Wipers: a small but important problem

Wipers are an inconspicuous, but very important element of the car. It quickly became clear that it was impossible to ride without them.

The first electric wipers the engine appeared in Opel cars. The 1928 Opel sports convertible already had one. wipers. Contrary to our habits the hand was attached to the top of the glass. Then it took less effort to move the wiper.

Car wipers are almost 100 years old. The first was patented in 1908 by Baron Heinrich von Preussen. His "cleaning line" had to be moved by hand, so he usually fell on the passengers. Although the idea itself was not very practical, it improved the image of the car - it was easier to use in bad weather.

Soon in America, a system was developed that frees passengers from the functions of driving wipers. They were driven by a pneumatic mechanism. Unfortunately, it only worked when stationary, because the faster the car went, the slower the wipers moved. In 1926, Bosch introduced motorized wipers. The first were installed on Opel cars, but all manufacturers introduced them in the same year.

The first wipers were mounted only on the driver's side. For the passenger, it was optional equipment available only in the manual version.

Initially, the mat was just a rubber-coated rod. It worked great on flat windows. However, when cars with bulging windows began to be produced, wipers had to be designed to match the shape of the windshield. Today, the handle is held in place by a series of hands and knuckles.

Another "windshield washer" was the windshield washer system, also introduced by Bosch. It turned out that the rug is not as simple as it seems. Thus, various innovations were introduced in the 60s, including the aerodynamic shape of the wipers. In 1986, windshield wipers were introduced with a spoiler that pressed them against the windshield when driving at high speeds.

To this day, the basis for the production of rugs is natural rubber, although today it is ennobled with various additives, and the shape of the feathers is selected using computers.

Increasingly, automatic devices are becoming more common, which turn on the wipers when drops of water appear on the windshield and adjust the speed of the wiper depending on the intensity of precipitation. So soon we will stop thinking about them altogether.

Take care of the edges

We pay attention to the state of the wipers only when there is almost nothing to see through the dirty, rain-soaked windows. With proper care of the wipers, this moment can be significantly delayed.

According to Bosch observations, wipers in Western Europe are changed every year, in Poland - every three years. The life of the rug is estimated at about 125. cycles, i.e. six months of use. However, they are usually replaced later, because the vision gets used to worse and worse conditions and we pay attention to the wipers only when they are very worn out and the uncleaned areas are clearly visible, and the wiper no longer collects water so much, but smear it on the glass.

The condition of the wiper edge has the biggest impact on wiper performance. So it is worth remembering not to cause unnecessary damage or chips. This can happen, for example, when the windshield wipers are turned on when the windshield is dry. Their edges then abrade the glass, covered in dust particles like sandpaper, wearing out 25 times faster than when wet. On the other hand, a dry rug will pick off dust particles and rub them against the glass, leaving scratches. In the sun or in the headlights of a car coming from the opposite direction, after a while we can see a network of small scratches, which in such situations significantly impair visibility.

So you have to use sprayers. Make sure they contain the correct liquid. An unsuitable fluid may react with the rubber and damage the nib.

When washing your car, it's also worth wiping the wiper blades as they collect insect residue and dust, which deforms the edges and reduces efficiency.

If it happens that the wiper freezes to the windshield, do not tear it off. Firstly, because its edge is frayed, leaving streaks of unwashed water on the glass. Secondly, by pulling hard, we can bend the metal wiper arms. It will be imperceptible to the eye, but the wiper will not fit snugly enough to the glass, so there will be more streaks.

No one doubts that the wipers affect visibility. But they can also add to driving fatigue, since seeing the road through windows that are "tinted" with mud or covered with jets of water that blur the image requires more concentration and effort. Simply put, taking care of rugs is taking care of your own safety.

New on secondary

Bosch has introduced a new generation of wipers for sale in Poland.

Aerotwin wipers differ from traditional wipers in almost every way - mainly the different shape of the brush and the holder that supports them. Bosch introduced dual wipers in 1994. The brush is made from two types of rubber. The lower part of the wiper is stiffer, and the edge of the brush cleans the glass more effectively. It connects to the armrest via a softer, more flexible upper, allowing the mat to fit better on the windshield. In the case of the Aerotwin, the lever has also been changed. Instead of a metal stabilizing bar, there are two bars of flexible material, and the arms and hinges are replaced by a flexible spoiler. As a result, the wiper is better pressed against the windshield. A more even force distribution extends the life by 30%, while the shape of the wiper reduces air resistance by 25%, which reduces the noise level. The design of the bracket allows you to hide it under the engine cover when it is not running.

Wipers of this type have been installed in expensive cars since 1999 (mainly on German cars - Mercedes, Audi and Volkswagen, but also on Skoda Superb and Renault Vel Satis). However, until now they have not been available outside the network of authorized service stations of car manufacturers that use them. Now they will be available in wholesale stores and shops.

Bosch estimates that by 2007, 80% of this type of wiper will be in use. ed.

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