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Static Shield

 Rain shield.
  (+2)
(+2) 		  [vote for,
against]

Most Shatterprufe (thats how they spell it on my car) windscreens have a laminated plastic section on the outside to stop it from shattering.

Firstly we need to make this plastic layer a bit thicker so that it can hold a static charge.

Along the bottom of the windscreen, we have a static electricity generator, a belt driven rubbing device. The static would repel the raindrops for just long enough so that they are blown over the roof.

"Hmm look at those dark clouds overhead - activate the shields, maximum settings!"

—Trodden, Feb 07 2003

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       Nice. I'd be interested to hear from some physics bods if this is feasible. Could double as a bug-zapper too.
—sild, Feb 07 2003
   

       I like the idea of a Van Der Graff generator on the roof of my car powering this.
—pottedstu, Feb 07 2003
   

       Wimshurst machines attached to all the wheels
—oneoffdave, Feb 07 2003
   

       It depends if the raindrops have a positive or negative charge. Statistically, you'd probably end up attracting 50% of them. Besides, the fact that the vehicle will be damp, and operating in a humid environment, will make it extremely difficult to maitian any significant charge on the windscreen; it will just track and flash over almost continuously.
—8th of 7, Feb 07 2003
   

       Normally, your windscreen would be an unlikely target for lightning. However...
—lurch, Feb 07 2003
   

       tada tada ta daaa, chaaarge it.   

       //windscreens have a laminated plastic section on the outside to stop it from shattering//
Actually that's not how shatterproof windshields are made, at least here in the US. They are actually two layers of glass with a piece of plastic sandwiched in the middle to act as the bond when the glass cracks. So you'd need a new coating on the outside of the glass if this is to work.
—krelnik, Feb 07 2003
   

       Shatterprufe ? Are you driving a Chevrolay?
—snarfyguy, Feb 07 2003
   

       Don't your windscreen wipers work?
—uked, Feb 07 2003
   

       ever hear of Rain-X?
—Freefall, Feb 07 2003
   

       I'd sooner invest in fitting a car with an aerofoil which is ducted to the area in front of the windscreen, free of charge.
—X2Entendre, Feb 08 2003
   

       Random Annotation
—DesertFox, May 07 2004
   


 

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