopenten-1-one 7 (by cyclocarbonylation). Thermolysis of 5 under CO pressure gives 7 as the sole products. Complexes 3 also add allenes 1 with insertion into the M–C σ-bond and formation of a C–C bond between the central carbon atoms of both allene units to give dinuclear bis(allyl) complexes 8 and 8′.

Raindrop sensor using electric double layers

A comb type electrode was used in the development of a raindrop sensor in order to reduce equipment size and cost in the creation of an automatic windshield wiper system. The use of a stainless steel electrode enabled the output of a signal in the form of an electrical pulse each time the electrode came in contact with a raindrop, as well as an unvarying level of d.c. voltage. The surface of the stainless steel had a passivity film and former an electric double layer between the electrode and the raindrop. Therefore the surface equivalently formed a capacitance with a parallel high resistance of the passivity film, and was connected to the liquid resistance of the raindrop in series. It was noted that when the applied voltage to the electrodes was kept low and polarity was switched periodically, no corrosion was able to form.

Fine Particles: Science and Technology

Some readers may wonder about the reasons for having two issues focus on fine particles. Hopefully, this introduction and the articles to follow will offer the necessary justification.It is fully expected by everybody, professional or laie, that the properties of matter will change if its chemical composition is altered. It is less frequently recognized that many characteristics of materials can be dramatically affected by varying dimensions, yet countless examples in everyday life clearly demonstrate such phenomena. Consider water in droplet form. Driving in rain creates little problem, providing the car has working windshield wipers. In contrast fog, which consists of droplets of much smaller size, represents one of the major hazards in transportation. Obviously, the optical properties of the same matter have greatly altered with diminution. In another example, it is well known that finely dispersed carbon is an excellent adsorbent, a property used in gas masks and in many industries as a purifying agent. Large-sized lumps of such carbon would be useless in these applications.The effect of particle size on properties of materials can be readily understood from a simple consideration. The total energy of any System, (Etot), consists of two contributions, the internai energy, Ei, and the surface energy, Ei.